Tackling Social Issues Through ESG (1).pdf

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices have emerged as a powerful framework for addressing systemic challenges. While ESG initially gained traction in corporate boardrooms as a tool for sustainable investing and risk mitigation, it is now playing a pivotal role in solving deep-rooted social issues

1. Tackling Social Issues Through ESG: Building a Better
Tomorrow

In an era marked by climate urgency, growing inequality, and rising stakeholder expectations,
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices have emerged as a powerful
framework for addressing systemic challenges. While ESG initially gained traction in
corporate boardrooms as a tool for sustainable investing and risk mitigation, it is now playing
a pivotal role in solving deep-rooted social issues — from poverty and education to gender
inequality and healthcare access.
India, with its vast demographic diversity and developmental gaps, presents a unique
landscape where ESG can drive tangible social transformation. Across sectors, organizations
are increasingly aligning their ESG strategies with social impact goals to not only comply
with global standards but also uplift vulnerable communities. In this context, NGOs like
Spherule Foundation are demonstrating how focused interventions can complement corporate
ESG objectives and create lasting change.
Understanding the “S” in ESG
The ‘S’ in ESG stands for Social, which encompasses how companies and institutions
interact with people — employees, customers, suppliers, and communities. Key social factors
include:
 Diversity and inclusion
 Labor practices and employee wellbeing
 Community engagement
 Human rights and health & safety
 Equitable access to education and skills
While environmental and governance aspects often dominate ESG discussions, the social
pillar is increasingly gaining prominence as investors, governments, and consumers demand
more ethical, people-centric action.
Why Tackling Social Issues Through ESG Matters
According to a 2023 KPMG India report, 74% of Indian companies believe that social impact
is a priority area under their ESG agenda. Whether it’s rural education, women's
empowerment, or public health, the social challenges India faces are complex and interlinked.
Traditional philanthropic approaches alone are no longer sufficient. What's needed is a
strategic, multi-stakeholder approach grounded in measurable ESG goals.
When social issues are tackled through the ESG lens, companies go beyond CSR checklists
to integrate long-term accountability into their core operations. This shift fosters deeper
community engagement, reduces reputational risk, and builds a loyal customer base that
values purpose-driven brands.

2. Case in Point: Spherule Foundation’s Role in Social Upliftment
At the intersection of community development and sustainable impact lies the work of the
Spherule Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to addressing societal issues
through education, health, livelihood, gender equality, and awareness programs. Their
ongoing initiatives resonate deeply with ESG priorities and offer a real-world example of
how structured social impact can transform lives.
For instance, the Foundation’s Skilling and Livelihood Projects empower women and youth
in under-resourced areas through vocational training in tailoring, computer education, and
communication skills. These efforts not only reduce unemployment but also promote
financial independence — a core tenet of social ESG practices.
Another significant initiative is their Menstrual Hygiene Management Program, which
addresses a critical and often neglected issue affecting adolescent girls across India. Through
educational workshops and sanitary pad distribution, the program not only improves health
outcomes but also reduces school dropout rates, advancing the ESG goal of gender equity and
access to education.
ESG-Driven Partnerships: A Pathway to Scalable Impact
Organizations today are increasingly partnering with community-focused NGOs like
Spherule Foundation to amplify their social ESG efforts. These collaborations ensure that on-
ground challenges are met with culturally sensitive, localized solutions.
For example, in collaboration with corporate partners, Spherule has run STEM labs for rural
children, distributed essential health services via Mobile Health Units, and conducted
awareness sessions on gender-based violence and POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment).
These programs not only align with ESG mandates but also create scalable, measurable
outcomes that benefit society as a whole.
Measuring Social Impact: The ESG Metrics That Matter
In ESG reporting, social impact is no longer a ‘soft metric’. Companies are now expected to
show data-backed progress on goals such as:
 Number of people impacted by community programs
 Gender diversity in the workforce and leadership
 Health and safety incident rates
 Ethical supply chain compliance
 Training and upskilling initiatives
Organizations working with NGOs like Spherule Foundation can integrate these metrics into
their ESG disclosures, reinforcing transparency while proving the real-world value of their
investments.

3. ESG is Not Just Corporate — It’s Collective
While ESG frameworks guide corporate strategies, the broader mission of tackling social
issues through ESG requires collective action. Governments, investors, NGOs, and
communities all play a part.
In this shared mission, Spherule Foundation continues to be a reliable catalyst— identifying
issues on the ground, designing evidence-based interventions, and delivering measurable
results. Their focus on health equity, gender justice, digital literacy, and livelihood
opportunities makes them a vital partner for those who want their ESG commitments to mean
more than just numbers on a report.