ESG & Sustainability Services

Our services include: 

• Mapping resource and waste streams
• Highlighting inefficiencies and underutilized outputs, e.g. waste, by-products, waste energy streams
• Researching viable options for waste valorization, increased resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis
• Consulting on specific solutions for better waste and resource management
• Identifying potential revenue streams from by-products and wastes
• Advisory on better realizing the value of current and potential by-products on the local and global markets
• Screening of preferential financing opportunities for the chosen approach/solutions

Product carbon footprint (PCF) - We offer the entire range of services related to PCF elaboration. From consulting on whether you need to commission a PCF study, how to organize and structure it, through calculating the carbon footprint of your products and reporting the findings. To build on this, our team of professionals can provide guidance on future improvements of the calculated carbon footprint and support with third-party verification of the results.

Similarly, we offer comprehensive LCA-related services:

• Product LCA (product environmental footprint) - From consulting on when and how to organize an LCA study, through actually calculating the environmental footprint of your products across a multitude of impact categories and creating a report with the findings. We can also recommend actions for the improvement of the calculated environmental footprint and support you with the third-party verification of the results.
  
• LCA-based decision-making - We can quantitatively support your decision-making process on decarbonization and reduction of your company's environmental footprint. Through comparative LCAs on alternatives for your manufacturing approach, packaging solutions and material choice you will get the hard data on the environmental aspect of your decisions.
  
• Formulating PCF/LCA data requirements for suppliers; Quality check of received PCF/LCA data from suppliers; Representative supplier data is especially important for companies that want to perform a PCF/Product LCA. Furthermore, it is critical for companies that have already performed a PCF/LCA study and are looking to improve the reliability and accuracy of their data - a key first step before planning footprint reduction efforts. Our professionals can help you formulate specific data requirements for suppliers and partners along the supply chain, based on your existing or future PCF/LCA efforts. With such requirements available you will facilitate your suppliers to provide you with relevant and reliable footprint data that will be of maximum benefit to your sustainability efforts.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) advisory

EPR currently affects a total of six product streams in Bulgaria. While packaging and electronics are some of the most visible and well-established ones, EPR newcomers such as textiles are set to shake the industry. We can support you in establishing the most viable strategies to minimize the costs of EPR compliance while maximizing the financial benefits of producing more sustainable products.

DRS (Deposit Refund Scheme) analysis

The implementation of Deposit Refund Schemes now seems inevitable across Europe. However, some of the key stakeholders in the system, such as supermarkets and beverage producers, do not know what costs this development would entail and thus cannot plan accordingly. Based on previous experience in this field we can support affected actors in analyzing the impact of DRS on their bottom line and overall business activities.

Gap analysis

We will help you identify deficiencies in key areas of your company’s packaging solutions, e.g. reuse, recyclability, materials choice, environmental profile. We can perform a comparative analysis between your company’s status quo and leading industry examples (and competitors). The presentation of findings can be fine-tuned for the target audience, e.g. C-level management, company experts or external parties, depending on company goals and needs.

Sustainable packaging advisory

Our professionals will support you in your efforts to improve the sustainability profile of your packaging portfolio. 

We can advise you on:

• The overall approach to your packaging solutions, e.g. focus on circularity, aims for full recyclability, high collection rates, goals for share of recycled content, integration of multi-use systems
• The choice of materials, e.g. focus on recyclability vs reuse potential, low environmental footprint and/or high use efficiency, biodegradable alternatives, etc.
• Smart designs (Ecodesign considerations)
• Packaging regulatory compliance (within the EU)
• Overview of specific solutions and summary of best practices

Initial GHG Inventory (Scope 1 and 2) - It's advisable for any company that is new to GHG accounting to take their first steps with a GHG inventory of their own operations (Scope 1 and 2). . Our GHG professionals will support you through the entire process, from understanding the key concepts, through your company's first baseline GHG inventory to reporting the findings. Setting up automation and advising on next steps are also within the scope of our services.

Scope 3 Assessment - Indirect emissions (from the company’s value chain) are often the major share of a company’s footprint and constitute a significant challenge to measure and account for. We offer full support in assessing the need for a Scope 3 inventory, assisting in data collection, performing calculations, summarizing and presenting the results. Setting up automation and advising on next steps are also within the scope of our services. Scope 3 Assessment can be done either as a standalone service or in tandem with Scope 1 and 2 inventory.  

Decarbonization workshops - Our workshops are a highly recommended entry point to the topic. They introduce key terminology, relevant regulatory requirements and specific industry challenges and best practices. Each workshop is tailor-made to the sector/industry of the client company and can be flexible in regard to the covered topics, the depth of details and the scope of recommendations included in the presentation. 

