ESG-READY

The RCA Sustainability Assessment Scheme

What is ESG-READY

ESG-READY is the program developed by RCA – Risk Control Advisory to provide organizations with a concise, objective, and verifiable profile of their sustainability level.
Through an ESG rating system (Environmental, Social, Governance), ESG-READY measures organizations’ ability to manage, improve, and forecast its ESG performance, integrating it into strategic and operational processes.

The program allows organizations to:
• Issue an ESG-READY Statement indicating their rating level;
• Obtain verification or validation of the statement from RCA, with official registration.

The model is based on the reference standards UNI ISO/TS 17033:2020 and UNI/PdR 102:2021, and structured according to the accreditation standard ISO/IEC 17029:2020.

How it works

RCA has developed a dedicated digital platform that allows organizations to complete their ESG-READY Statement and receive the subsequent RCA assessment.

At the end of the process, if the outcome is positive, the organization receives a Verification/Validation Statement and officially becomes an ESG-READY Organization – ready to manage ESG topics in a structured and transparent way.

The assessment methodology

The ESG-READY method combines technical-scientific data, sector analyses, and criteria consistent with the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).

For each of the three ESG dimensions, 44 structured questions are analyzed and scored on a 0–3 scale.
The score is calculated for each pillar (E, S, G) and weighted according to the industry sector (20 sectors and 167 subsectors).

The methodology is updated annually based on:
• Regulatory developments and recent research;
• Feedback from clients and stakeholders;
• Relevance of ESG topics for each sector.

Rating categories

Level Score SummaryDescription
A – Advanced (Excellent) 81–100 Advanced ESG strategy, solid and transparent governance, full regulatory compliance.
B – Organized 61–80 Operational ESG policies with room for optimization; adequate governance with areas for improvement.
C – Acceptable 41–60 Partial management, tactical rather than systemic approach to ESG topics.
D – Limited 21–40 ESG strategy still to be structured; weak management of non-financial risks.
Critic (Not classified) <20 Absence of recognizable ESG systems or sustainability policies.

ESG Risk Levels

Score Risk Level Interpretation
81–100 Low High ESG maturity, effective management of risks and opportunities.
61–80 Limited Partial ESG integration with significant room for improvement.
41–60 Moderate Evolving approach, integration needs strengthening.
0–40 High Weak or absent ESG management, high exposure to non-financial risks.

Verification, Validation, and Level of Reliability

The program distinguishes between two models:
• ESG-past: referring to historical data and performance → Verification
• ESG-plan: based on projected data and objectives → Validation

The level of reliability can be:
• Limited – based on documentary verification of data;
• Reasonable – obtained through on-site audits conducted by qualified RCA assessors.

Maturity Levels

Depending on the quality and traceability of data (for ESG-past) or the forecasting capability (for ESG-plan), the following maturity levels are assigned:
BRONZE · SILVER · GOLD · PLATINUM · DIAMOND

Why choose ESG-READY

• Recognized and transparent tool to measure corporate sustainability;
• Alignment with European standards CSRD and ESRS;
• Ability to credibly communicate your ESG commitment to clients, investors, and stakeholders;
• RCA digital platform to manage the entire process autonomously;
• Technical and methodological support from qualified assessors.

Become an ESG-READY Organization

Show your concrete commitment to environmental, social, and governance sustainability.
Find out how to obtainyour ESG-READY Statement verified by RCA.