24th January, London/Switzerland: SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, and Diginex, an impact technology company, have launched a strategic alliance to provide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data assurance services.

The announcement comes as ESG regulation continues to tighten around the world, from the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, which came into effect in 2021, to the US looking to follow suit with the Securities and Exchange Commission confirming an increased focus on climate-related risks. 

The partnership means the companies can now offer ESG Verified Sustainability Reporting Assurance (SRA) services, as well as help customers to meet the demand for transparency. This will have a direct knock-on effect as banks and asset managers will now get unprecedented insight into the quality of their portfolio’s ESG data.

Since 2017, Diginex has been on a mission to introduce products that enable companies of all sizes to collect, collate and share their sustainability credentials, both easily and transparently. The push for transparency has been on the rise across every industry – largely driven by widespread stakeholder pressure.

Recognizing that ESG impacts all stakeholders in the corporate and investment sectors, SGS’s ESG services aim to meet the needs of a variety of organizations, whatever their maturity level, industry focus or requirements. SGS ESG Assurance Solutions provide a unique set of competencies that help clients achieve specific targets and goals.

Mark Blick, CEO, Diginex, commented: “We are now entering a new phase of ESG reporting, primarily driven by regulatory pressure. This means that tools, such as DiginexESG that allows businesses to take control of their data and respond to non-financial reporting demands, are becoming an essential part of a business’ toolkit.

“We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with one of the most trusted and renowned brands in this space. We look forward to working with SGS to enable businesses of all sizes to not just report on their ESG data, but to also have it independently verified, so they can maintain a competitive and lucrative edge.” 

Jill Dumain, Global VP, Sustainability Solutions, SGS, added: “Data without verification is a slippery slope, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that are striving to keep on top of the latest regulations.

“We are excited to partner with Diginex to provide our tried-and-tested, independent ESG data assurance services to their customers and help businesses of all sizes access simple technologies and tools to make their sustainability reporting process as efficient and rigorous as possible.”