A topic at 10:15 AM that the CESG Conference will address is the journey from greenwashing to the current ESG backlash.
ESG has long been associated with concerns over exaggerated or misleading sustainability claims. Greenwashing has been repeatedly flagged as a persistent issue, companies overstating their environmental or social credentials in marketing materials, while cases of misconduct have continued to surface. Financial institutions, too, have struggled to balance sustainability pressures with credible practices.
How did we get here?
Now, we are witnessing a shift from greenwashing concerns to an outright ESG backlash. The latest developments in the regulatory landscape mark a turning point. The backlash has led many firms to rethink their terminology.
A growing number no longer use the label ESG and instead speak simply of sustainability, partly to mitigate the reputational risks linked to the politicization of ESG. For example, in Europe, 35 sustainable investment products recently changed their names to avoid ESG-related terms, while 116 dropped ESG terminology altogether.
This shift illustrates how companies are adapting their language in an effort to preserve credibility and improve public understanding.
Regulators appear to be moving from guidance to enforcement, meaning big companies can no longer rely on vague or aspirational claims without risking legal and reputational consequences.
About the CESG Conference - ESG in Times of Challenge
The CESG Conference 2025, co-host by EFFAS and ABAF-BVFA, with the sponsorhsip of Belfius, will explore key ESG trends, from the shift away from greenwashing and the growing backlash in the U.S. to the EU’s evolving regulatory landscape under the Omnibus procedure.
Sessions (see the programme) will cover developments in ESG investment strategies, the role of strategic intangibles, AI integration, and reporting interoperability. The agenda also includes discussions on ESG data quality and the next steps in environmental focus, including biodiversity and net-zero targets.
The event will gather top experts from the European Commission, academia, asset management, and corporate sustainability for a forward-looking exchange on the future of ESG.
About EFFAS
EFFAS is a Not-for-profit organisation set up in 1962 with 15 national member associations in Europe, representing more than 18,000 Financial analysts, Asset managers, pension fund managers, corporate finance specialists, risk managers, treasurers among many other professional profiles from the investment profession. EFFAS is a certification body for finance with over 27,000 certificate holders worldwide.
For any further information, please contact:
Álvaro Wagener Díez | Marketing & Communications Manager
E-mail: a.wagener@effas.com | Phone Number: +49 69 98959519
