Global ESG Ratings Research - Understanding How Enterprises Evaluate Sustainability Standards

Research Scope

The project spanned three strategic regions - EMEA, North America, and APAC, encompassing enterprises of varying ESG maturity and sectoral exposure.
Participants represented both public and private entities across industries such as finance, manufacturing, technology, energy, and consumer goods.

Key Objectives:

• Identify regional drivers influencing ESG rating selection and adoption
• Explore inter-departmental collaboration in ESG evaluation and reporting
• Understand organizational challenges in aligning with global ESG standards
• Map role-based differences in sustainability decision-making

Quota Design and Sampling Logic

To ensure robust and regionally balanced insights, a sample size of 100n respondents was distributed across global markets using controlled quotas and role-based diversity checks.
This design ensured representation across regulatory environments, sustainability maturity levels, and corporate hierarchies.

Regional Distribution

• North America – 40 %
• Europe (Part of EMEA) – 30 %
• Middle East (Part of EMEA) – 10 %
• APAC – 20 %

This multi-regional, multi-sector quota matrix ensured that the insights reflected both developed and emerging sustainability ecosystems - allowing cross-comparison of ESG integration patterns.

Respondent Profile

Each participant held strategic or functional authority over ESG-related decisions - guaranteeing relevance, authenticity, and analytical depth in the dataset.

C-Suite Leadership (28%)

• Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief Risk Officer (CRO)

Finance and Investment Professionals (22%)

• Portfolio Managers, ESG Investment Heads, and Financial Analysts
• Responsible for integrating ESG scores into portfolio valuation and investor reporting

Sustainability and Compliance Teams (20%)

• ESG Reporting Managers, Sustainability Program Directors, and Chief Compliance Officers
• Ensuring organizational adherence to ESG benchmarks and disclosure frameworks

Risk and Governance Leaders (15%)

• Legal Advisors, Risk Managers, and Governance Leads overseeing ESG-related corporate exposure

Procurement and Vendor Relations Executives (10%)

• Procurement and Vendor Management professionals ensuring responsible sourcing aligned with ESG commitments

Board Members and Strategic Advisors (5%)

• Senior governance stakeholders shaping long-term ESG and CSR roadmaps

This balanced mix of leadership, finance, and operational experts enabled a 360° understanding of ESG decision dynamics.

Research Approach

Jasper Colin executed the study via a structured online survey framework, leveraging its proprietary global B2B respondent panel and advanced screening technology.

The research incorporated:

• Quota-controlled data collection across 25 countries
• Screening validation layers to confirm decision-making authority and ESG familiarity
• Dynamic questionnaire logic (as designed in the attached survey framework) to ensure respondent relevance
• Cross-verification of organizational roles to maintain sample authenticity

Through precision-driven recruitment and adaptive logic testing, the study delivered 100 high-quality completes from decision-makers with verified ESG involvement.

Outcome and Business Impact

The engagement delivered to the client:

• A 100n globally representative dataset of ESG decision-makers across 25 markets
• Region- and role-based benchmarks revealing how sustainability ratings shape corporate actions
• Insights to inform go-to-market strategies for ESG data platforms and sustainability advisory services
• Strategic visibility into the drivers, barriers, and opportunities influencing global ESG adoption

Through rigorous quota design, verified decision-maker recruitment, and data integrity controls, Jasper Colin provided actionable intelligence that strengthened the client’s ESG leadership narrative and supported informed strategic alignment with the global sustainability movement.