In the fast-changing landscape of sustainability, many organisations launch their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) strategy with enthusiasm, investment, and a clear ambition to do better. However, by the time they reach the one-year mark, momentum has faded. Reporting slows. Engagement dips. Initial wins are celebrated, but long-term progress begins to stall.
Why does this happen so often?
ESG isn’t a campaign, it’s a transformation and like any transformation, the early excitement only carries you so far – well call this, ‘crossing the chasm’ of engagement.
In this blog we’ll share the most common reasons ESG progress drops off after year one, how to avoid them and also how you and your organisations can turn those challenges into long-term, measurable success.
Reasons why your ESG strategy is failing and how to solve it
In many organisations, ESG initiatives start strong but remain disconnected from core business priorities. Here are eight reasons your ESG strategy might be failing and the solutions to fix it:
- Your employees are disengaged in your strategy
The Problem
Participation in ESG initiatives is low, signalling disconnect or frustration from those you’re trying to connect with. Without strong engagement, progress stalls and the strategy loses credibility.
The Solution
Remove barriers to participation by offering varied, accessible involvement options especially for remote staff or those with responsibilities that leave them away from the office environment more than most. Strengthen communication to make ESG actions feel relevant and motivating.
- You haven’t reviewed and readjusted your targets
The Problem
ESG targets evolves quickly, and repeating the same plan each year risks making your strategy outdated or misaligned with major social, environmental, or business shifts.
The Solution
Build a regular review cycle using multiple inputs, employee and customer feedback, ESG results, and expert guidance. Make annual revision a mandatory part of your strategy.
- You’ve underestimated the importance of communication
The Problem
Your ESG ambitions or wins aren’t being seen, weakening external branding and internal momentum. Without a structured communication plan, achievements stay invisible.
The Solution
Create a stronger internal and external communication approach. A dedicated platform or space like the ones Greenredeem can enable your individuals and teams to share their wins.
- You’re trying to do too much
The Problem
Your ESG strategy may be overly ambitious, unfocused, or unrealistic, leading to overwhelm and inconsistent delivery.
The Solution
Refocus on your business’s core strengths (or most urgent weaknesses). Keep goals achievable so progress stays motivating and sustainable. It’s easier to achieve a small target 10 times over than it is to achieve a big target once.
- Your focus is unbalanced
The Problem
ESG strategies often overemphasise Environmental goals while neglecting Social and Governance areas, creating skewed reports and long-term risks.
The Solution
Balance your approach across all three pillars. Redraft goals to ensure consistent, meaningful progress in Environment, Social, and Governance – not just the easiest metrics. Ask yourself how each target relates to each element of ESG.
- You see ESG as a competition
The Problem
Treating ESG like a way to outshine competitors encourages superficial wins over real, long-term progress, and can make your efforts feel inauthentic.
The Solution
Collaborate rather than compete. Shared learning and joint initiatives strengthen authenticity and reinforce the true purpose of ESG, creating positive impact.
- You haven’t digitally evolved
The Problem
Without the use of digital in an ESG system, communication becomes fragmented, participation drops, progress is hard to measure, and reporting becomes challenging.
The Solution
Implement a modern ESG platform that can do all the heavy lifting for you when it comes to engaging and communicating with customers or employees. At Greenredeem, our users receive weekly bite-sized content, including videos, quizzes, and pledges. This engaging format helps the audience learn valuable sustainability insights while rewarding them for taking part.
The bottom line: ESG success takes more than good intentions
The organisations that maintain ESG momentum beyond the first year are the ones that recognise a simple truth: ESG is not a box-ticking exercise, it’s a long-term cultural shift.
Real progress happens when ESG becomes part of everyday decision-making, employee behaviour, and long-term business planning. That requires consistent communication, meaningful engagement, smart measurement and the right technology to hold it all together.
If your ESG strategy has stalled, the good news is it’s not too late to reset. By refocusing on clarity, balance and participation and by using tools that make ESG simple, measurable and rewarding, you can reignite progress and turn early enthusiasm into lasting impact.
