How is SGS SA Accelerating in Sustainability & ESG?
SGS SA, the Swiss multinational leader in testing, inspection and certification, has been named winner of the ESG Programme Award at the Global Sustainability Awards 2025, with Reconomy and Jet Plant Hire both highly commended.
The award highlights organisations that embed environmental, social and governance principles in core strategy and delivery, demonstrating measurable progress across operations, value chains and stakeholder outcomes.
About SGS SA
Founded in 1878, SGS SA provides inspection, verification, testing and certification services to sectors including agriculture, energy, life sciences, consumer goods, industrial manufacturing and transportation.
Alongside its technical services, the company offers training, consultancy and sustainability assurance that help clients strengthen compliance, accelerate decarbonisation and improve social and governance performance.
SGS was recognised for placing ESG at the heart of its corporate strategy.
“It's the main programme that we have at corporate sustainability at SGS, which actually drives our action and different initiatives, trying to enhance our performance in sustainability,” says Javier Lopez, Global Head of Corporate Sustainability at SGS, upon receiving the award.
“It is truly I'm truly honored to to receive this this, this this award.”
Through its Sustainability Ambitions 2030, the company has cut emissions, expanded renewable energy use, improved gender diversity and advanced supply chain responsibility.
Its services enable global clients to meet ESG goals, while community initiatives extend positive social impact worldwide.
Why SGS won the award
SGS secured the ESG Programme Award for a comprehensive, outcomes-focused approach that makes sustainability integral to business performance and industry impact.
Key achievements include:
- Strategy embedded in governance: ESG priorities are integrated into enterprise strategy, risk management and decision-making, aligning business growth with environmental and social outcomes
- Delivery against Sustainability Ambitions 2030: Demonstrable progress includes reduced operational emissions, a higher share of renewable energy, improved gender diversity and stronger responsible sourcing practices
- Client enablement at scale: Through testing, inspection, certification, training and sustainability assurance, SGS helps organisations worldwide set credible targets, manage ESG risks and improve performance across complex value chains
- Supply chain responsibility: The company advances supplier standards and due diligence, supporting responsible procurement and broader ecosystem resilience
- Community impact: Education, training and local engagement initiatives extend benefits beyond operations, supporting skills development and social inclusion.
The award criteria The ESG Programme Award recognises organisations that excel in four key areas:
- Adoption of ESG within corporate strategy: Judges assessed how comprehensively ESG is embedded in strategy and governance, from initial alignment to transformative, enterprise-wide integration.
- Evidence of success: Evaluation focused on the credibility and measurability of outcomes, prioritising verified results that demonstrate tangible environmental, social and governance impact.
- Long-term vision: Judges looked for clear, future-ready roadmaps with ambitious, time-bound goals that signal sustained leadership and resilience.
- Implementation in operations: Scrutiny covered the depth and breadth of ESG practices across processes, systems and departments, from pilots to fully embedded, organisation-wide adoption.
On each criterion, SGS scored strongly, reflecting exceptional strategic integration, verified results, a robust long-term roadmap and company-wide operational embedding.
Other shortlisted organisations included Evri and Vedanta Aluminium Limited.
