ESG Ratings Agency Alignment
How ZDHC data maps to major rating methodologies and disclosure frameworks.
ZDHC Data Meets ESG Ratings
ESG rating agencies and disclosure frameworks increasingly assess how companies manage chemical risk, pollution, and supply chain environmental performance. Two core ZDHC data exports — Performance InCheck (chemical inventory conformance) and ClearStream (wastewater quality) — address up to 4-6 distinct rating criteria across frameworks.
Global PFAS & Effluent Highlights
| ZDHC Metric | MSCI | Sustainalytics | S&P CSA | Moody's | Bloomberg | CDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRSL Conformance Gateway + InCheck | Toxic Emissions & Waste | Emissions, Effluents & Waste | Product Stewardship; Waste & Pollutants | Waste & Pollution | Hazardous waste / chemicals | Pollution-related indicators |
| Wastewater pass-rate ClearStream | Water Stress | Water Use - Supply chain | Water; Waste & Pollutants | Water management; Nature capital | Emissions to water | W1.2 / E2 - water pollution |
| Supplier-to-Zero Maturity level | Supply-chain labour | Human Rights - Supply chain | Supply-chain management | Responsible production | Governance pillar | Due diligence disclosure |
| Corrective actions closed | ESG Controversies | Incidents / management | MSA / Events | Event impact | N/A | Process indicators |
| Public disclosure Detox.Live | Transparency section | N/A | Transparency & Reporting | Transparency | Disclosure | Transparency |
Practical Applications for Investors
Due diligence
Request Gateway registration status, InCheck conformance levels, and ClearStream pass rates for target companies.
Portfolio monitoring
Track MRSL conformance progression (Level 1 → 2 → 3) and wastewater performance trends as leading indicators.
LP reporting
Use metrics for fund-level KPls (e.g., % of portfolio with ZDHC-aligned suppliers).
Engagement
Focus on supplier onboarding to Gateway and InCheck reporting requirements.
Case Study: MSCI Rating Progression
One Chinese brand collaborating with ZDHC to implement chemical management improvements saw its MSCI ESG Rating progress from B (2023) to A (2025).
Its Chemical Safety Score increased from 1.2 to 4.6 over the same period, providing rating analysts with verifiable evidence of proactive risk management.