In recent years, corporations have started investing more heavily in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives and have become increasingly focused on employing ESG standards in their operations.

ESG efforts align with the modern trend of corporate boards adopting a philosophy of "corporate responsibility," in which they consider the long-term impact of their operations and strive to advance the interests of a wider variety of stakeholders. Though often associated with preventing climate change and reducing carbon emissions, corporate ESG concerns actually are broader in scope and include focus on sustainability, diversity, equality, employee welfare, and cybersecurity protocol.