In boardrooms across Australia, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has evolved from a buzzword into a business imperative.

Customers demand purpose. Investors expect transparency. Regulators are tightening compliance. While the “E” in ESG often dominates headlines, it’s the “S” - social - that is rapidly emerging as a key competitive advantage.

So, how can your business transform good intentions into real, measurable social outcomes? Partner with social enterprises.

Turning decommissioned tech into social treasure

Every year, thousands of Australian businesses accumulate outdated laptops, desktops, phones, and servers - many of which end up in landfill. But what if your retired tech could be repurposed to feed hungry families, reduce your carbon footprint, and boost your ESG credentials?

This is already happening.

PonyUp for Good (PUFG), a certified social enterprise and Social Traders member, helps businesses turn retired technology into positive community impact. Their simple yet powerful model includes:

• Collecting and data-wiping decommissioned IT equipment
• Refurbishing reusable devices and responsibly recycling the rest
• Donating 50% of profits to SecondBite, Australia’s leading food rescue charity

Thanks to this model, PUFG has:

• Diverted over 600,000 kg of e-waste from landfill
• Refurbished 32% of collected tech for reuse
• Donated over 1 million meals for Australians in need

New to the ranch - PonyUp is helping businesses go further by integrating auditable carbon reporting into their process.

Measurable impact: Now with built-in Net-Zero reporting

In a first-of-its-kind Australian partnership, PonyUp for Good has teamed up with Rejoose, a global leader in emissions tracking for IT assets. This collaboration means your business can:

• Track the lifetime carbon footprint of IT assets
• Quantify the CO₂ emissions avoided via refurbishing instead of replacing or through recycling of IT assets
• Meet ESG and Net Zero reporting requirements with confidence

As PonyUp co-founder Cat Harding explains:

“Clients aren’t just asking for carbon reporting - they’re demanding it. With Net Zero no longer optional, this solution gives businesses the data they need to prove real impact.”

This market-first initiative turns retired tech into carbon savings, social good, and business advantage - all in one.

Nando's & PonyUp for Good

Nando's started working with PonyUp in 2018 as a part of their social procurement strategy and to work towards fulfilling their brand purpose of ‘changing lives, together.

Kriss Alexander, Nando’s Changing Lives Manager says,

"Ensuring the most environmental outcome for our technology disposal is something our team can really get behind and the fact that it also feeds people in need, is a positive contribution to our ESG objectives. Nando's is currently developing our decarbonisation strategy, so we are very excited to chat to the PonyUp team about how their new CO2 reporting can add value to this goal."

"Since our partnership with PonyUp for Good commenced, Nando's has donated decommissioned technology from our head office as well as placing e-waste bins at strategic locations across the country."

To date PonyUp has collected 4763 kilos of technology from Nando's locations across Australia and turned it into 6634 fresh meals via SecondBite.

Social performance gaining importance

Today’s businesses are expected to deliver more than profit; they must create social value. This is no longer an exception but the expectation. Customers are demanding it, investors are looking for it and employees are drawn to it.

Social performance means generating positive outcomes for employees, suppliers, customers, and communities - going beyond financial returns. While the environmental component often grabs attention, the social dimension is rapidly climbing executive agendas for compelling reasons:

• Boost brand reputation and sales: Over 60% of consumers consider ethics and sustainability when purchasing, growing by 10% annually (PwC).
• Attract and retain talent: More than 40% of executives weigh ESG in career decisions (Economist Impact).
• Meet investor demand: 70% of investors link strong ESG to higher returns; over half plan to increase sustainable investments (Morgan Stanley).
• Stay ahead of competitors: 76% of leaders plan to increase social impact investments in the next year; 94% of CFOs say social factors will be a top priority by 2030 (benevity).

Prioritising social performance is not a trade-off - it’s a strategic advantage. Companies championing social impact aren’t sacrificing profit; they are future-proofing success.

The regulatory imperative: Don’t wait to comply, lead

Governments are increasingly mandating that businesses address social and environmental challenges - and prove their impact.

In Australia, large companies must disclose climate risks and sustainability efforts under mandatory ESG reporting. By 2026, these regulations will extend to more businesses, aligning with global standards like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Yet social impact reporting still lags behind. A KPMG study reveals:

• While 84% of ASX100 companies mention the social aspect of ESG, only 1% quantify their social impact.

The message is clear: don’t wait for regulations to force your hand. Businesses that view compliance as an opportunity to create value will lead the future.

The urgency: Why social and environmental impact matters now

Beyond regulatory pressures, social impact is critical because Australia still faces deep inequalities. Monash’s Transforming Australia report reveals:

• 1 in 8 Australians lives in poverty
• Indigenous Australians experience homelessness at 10 times the rate of non-Indigenous people
• Only 53% of people with disability are employed, compared to 84% without disability
• Migrants and refugees earn significantly less than the national average
• Women work 44 extra days annually to match men’s pay

Stakeholders expect businesses to be part of closing these gaps - and they want results fast.

The gap and the opportunity in Australia

Despite progress, many companies overlook the “social” side of ESG - focusing narrowly on diversity in their workforce and donations.

A recent Corporate Social Investment (CSI) report shows:

• Only 55% of key social indicators are reported by ASX100 firms
• Most social reporting covers internal metrics like diversity (98%) and employee training (91%)
• Broader social impacts on communities, supply chains, and human rights remain largely unmeasured

This is a missed opportunity. Regulators, investors, and customers expect more. Social Traders can help you confidently measure and report your social performance outcomes.

Get started

Whether you’re just starting or scaling your impact, we offer the expertise and network to help you embed social value into your operations.

Partner with us to access:

• Australia’s largest database of certified social enterprises delivering measurable social impact
• Expert guidance to embed social value across procurement, supplier diversity, and inclusive employment
• Social impact reporting aligned with ESG and regulatory expectations
• A national community of purpose-led organisations, including ANZ, Mirvac, Westpac, Deloitte, ANZ, Nando’s and John Holland

To date, we’ve helped over 300 businesses:

• Diversify supply chains
• Support disadvantaged communities
• Uplift their knowledge in inclusive hiring practices