ESG Policy Template

BoardPro’s ESG Policy Template is a free, editable Word document that helps boards formalise their environmental, social, and governance commitments. It includes definitions, responsibilities, reporting guidance, and review cycles to support consistent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) oversight.

Sustainability and good governance are no longer optional — they’re essential. This ESG Policy Template, created by Conscious Governance in partnership with BoardPro, provides your organisation with a ready-to-use framework for embedding ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible practices into everyday decision-making.

With this ESG policy template, your board can set clear expectations, define responsibilities, and integrate ESG into your governance framework with confidence.

What does BoardPro's ESG Policy Template include?

BoardPro’s ESG Policy Template is an editable Microsoft Word document that you can tailor to suit your organisation and board. It provides the foundations for a best-practice ESG governance policy, including:

Clear definitions of environmental, social, and governance principles
Practical commitments covering sustainability, social impact, people, and ethical governance
Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support long-term strategy and accountability
Customisable sections covering ESG roles and responsibilities, policy ownership, reporting, and review cycles
Guidance notes to help boards tailor ESG priorities to their size, sector, and risk profile

Download the ESG policy template and adapt it to your governance framework, committees, and delegations of authority.

What is an ESG policy?

An ESG policy in governance sets out how your organisation will manage its environmental, social, and governance responsibilities at board and executive level. It explains the standards your board expects, how decisions will be made, and how progress will be monitored.

A well-crafted ESG policy helps your board to:

integrate ESG risks and opportunities into strategy and risk management
set expectations for management reporting on ESG matters
clarify decision-making principles for ethical, sustainable conduct
communicate your organisation’s ESG commitments to stakeholders

In short, it turns ESG from a set of aspirations into a practical governance framework your board can oversee.

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What is an ESG policy template?

An ESG policy template is a framework that outlines how your organisation manages its environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. It provides a clear structure for turning ESG intent into a board-approved policy.

It enables you to:

Define ESG commitments: Clarify what ESG means for your organisation
Align board and management: Set out who is responsible for what
Integrate ESG into decision-making: Link ESG to strategy, risk, and operations
Support compliance: Provide a basis for meeting regulatory and stakeholder expectations
Build trust: Show that ESG is governed deliberately, not informally

Use BoardPro’s ESG Policy Template to bring all of this together in one easy-to-adapt document.

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Who should use an ESG policy template?

This ESG policy template is designed for:

Boards of directors looking to embed ESG into their governance framework
CEOs and executive teams who need clarity on ESG expectations and reporting
Not-for-profit and charity boards accountable to members, funders, and communities
Schools, associations, and membership organisations seeking to formalise social and environmental commitments
Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) aiming to strengthen reputation, resilience, and stakeholder trust

Whether your organisation is for-profit or for-purpose, this ESG policy template helps your board set clear direction and expectations.

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Why use an ESG policy template?

Building a meaningful ESG policy doesn’t need to be complex. An ESG policy template for boards provides structure, consistency, and a clear starting point.

An ESG governance policy template helps your board to:

Save time: Start with a proven structure instead of a blank page
Add rigour: Use standardised sections and definitions to reduce gaps and ambiguity
Clarify board oversight: Set out the ESG responsibilities of the board, committees, and executive team
Stay future-focused: Align ESG priorities with long-term organisational strategy and stakeholder expectations
Track progress: Define measures, reporting cycles, and review points for ESG performance

Use the ESG policy template to move from informal conversations about sustainability and social impact to a formal, board-endorsed governance policy.

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How boards can use this ESG policy template

To get the most value from the ESG policy template, boards can follow these steps:

Review ESG expectations and regulations
Identify any ESG-related obligations, sector standards, or codes of governance that apply in your jurisdiction.
Tailor the policy to your governance framework
Adapt the template so it fits your board and committee structure, delegations, and existing policies (for example, risk, ethics, or stakeholder engagement).
Define roles and responsibilities
Clarify which committee or role oversees ESG (e.g. risk committee, sustainability committee, or full board) and what reporting you expect from management.
Integrate ESG into board agendas and reporting
Ensure ESG appears regularly on board and committee agendas, and that management reports include key ESG risks, opportunities, and performance indicators.
Approve, communicate, and implement
Approve the ESG policy at board level, communicate it to staff and key stakeholders, and ensure it is accessible alongside other key governance documents.
Monitor, review, and improve
Set a review period (for example, annually or every two years) so the board can update ESG priorities, targets, and reporting in line with strategy and stakeholder expectations.
By following these steps, your board can move from a static document to an active ESG governance framework.

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Why ESG matters for boards

Stakeholders, investors, funders, and communities expect transparency and action on ESG issues. A clear ESG governance policy helps your board to:

Reduce risk and strengthen reputation by identifying and managing ESG risks early
Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and ethics across the organisation
Set measurable ESG goals and link them to strategy, risk, and performance
Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement around environmental and social impact
Respond to changing expectations and regulation in areas such as climate, workforce wellbeing, equity, and human rights

For boards, ESG is no longer a peripheral topic — it is a core part of effective governance and long-term value creation.

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ESG Policy Template FAQs

An ESG policy template is a ready-made framework your organisation can customise to define its environmental, social, and governance commitments, roles, and reporting expectations in a board-approved policy.

Complete the form, and you will receive the template and associated resources by email. Then, download the files and enter your details and data.

The templates have a simple and straightforward design, which makes entering your information easy.

Yes. The ESG policy template is fully editable in Microsoft Word so you can adapt the language, focus areas, and responsibilities to your organisation’s size, sector, and governance framework

The template is provided as a Microsoft Word document for easy editing and sharing with your board and management team.

It saves time, ensures professionalism, and aligns with best practices for creating an ESG policy for your organisation.

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