A practical toolkit for Sustainable Trading operations

The Sustainable Trading Best Practices was developed through the collective input of member firms to support meaningful environmental, social and governance (ESG) improvements within trading operations.

Originally released to members in December 2022, the library covers six core themes:

Technology Infrastructure

Environmental Business Practices

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Community Engagement

Employee Wellbeing

Governance & Desk Practices

Together, these areas comprise 83 practical actions, designed to reflect real operational scenarios and enable firms to take credible, structured steps toward sustainable business practices.

While originally created for internal member use, the library is now publicly available to support broader industry learning and application. The document was last updated in March 2025.

Why it was created

The library provides firms with a practical starting point, whether they are well along their ESG journey or just beginning, aiming to:

  • Encourage consistent, industry-aligned practices across E, S and G themes
  • Recognise and reinforce the progress many firms have already made
  • Offer guidance to firms looking to identify new areas for operational improvement

How it was used

The library was adopted, tested and refined by Sustainable Trading member firms over time. Feedback loops and collaborative input helped shape the content, while Steering Groups across ESG themes endorsed the initial set for member-wide application.

The library was also linked to the Member Progress Framework, providing a way to measure adoption and communicate progress in a clear, comparable way.

Where it lives on

The best practices library lives on through the member firms that helped define, refine and embed them into their operations. By continuing to apply and adapt these practices, firms carry forward the ethos of Sustainable Trading, making sustainability a core part of how trading operates.

The resource remains available to support any firm looking to embed ESG into day-to-day activities. It represents not just a snapshot in time, but a practical foundation for future progress.