Tracking ESG Reputation Risks
One year of controversy assessments: 1,381 controversies across 993 companies, and what they reveal about how ESG risk really unfolds.
Executive summary
September 2025 marks the one-year anniversary of the Sentometrics ESG Risk Monitor's large-scale controversy assessment. Over this period, the database has documented 1,381 controversies across 993 unique companies, spanning governance and regulatory non-compliance, labour rights and social dumping, and customer and consumer protection, alongside geopolitical and energy-transition controversies.
The Sentometrics ESG Reputation Risk Monitor equips stakeholders with early warning signals across key ESG themes, connecting controversies to both financial and reputational risk, and supporting more resilient and sustainable decision-making.
Key findings
1,381
Controversies documented993
Unique companies involved8
ESG thematic clusters tracked60%
Controversies with a company responseGovernance failures top the list
Governance, business ethics and regulatory compliance is the most frequent controversy theme, followed by labour rights & social dialogue and customer & consumer protection.
Most controversies stay unresolved for years
Roughly 40% of controversies are classified as resolved, while 60% remain unresolved, often because cases are still being litigated, investigated or scrutinized, not because they are more severe.
Courts and employees surface the most cases
Courts and prosecutors are the most prominent source of controversies, followed by employees and whistleblowers, then national and regional authorities, local communities and unions.
A fast, credible response shortens the controversy
Companies respond in about 60% of recorded controversies. Early acknowledgement, concrete corrective action and transparent disclosure are the strongest predictors of a shorter controversy lifecycle.
Most exposed companies
Number of documented controversies, one-year total
1
Deutsche Bank
25
2
BNP Paribas Group
24
3
KBC Group
24
4
Proximus
21
5
bpost
21
6
AB InBev
20
7
NMBS / SNCB
19
8
Meta Platforms
19
Who relies on the ESG Risk Monitor
Investors & lenders
Anticipate reputational and financial risk before it shows up in the numbers.
Risk & compliance teams
Benchmark counterparties and flag emerging governance or regulatory exposure.
Corporate communications & reputation teams
Track how controversies emerge, spread and get resolved, so you can plan a faster response.
ESG & sustainability analysts
Link controversy signals to financial and impact materiality under CSRD.
NGOs & journalists
Follow which stakeholders are driving accountability, and where the pressure is mounting.
All stakeholders
Support anyone assessing a counterparty, portfolio company or supplier's ESG exposure.
Want to see how a specific company or sector is exposed?
Contact us to discuss access to the full ESG Risk Monitor database and dashboard.