Continuous assessment and target setting - We offer comprehensive services for companies that have already performed their first inventories and are looking into initiating their decarbonization efforts.  We can provide automated tools for data collection and GHG inventory calculations to facilitate annual reporting and decision-making efforts. Our team can assist your company in setting decarbonization targets and performance KPIs to track and support your Net Zero ambitions.

Decarbonization (Net zero) strategy - The Green Deal requires all EU companies to complete their decarbonization journey by 2050. Our GHG accounting and decarbonization professionals will support you in your efforts to build a viable decarbonization strategy. We put extra emphasis on finding the right balance between the need for rapid decarbonization and retaining high levels of profitability. Our team also takes into account the specific challenges for every industry.

ESG Status Quo assessment service - Our ESG professionals will assess your company's profile and provide you with a high-level overview of its readiness level in terms of the three ESG pillars (Environmental, Social, Governance). The assessment is based on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which facilitate further efforts on sustainability reporting. The aim of this service is to provide initial guidance to companies that are just starting to structure and improve their ESG profile, but can also be used as a benchmark by companies with considerable experience in ESG.

ESG workshops - We organize tailored ESG workshops for companies across most industries, either as a standalone service or as part of our ESG Status Quo Assessment service. Our ESG workshops are highly recommended for companies that have just encountered the need to structure their ESG profile, either as a regulatory requirement or due to market or investor pressure. The workshops introduce key ESG concepts, the ESG regulatory landscape, industry challenges and best practices specific to the audience. The depth of details and the scope of included recommendations are modified according to your needs.  

Sustainable Business Transformation (ESG Strategy) - This is a comprehensive service for companies looking to build a robust framework to support all their activities related to sustainability. Creating a sustainability (ESG) strategy involves identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders across the value chain, assessing the critical areas for action, measuring and reporting relevant data, creating KPIs, setting separate goals for all areas of action, structuring all activities via a specific ESG framework and formulating an action plan for the future company-wide transformation. Our team of ESG professionals is ready to guide and support you in every step of the process. 

In a world where ESG is a significant source of potential value, ESG reporting is fundamental. We will help you take control over your ESG performance, establish new reporting methodologies and systems. We dive deeper into the reporting strategy, the infrastructure and reporting operating model that wraps around processes, systems, data controls and disclosures - all needed and working together to enable you to tell your real ESG story. 
 

We can support you in a range of activities from defining your company’s ESG landscape to publishing your first ESG report.
 

Our services include: 

• ESG Analysis
  -  Defining the landscape through peer assessment and a current-state review

• ESG Strategy
  - Assessment of the impact of ESG factors on company's operations and finances & identifying immediate threats and risks
  - Preparing a map for the development and implementation of an ESG reporting strategy
  - Defining a disclosure approach relevant to your industry/peers blend and factored for materiality

• ESG Reporting
  - Translation of regulatory requirements into practice
  - Support aggregation of baseline data
  - Writing of the report

Now is the time to start preparing for the regulatory changes mandated by the introduction of the CSRD and the EU Taxonomy. We will help you assess your CSRD readiness for future compliant reporting and your ability to drive your strategy and achieve your goals. We will identify gaps from a reporting perspective and help you execute the first steps to close those gaps and achieve readiness for external verification.

Our services include:

• Initial analysis: How is your business impacted by CSRD
  
• Providing guidance and education on future reporting requirements
• Maturity assessment: Identifying currently tracked ESG data and assessing existing strategic ESG KPIs
• Identification of potential material topics based on industry benchmark & mandatory material topics based on ESRS & SASB Sector standards
• Support in setting up your system processes and controls to identify and capture the significant amount of data required to meet the disclosure requirements
• Preparation and implementation of EU Taxonomy reporting requirements

Double Materiality Assessment

We can support you in the double materiality assessment process to ensure that your sustainability reporting focuses on the topics that are most relevant for your business and its stakeholders. A key first step in the materiality assessment process is the identification and engagement of stakeholders. Our team can assist you in that process as well as in the identification of the potentially relevant sustainability matters, the impacts the organization has and the risks and opportunities they present. As a result, the material topics for your organization will be determined while taking into consideration your business goals and risks.

ESRS Reporting 

The collection of high-quality data from well-designed systems, processes and controls will need to be embedded into the company’s business to drive accountability and prepare for assurance. You can rely on our expertise in ESG reporting and governance, and the full range of our services in ESRS reporting - from identifying gaps in the disclosure requirements and providing recommendations, to guidance and assistance in data collection, and to assistance in the preparation of the report itself.

