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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.

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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.
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