
Optimising key ESG ratings at easyJet
Simply Sustainable worked with the sustainability team at easyJet to enhance its ESG performance using two widely used rating providers – MSCI and Sustainalytics.
Impacts and benefits
- Optimised easyJet’s ESG ratings
- Enhanced ESG disclosures in the annual report that addressed investors and other stakeholders’ interests
- Provided strategic recommendations on the airline’s approach to sustainability
The hard work and support of the Simply Sustainable team throughout the ESG and materiality projects was very useful. The outputs have informed our approach to sustainability and played a key role in improving the sustainability chapter of our 2019 Annual Report.Mark Ramsden Head of UK Corporate Affairs, easyJet
The story
Companies that score well on environmental social and governance (ESG) ratings are known to better anticipate future risks and opportunities, be more disposed to longer-term strategic thinking, and able to deliver long-term value. Investors often use ESG ratings as part of a broader analysis, or to positively screen for ‘best-in-class’ companies and negatively screen out worst-performing companies. If a company appears low down its industry list, it could result in exclusion from ESG investment products.
Working closely with the sustainability team at easyJet, we engaged with two widely used ESG rating providers – MSCI and Sustainalytics – to identify opportunities to improve its scoring and approach to managing material issues. We began by evaluating the airlines existing performance in each rating, as well as the criteria for scoring each of ‘E’ ‘S’ and ‘G’. We analysed the results and mapped them against the company’s existing ESG strategy and disclosures.
Our analysis identified opportunities across important areas of easyJet’s performance and provided easyJet with a practical action plan to improve its scoring and approach year-on-year.

Sustainable growth at Manchester Airports Group
We worked hand in hand with Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to develop its 2020 CSR strategy, an ambitious plan to deliver sustainable growth across its business over the next five years and beyond.
Impacts and benefits
- Put stakeholder feedback and concerns at the heart of the approach
- Agreed new, ambitious commitments as a core element of the new strategy
- Delivered a strategic plan that addresses both local and global challenges
We’ve worked with the team at Simply Sustainable for many years and we value the close partnership we have developed. They have helped us through the challenges of strategy development, executing insightful materiality reviews, running engagement and leadership workshops, and continuing to help us communicate about our sustainability work both within and outside the business.Neil Robinson Group CSR & Future Airspace Director, Manchester Airports Group
The story
At Simply Sustainable, we pursue an evidence-based approach to developing strategy for our clients. This ultimately ensures time and resource is focused on the areas with the greatest potential to generate positive impact.
We’ve been working with the team at MAG for over five years providing independent support to help them translate myriad stakeholder views into strategic insight. So when talk turned to their new CSR strategy, we couldn’t wait to get started with a tailored approach that took MAG’s unique operating model into account.
Our work began with in-depth consultations with local residents and groups, customers and partners to explore their dynamic needs. Analysing these incredible insights informed a detailed materiality assessment that built on our previous work and broadly identified MAG’s priorities.
We then scrutinised each priority topic – a process which involved analysis in the context of MAG’s business and operations, the local landscape, the wider aviation sector and global challenges – before bringing experts from across the business together in a series of workshops to agree the overall direction and generate the ideas that will bring the approach to life.
The resulting strategy builds on MAG’s strong track record of operating for the benefit of the communities, regions and environment around its airports whilst recognising its role in tackling the significant sustainability challenges facing the aviation sector.

Fully fledged solutions for London Stansted Airport
Long-time companions on London Stansted Airport’s sustainability journey, we have taken on the research, development and drafting of several corporate social responsibility reports.
Impacts and benefits
- Improved robustness and quality of reporting
- Enhanced overall reputation
The CSR report looks good and sterling effort by all to deliver to time!Neil Robinson Director of Sustainability, Manchester Aiports Group
The story
London Stansted Airport, part of Manchester Airports Group, is London’s fastest growing airport, welcoming over 27 million passengers each year. For over five years, we have supported and advised the airport on sustainability issues, from stakeholder engagement to strategy development, responsible business reporting to communications. Recently, we have also been delighted to prove our worth with several of the company’s corporate social responsibility reports.
Progress reporting is a vital part of our work at Simply Sustainable. Done well, they are a great opportunity to enhance your company’s reputation in the world; a powerful statement about what your business stands for.
We were challenged to improve on the robustness and quality of previous reports, while keeping the end-result concise and accessible to a varied audience.
To start, we helped the team at Stansted to think through and articulate their vision and ambition for the report. Through a variety of methods including interviews, we gathered relevant data from across the business. In close consultation, we then drafted all sections of the report, and advised on the design.
London Stansted were delighted with the outcome: an engaging, fully designed CSR report that communicates effectively with all stakeholders.

Making a difference at Manchester Airports Group
We conducted a detailed mapping analysis of Manchester Airports Group’s strategy and operations against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The story
As part of its ongoing sustainability commitment, Manchester Airports Group asked Simply Sustainable to map its business against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. Together they are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Starting with a selection of material topics, which we identified through an in-depth assessment, we conducted a mapping analysis to determine the most relevant SDGs. We then came up with a list of actions Manchester Airports Group could take to help achieve these, based on a detailed review of the targets and indicators that sit beneath the goals.
Our analysis took into account the position of the wider aviation sector in the context of the SDGs and compared MAG’s approach to that of its peers and competitors.
The output was a compelling report highlighting the most relevant SDGs to MAG, and a set of strategic recommendations about how MAG could contribute to each, through its business strategy and operations.

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