Featured Pathways

More pathways

The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

More pathways

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Sustainability Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

More featured content

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Featured Pathways

More pathways

The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

More pathways

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Sustainability Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

More featured content

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Practitioner's Guide to ESRS S1

Practitioner's Guide to ESRS S1

Michelle Horsfield

25 years: Sustainable Finance

In this video, Michelle breaks down ESRS S1, she explains how this standard brings transparency to the way businesses treat their employees, covering everything from fair pay and safety to diversity, grievance mechanisms, and human rights. She also explores who ESRS S1 is for, what companies must disclose, and why it matters not just for investors and regulators, but for job seekers and internal teams too.

In this video, Michelle breaks down ESRS S1, she explains how this standard brings transparency to the way businesses treat their employees, covering everything from fair pay and safety to diversity, grievance mechanisms, and human rights. She also explores who ESRS S1 is for, what companies must disclose, and why it matters not just for investors and regulators, but for job seekers and internal teams too.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Practitioner's Guide to ESRS S1

15 mins 27 secs

Key learning objectives:

  • Understand the purpose of ESRS S1 and how it supports transparency on workforce impacts

  • Outline the key disclosure requirements on workforce policies, metrics, and qualitative information

  • Understand the human rights and ethical dimensions embedded within ESRS S1

  • Understand how workforce data, such as wages, diversity, and grievances, can reveal a company’s true values

Overview:

ESRS S1 sets out detailed reporting standards on how companies treat their own workers, helping investors, regulators, and even job seekers assess workforce practices. It covers everything from wages and health and safety to grievance processes, diversity, and training. With structured disclosure on both policies and metrics, S1 aims to drive transparency and accountability. The focus is not just on data but meaningful insights into culture, fairness, and rights, placing human dignity at the heart of sustainability reporting and ensuring business practices reflect societal values.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Summary
What is the purpose of ESRS S1 and who is it for?

ESRS S1 aims to standardise corporate reporting on how businesses impact their own workers. It supports investors in comparing companies on workforce practices and helps job seekers understand company culture. More broadly, it enhances transparency and accountability by requiring detailed reporting on the treatment of employees, from wages to inclusion, safety, and dialogue. It also plays a key role in aligning businesses with EU human rights expectations.

What types of information must companies disclose under ESRS S1?

S1 requires both quantitative data (e.g. wages, gender breakdown, turnover, training hours) and qualitative descriptions (e.g. grievance processes, diversity policies, worker engagement structures). Key areas include fair pay, collective bargaining, anti-discrimination efforts, inclusion of vulnerable groups, and internal remediation. This dual focus allows stakeholders to assess both the numbers and the culture behind them.

Why is the human rights framework so central to ESRS S1?

The standard is grounded in international human rights frameworks like the UNGPs and ILO declarations. It recognises that issues such as fair pay, workplace safety, dignity, and voice are not just ESG metrics they’re rights. AI, supply chains, and vulnerable worker groups raise risks that must be addressed proactively. S1 puts human rights at the centre of workforce transparency, not as an afterthought.

How can the S1 disclosures be practically useful to different audiences?

Investors can assess labour risks, job seekers can evaluate company culture, and regulators can track compliance with EU laws. Internally, it forces HR and legal teams to assess whether they’re truly upholding their responsibilities. The disclosures, made available in digital formats, allow for easy comparison and benchmarking across sectors, bringing workforce treatment into the spotlight in ESG reporting.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Michelle Horsfield

Michelle Horsfield

Michelle Horsfield, an environmental scientist with a climate change specialisation, transitioned into the financial sector four years ago to apply her knowledge to the largest reallocation of capital in history, as the economy moves towards a lower carbon future.

There are no available Videos from "Michelle Horsfield"