Identifying external drivers that could influence your business is a critical step for any organisation seeking to proactively manage risks, capitalise on opportunities, and build a resilient ESG strategy.
The environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving
From emerging technologies and evolving sustainability regulations to shifting political priorities, economic volatility, and environmental pressures, businesses today must navigate an increasingly complex operating environment. Organisations are expected not only to respond to current issues but to anticipate what’s coming — whether that’s new regulation, changing consumer expectations, climate-related risks, or shifts in public policy. A proactive understanding of these external drivers is essential to building stakeholder trust, informing strategy, and enhancing long-term resilience.
One of the most effective ways to gain this insight is through a horizon scan — a structured analysis of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTLE) trends that may influence your business context, operations, reputation and your sustainability approach.
For organisations specifically looking to comply with current regulations and prepare for future legislation it will be particularly important to understand what is on the regulatory horizon. Although most regulations focus on engaging the largest organisations, mandatory ESG compliance is on the horizon for businesses of all sizes globally. Regulatory and legal developments — such as the UK’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) — are a key part of this picture, but they are just one component. For organisations that need to go deeper, we also offer a targeted legal risk register to complement the broader scan.
Whether you’re seeking to strengthen compliance or better understand your broader operating environment to inform sustainability progress, Simply Sustainable can equip you with the critical insight needed to make confident, future-focused decisions.
Horizon scans give our clients the clarity and foresight they need to make confident, future-focused decisions. By understanding the external forces shaping their operating environment, organisations can act early, stay resilient, and lead with purpose.”Ailsa DormonSenior Consultant
How we approach an ESG horizon scan
At Simply Sustainable, we support organisations committed to staying ahead of change by conducting comprehensive horizon scans. Using the PESTLE framework, we analyse the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors most relevant to your industry and regions of operation. For organisations with a specific focus on compliance, we can also provide a targeted legal risk register to complement the broader scan and offer deeper regulatory insight.
Our strategic and highly analytic process will help your organisation understand what is coming, what risks this might present and, most importantly, how to make the most of the opportunities created.
We identify material trends
We begin by identifying the most relevant external trends for your business, drawing on credible industry research, global and regional trend reports, and the latest regulatory developments. These are tailored to your sector, region(s) of operation, and business context to ensure relevance and materiality.
We apply a PESTLE framework
Once identified, each trend is categorised using the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental (PESTLE) framework. This provides a structured view of the forces shaping your external landscape.
We assess impact
We then assess the potential impact of each trend on your business, with a focus on how they may influence your sustainability journey, operations, and stakeholder expectations.
We develop an action plan
Following the impact assessment, we work with you — drawing on our broader advisory services — to develop a practical action plan that helps you mitigate risks, seize opportunities, and build long-term resilience.
Sustainability can be a complex landscape, we work with your organisation to fully equip your employees and stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge so everyone can engage in your strategies.
Given our comprehensive understanding of key sustainability disclosure standards, we will work with you to identify compliance gaps and alignment issues and offer strategies to enhance business performance across various reporting frameworks.