EU Taxonomy Reporting 

To foster and accelerate green investments, the EU Taxonomy provides clear rules on what can be classified as ‘green’ or ‘environmentally sustainable’ and enables direct comparisons between companies and informs investment decisions on the social and environmental impact of the business. With our extensive experience and knowledge, we support companies in scope to carry out an analysis of their economic activities with regard to their Taxonomy-eligibility and Taxonomy-alignment on the basis of the EU requirements and to identify and collect required data. In addition, our professionals can advise you on how to adapt your reporting systems and processes so that a holistic concept for effective Taxonomy reporting is developed and implemented, involving all key stakeholders.
 

Learn more about CSRD

To meet the rising ESG regulations and stakeholders' expectations in the changing market dynamics, financial institutions should integrate the green transition throughout their business model. Our expertise covers a broad spectrum of potential issues encountered when implementing ESG regulatory requirements in the financial sector. 
 

Our services include:

• Definition and implementation of supervisory expectations and regulatory requirements for ESG risks within the banking sector
• Developing and implementing banks’ C&E risks Action Plan
• Assistance in implementing C&E-related strategies and relevant KRIs and KPIs
• Developing a C&E risk stress testing framework
• Performing an As-Is Analysis for ESG risk disclosures
• Developing and implementing a Sustainable Finance Framework

Establishing an appropriate ESG governance framework is a prerequisite for effective integration of sustainability, social and governance considerations within the organization. PwC helps in devising a framework adequate to the requirements of  internal and external stakeholders, including investors and private and public financial institutions. The framework comprises the necessary policies, procedures and division of responsibilities and aims to find the proper balance between regulatory, market and other requirements and the maturity of the organization.

Our services include:

• Assistance in setting up or transforming the ESG governance framework

• Devising appropriate sustainability, social and governance policies and the procedures needed to implement them

• Devising monitoring mechanisms to ensure proper functioning of the ESG governance framework

Ensure compliance with evolving global regulations, including proposed or potential EU Directives related to sustainability, due diligence, climate, human rights and more. 
 

Our services include: 

• Advice on the ESG regulations relevant to the organization and the risk related to them
• Benchmarking against industry peers
• Setting up corporate sustainability due diligence policies and procedures
• Devising or adapting social and governance framework for the organization

The need to perform an ESG due diligence in addition to traditional streams like financial, legal, tax, commercial or technical due diligence as part of M&A transactions is already becoming the norm. We carry out a buy- or sell-side ESG due diligence tailored to the characteristics of the targeted business and the ESG goals and expectations of investors.

Our services include: 

• Buy- or sell-side ESG due diligence 

• ESG fact book

What is the purpose of the Regulation?

The main driver of deforestation is the expansion of agricultural land linked to the production of commodities such as cattle, timber, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and certain derived products like leather, chocolate, tires, or furniture.

Under the EUDR, any operator or trader placing these goods on the EU market or exporting them from the EU must be able to demonstrate that:

• The products do not originate from recently deforested land and do not contribute to forest degradation;
• They are produced in compliance with applicable laws in the country of origin, including those related to human rights;
• They are covered by a due diligence statement.

How we can support you?

We can help you assess your readiness and identify gaps in relation to EUDR requirements, as well as implement the necessary processes to achieve compliance.

Our services include:

• Initial Analysis: Identification of products in your portfolio that fall within the scope of the regulation.
• Role Determination: Clarifying your company’s role as an operator or trader for each relevant product.
• Defining Obligations: Based on relevant products and company role.
• Gap Analysis: Reviewing existing company processes related to procurement, supply chain management, data collection and storage, and supplier relationships.
• Design and Implementation of a Due Diligence System, including:

- Procedures for collecting required information

- Supplier selection criteria

- Risk assessment and mitigation procedures

- Mechanisms for reporting and record-keeping

See more

The EcoVadis assessment is based on a robust methodology that involves collecting company data, analyzing policies and practices, and evaluating them against international sustainability standards.

The assessment questionnaire is tailored to the company’s industry, geographic location, and size. Evaluations are conducted by international experts and are based on documented evidence provided by the company.

How we can support you?

We can support you in the preparation process for an EcoVadis assessment by:

• Identifying gaps in your current practices;
• Recommending actionable steps for improvement;
• Helping you build a resilient and verifiable sustainability management system.

Our Services Include:

• As-Is Assessment: Evaluation of your company’s readiness across the four key EcoVadis themes:

- Environment

- Labour and Human Rights

- Ethics

- Sustainable Procurement

• Gap Analysis:

- Identification of non-conformities;

- Detection of missing policies, objectives, indicators, and supporting evidence;

- Improvement recommendations, prioritized by importance and required resources.

• Document Development and Adaptation: Creation or revision of policies and procedures tailored to:

- Existing internal practices;

- Your company’s sustainability ambition;

- EcoVadis assessment criteria.