A structured pathway to measuring ESG progress
Launched in 2024, the Member Progress Framework was developed to help firms strengthen their engagement with sustainable practices across trading operations in a way that was practical, measurable and industry aligned.
The framework mapped ESG progress through five clearly defined levels, helping firms demonstrate how they were contributing to industry-wide change through participation, implementation and advocacy.
It was designed to reflect the realities of trading businesses, supporting both internal goal- setting and external communication of ESG maturity.
Why it was created
As ESG became more central to the expectations of investors, clients and regulators, firms needed a consistent approach to tracking and communicating progress. The framework was designed to:
- Encourage structured engagement with ESG across trading teams
- Provide a pathway for gradual, demonstrable improvement
- Support peer comparison and transparency across the industry
ESG across trading teams
demonstrable improvement
transparency across the industry
How it was used
Firms progressed through five levels, each becoming incrementally more demanding. Advancement required action across three key dimensions:
Participation in Sustainable Trading’s work programme: including attendance in, contribution to and the leading of working group meetings.
Implementation of Sustainable Trading’s Best Practices: incorporating practical change within the trading business and measuring progress on implementation of this change.
Engagement on sustainability: advocating for change within the trading industry by socialising sustainability internally within the member and externally across the industry.
Completion of each level was self-assessed and verified, providing recognition for firms that demonstrated sustained commitment.
Where it lives on
The progress framework remains available here as a tool for any firm wishing to measure and advance its ESG maturity in trading.
While it was originally developed for member firms, it can now be used more broadly as a reference point, offering a structured approach to assess progress, plan improvements and support internal alignment. Some elements reflect the original membership model, but the core principles remain relevant and adaptable.
It also lives on through the member firms that helped shape and apply it, many of whom will continue to use it to guide planning, track progress and communicate their sustainability efforts.
How it works
The levels become incrementally more difficult to achieve, to provide an approach that allows for gradual improvement over time. The framework acts as a guide for members to advance, a tool for communicating progress with stakeholders, and to enable greater understanding of progress being made by providers. After verifying that all elements of a level are complete, a member is recognised for achieving that level.
The five Member Progress Framework levels
Work programme participation
- The firm has joined Sustainable Trading as a member.
- Representatives from the have joined and attended Sustainable Trading working group(s) and/or education sessions based on their interest in exploring Environmental, Social and Governance topics.
- Representatives from the member have joined the member portal, which gives them access to Sustainable Trading documents and resources.
Best Practices implementation
- A representative from the member has read through the “Implementation and Engagement Guide”, which has allowed for an understanding on the process for implementing the Best Practices and engaging with counterparts on sustainability.
- A representative from the member has reviewed the “Sustainable Trading Best Practices” and “Best Practices Metric Tracker” through the member portal, which has allowed for an understanding of the Best Practices themselves as well as their accompanied metrics used to assess progress on implementation.
Engagement on sustainability
- There has been communication with the relevant trading employees at the member firm which notes its membership of Sustainable Trading, a summary of the organisation, and ways to get involved.
Work programme participation
- Representatives from the member have been regular attendees in the Sustainable Trading working groups, education sessions, and/or combined working groups.
- Representatives from the member have contributed to the work developed within the Sustainable Trading working groups by providing ideas and/or feedback on projects.
Best Practices implementation
- The member has worked with Sustainable Trading to formulate a strategy in implementing Best Practices.
- The member has either: a) newly implemented three practices or b) at least 12 practices have been implemented (and remain active) in total.
Engagement on sustainability
- The Best Practices document has been shared and socialised within the trading team as well as with key stakeholders in the member firm.
- Discussion on sustainability progress forms a part of the member’s client/provider relationship management process.
Work programme participation
- Representatives from the member have been regular attendees in the Sustainable Trading working groups, education sessions, and/or combined working groups.
- Representatives from the member have contributed to the work developed within the Sustainable Trading working groups by providing ideas and/or feedback on projects.
Best Practices implementation
- The member has worked with Sustainable Trading to formulate a strategy in implementing Best Practices.
- The member has either: a) newly implemented three practices or b) at least 12 practices have been implemented (and remain active) in total.
Engagement on sustainability
- The Best Practices document has been shared and socialised within the trading team as well as with key stakeholders in the member firm.
- Discussion on sustainability progress forms a part of the member’s client/provider relationship management process.
Work programme participation
- If applicable, representatives from a different business group and/or a different region within the member firm have been onboarded onto the Sustainable Trading work programme.
- The member has demonstrated leadership in a subject area by running a Sustainable Trading session on a specific sustainability-related topic within the work programme.
Best Practices implementation
- The member has completed the Sustainable Trading’s “Formal Assessment” which reveals its “Sustainable Trading Metrics” to be shared with clients.
- Output of the “Formal Assessment” has been used to prioritise additional practices to be implemented.
Engagement on sustainability
- An internal working group or Sustainable Trading “leads” have met quarterly.
- The member formally asks for “Sustainable Trading Metrics” from supplier/vendors and/or the member shares their “Sustainable Trading Metrics” with clients, which allows for detailed dialogue between parties on sustainability.
Work programme participation
- If applicable, multiple business groups across multiple regions have been onboarded onto the Sustainable Trading work programme.
- A representative from the member is either a chair of a working group or a member of the Sustainable Trading board.
Best Practices implementation
- A process for measuring, prioritising and implementing Best Practices has been embedded in the business’ operational strategy, ensuring the member continuously improves on environmental, social, and governance sustainability.
Engagement on sustainability
- An internal working group or Sustainable Trading “leads” have set sustainability-related targets to obtain for the year and meet regularly to review them.
- Sustainability performance is considered within the members’ counterparty / venue / provider selection decision making where clients or strategies opt into this process. Sustainability outperformance or underperformance results in changes to selection decisions for the member.