Cover Story
ESG : No Longer A Fad , But A Fundamental Shift
By Soyinka Witness
From Plastic Waste To Paradigm Shift : The Unforeseen Journey To ESG ’ s Ascendancy In Africa
I am a fan of the Batman movies , and I will force fit one of his quotes to start this article - “ It ' s not who you are underneath , it ' s what you do that defines you ," said Batman in Batman Begins ( actually this was said by Rachel Dawes , then Batman said it later ). Don ' t worry if you haven ' t seen it - we ' ll sprinkle in some explanations throughout this article , as the story of Batman ' s origin offers unexpected parallels to the evolving world of Environmental , Social , and Governance ( ESG ) principles . This sentiment rings true for businesses in the age of agenda , where actions speak louder than words .
Six years ago , a colleague and I embarked on a seemingly routine assignment : a comparative study on post-consumer plastic waste behavior across five African nations - Kenya , Rwanda , Senegal , the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ), and Angola . At the time , a wave of plasticrelated regulations was sweeping the globe , including Kenya ' s landmark 2017 ban on single-use plastic bags , Rwanda ’ s pioneer in environmental protection , had already implemented a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags in 2008 and was actively promoting sustainable alternatives .
Senegal was in the process of drafting legislation to restrict plastic bag usage to promote recycling , and DRC , who was facing the challenge of managing waste in a vast and diverse country , was exploring public-private partnerships to improve waste collection and disposal . Companies , caught off guard by this shifting landscape , sought our expertise to navigate the turbulent waters of compliance and consumer sentiment .
Little did we know that these initial forays into waste management would be our first steps into the expansive realm of ESG principles . What began as a series of localized projects to decipher consumer behavior and market dynamics soon evolved into a profound understanding of the interconnectedness between business practices and sustainable development .
In Senegal , our behavioral study aimed to uncover the psychological triggers that would motivate consumers to segregate their plastic waste . In Angola , the focus shifted to closing the loop by incentivizing the return of plastic packaging . Rwanda ' s approach centered on partnerships between the public and private sectors to recover and recycle plastic waste , while in the DRC , the challenge was to construct an entire ecosystem to manage the lifecycle of plastic products .
Each country presented a unique set of challenges and opportunities , underscoring the importance of tailoring ESG strategies to the specific context . These early experiences taught us that ESG was not merely a box-ticking exercise , but a multi-faceted approach that demanded a deep understanding of local conditions and stakeholder perspectives .
Fast forward to today , and ESG has transcended its origins as a niche concern . It is no longer a fad but a fundamental shift in the way businesses operate and interact with society and the environment . This paradigm shift is particularly evident in Kenya , where ESG principles have taken root and are shaping the corporate landscape . ESG is no longer a fad but a fundamental shift - which forms the topic of this piece .
ESG : No Longer a Fad , but a Fundamental Shift
Anxiety and enthusiasm intertwine in
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