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ESG Glossary

A reference glossary defining the key terms, frameworks and acronyms used across ESG.

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Built forSustainability teams & MSMEs
Service lineGuides & Tools
You get3 clear deliverables
DeliveredMateriality → assured disclosure
What it is

ESG Glossary, without the jargon

This glossary defines the vocabulary of ESG and sustainability reporting — BRSR, GHG Protocol, Scope 1/2/3, CO2e, materiality and double materiality, SBTi, GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB, CDP, net zero, carbon neutrality and assurance — so readers can decode any report or framework without guesswork.

EnvironmentSocialGovernance
Guides & Tools at Social Lab
Why it matters

Why sustainability teams act on this

  • ESG is dense with acronyms that block understanding
  • Consistent definitions prevent costly misinterpretation
  • It is a quick reference while reading reports or standards
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How we deliver

A clear, auditable process

  1. 01
    Search the term

    Look up any acronym or concept alphabetically or by theme.

  2. 02
    Read the definition

    Get a concise, standards-based explanation of what it means.

  3. 03
    See related terms

    Follow cross-links to connected frameworks and concepts.

Decode the acronyms

The vocabulary, in clusters

ESG is dense with acronyms that block understanding — grouping the core terms into clusters turns a wall of jargon into a map you can navigate.

Core ESG vocabulary
Reporting frameworksGRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB, BRSR
Emissions accountingGHG Protocol, Scope 1/2/3, CO₂e
MaterialitySingle & double materiality
Targets & net zeroSBTi, net zero, neutrality
Disclosure & ratingsCDP, EcoVadis
AssuranceReasonable & limited assurance
What's included

What you walk away with

01

Concise definitions of core ESG terms

02

Framework & acronym explanations

03

Cross-links between related concepts

Proof on the ground

From our wider ESG & sustainability track record

Real projects with named partners and measured outcomes — the delivery discipline sustainability teams & msmes expect.

Net Zero & Rural

Building a Net-Zero, Climate-Resilient Mandede Village

Mandede Village, Taluka Mulashi, Pune district

66.6%Source-segregation level in 3 months (target >90%)
Read the case study →
Research

Single-Use Plastics Value-Chain Assessment

2 cities in Maharashtra & 2 cities in Tamil Nadu

4Cities studied (2 Maharashtra + 2 Tamil Nadu)
Read the case study →
Research

Impact Evaluation of a Decentralized Solid Waste Management Project

16 Bulk Waste Generators across Mumbai & Pune

88%Segregation rate achieved at household level
Read the case study →
More in Guides & Tools

Related ESG services

Guides & Tools ESG Readiness AssessmentA structured self-check of how prepared your business is to measure, manage and report on ESG. Guides & Tools ESG Reporting ChecklistA step-by-step checklist covering everything a credible ESG or sustainability report needs. Guides & Tools Sustainability Data Collection TemplateA ready structure for gathering the environmental and social data your ESG report depends on. Guides & Tools Carbon Footprint Calculator GuideHow to calculate an organisational carbon footprint the way the GHG Protocol intends. Guides & Tools ESG Materiality Matrix GuideHow to identify and prioritise the ESG issues that genuinely matter to your business and stakeholders. Guides & Tools ESG Reporting CalendarA year-round timeline that keeps ESG data collection, disclosure and deadlines on track. A–Z All ESG servicesBRSR, carbon, certifications, frameworks & guides.
FAQ

ESG Glossary — questions we get

Straight answers on scope, applicability and how we deliver.

Talk to our ESG team →
What is ESG Glossary?
This glossary defines the vocabulary of ESG and sustainability reporting — BRSR, GHG Protocol, Scope 1/2/3, CO2e, materiality and double materiality, SBTi, GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB, CDP, net zero, carbon neutrality and assurance — so readers can decode any report or framework without guesswork.
Who needs ESG Glossary?
It's built for Sustainability teams & MSMEs. ESG is dense with acronyms that block understanding Consistent definitions prevent costly misinterpretation
How does Social Lab deliver ESG Glossary?
Search the term: Look up any acronym or concept alphabetically or by theme. Read the definition: Get a concise, standards-based explanation of what it means. See related terms: Follow cross-links to connected frameworks and concepts. You get: Concise definitions of core ESG terms; Framework & acronym explanations; Cross-links between related concepts.
Keep exploring

Keep exploring ESG services

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Insights & field notes

Latest thinking on this

All insights →
BRSR Reporting Explained: A Practical Guide for Listed CompaniesESG & BRSRBRSR Reporting Explained: A Practical Guide for Listed CompaniesWhat BRSR is, why SEBI mandated it, how the three sections and nine NGRBC principles work, and what listed companies must disclose to stay compliant and credible.16 Jun 2026 · 12 min readIs BRSR Applicable to Your Company? Understanding Scope and BRSR CoreESG & BRSRIs BRSR Applicable to Your Company? Understanding Scope and BRSR CoreFind out whether BRSR applies to your business, what BRSR Core adds, how assurance works, and how value-chain disclosure is widening the reporting net to suppliers.15 Jun 2026 · 11 min readBuilding a Corporate Carbon Footprint: Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions ExplainedESG & BRSRBuilding a Corporate Carbon Footprint: Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions ExplainedA practical guide to measuring your organisational carbon footprint using the GHG Protocol, from direct emissions to the tricky Scope 3 value chain and its 15 categories.14 Jun 2026 · 13 min read
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