ESG is a term used to describe a number of factors upon which society can assess a company’s commitment to sustainability issues. These factors include the company’s:

• impact on natural resources;
• social interactions with external persons and institutions; and
• operational procedures and policies.

Trends show an increase in investors looking to invest in companies that are accountable for their environmental impact, and which contribute positively to global sustainability issues. Accordingly, companies across the globe (and in various sectors) have opted to be transparent about their efforts to contribute to global sustainability issues through ESG reporting.

Following COP26 (held at the end of 2021 in Glasgow), similar conversations are now being had within the construction sector on a global scale, with the intention of reassessing the construction sector through the lens of ESG. A few noteworthy events that illustrate this shift in mindset include:

• A recent poll conducted by Global Data, which indicated a significant increase in clients demanding construction in accordance with more sustainable methods.
• McKinsey hosted a global webinar with no less than 150 industry leaders to discuss sustainability in the construction sector.
• The Fédération Internationale Des Ingénieurs-Conseils president Mr Tony Barry, has become vocal on the attainment of ESG goals and about how the association of consulting engineers can contribute to the conversation.

Although we are yet to see any drastic ESG reforms to the construction sector, various jurisdictions will pursue this agenda soon, and developing countries like South Africa will inevitably follow given the frequency of cross-border construction projects and the role of international employers in our market.

Accordingly, contractors may face the following challenges in the near future:

• reporting on their ESG compliance as part of their tender for projects – either as a function of law or the employer’s requirements;
• increased spend on ESG related items – this will vary depending on the importance placed on this by the employer or the institutions funding the project;
• the need to be flexible with respect to project-specific ESG needs, as there is currently no single objective standard; and
• most importantly, having to develop and learn new rules to remain competitive in the construction sector.

The construction sector does not exist in a vacuum and is therefore not immune to the increased importance of ESG globally. Accordingly, it would be in the best interests of sector stakeholders to start familiarising themselves with this concept and considering the potential impact it may have on the sector. Developing clear ESG reporting guidelines at an early stage may well be a competitive advantage.