Our research
EIRIS research is based on a fully transparent and holistic research methodology which is certified according to external industry quality standards.
We provide offer consistent, comparable data on over 80 different ESG research areas, including board practice, bribery and corruption, managing environmental and climate change impacts, human rights and supply chain labour standards. We also monitor company involvement in activities such as the manufacture of controversial weapons or animal testing.
Our standard research universe includes around 3,000 companies and covers major national and international indices. Additionally, we research 7,000 companies on a more focused basis. Furthermore, our research universe can be extended to provide bespoke coverage of additional companies and issues.
EIRIS has a multinational team, with over 50 staff in our offices in London, Boston and Paris. Our global network of research partners further extends our coverage and keeps us abreast of responsible investment issues at the local level. The EIRIS partner network includes research organisations in Australia, France, Israel, Germany, Spain and South Korea.
Our researchers and the EIRIS network around the world work to a common framework with clear and transparent indicators. The assessment methods we use have been developed over time to reflect international and other external norms, and particular client needs. We don't provide consultancy services to the companies we research.
The research process
Our core process begins with the data companies make public. We then send targeted questionnaires to companies in areas where the public data is unclear. This results in considerable focused dialogue with companies, and also encourages them to address the issues of concern to investors and to improve their public reporting. Sector specialists within each team review the research conducted by colleagues before it is released.
Sources and methods
We use a wide range of other sources: NGO reports, media coverage, trade and other journals and data made public by regulators.
We create and update the approach to many areas of our research in dialogue with NGOs, companies and clients with a particular interest so as to establish both good and leading practice in a form useful to investors. Clients can then distinguish those companies addressing the issue from those that do not. We grade separately those likely to be able to control the relevant risks and those who have built a leadership position on the issue. Assessments in many areas distinguish policy, management systems, reporting and performance. Investors can then place then different weight on each aspect and identify what stage a company has reached on the issue.
