Brand Usage Policy

1. Purpose, Scope and Definitions

1.1 Purpose

The ESG Institute (ESGI) is a global sustainability education, accreditation, advisory and solutions organisation, incorporated in the Isle of Man (company number 136255C) and registered with the Isle of Man Information Commissioner (ICO registration R857425). This Brand Usage Policy sets out the terms on which The ESG Institute permits other parties to use its name, logo, badges, seals, post-nominal letters and other brand assets. It protects the value of The ESG Institute's brand for the benefit of the wider community it serves, including the 21,000+ professionals it has trained across 80+ markets.

1.2 Scope

This Policy applies to every party granted permission to use The ESG Institute's brand assets, including:

  • Accredited Parties (professional trainers, training institutions, accredited programmes and accredited events);

  • Global Partners Network members;

  • Ambassador Programme participants;

  • Country and distribution partners;

  • Individual members and alumni entitled to use post-nominal letters; and

  • Corporate members.

A party within any of these categories is referred to in this Policy as an "Authorised User". This Policy does not govern The ESG Institute's internal Team Member or Executive Team seals, which identify employees of The ESG Institute and are administered under internal policy rather than this external-facing Brand Usage Policy.

1.3 Relationship to Other Policies

This Policy should be read alongside the Accredited Party Code of Conduct and the Educational Accreditation Policy. Section 14 of the Educational Accreditation Policy confirms that use of The ESG Institute's accreditation badge, logo and designation is governed by this Policy, and that The ESG Institute may withdraw permission to use its branding at any time where this Policy is not being followed. Where a partnership, distribution, or other commercial agreement expressly incorporates this Policy, the terms of that agreement and this Policy apply together, and this Policy governs the specific question of how The ESG Institute's brand assets may be used.

1.4 Key Definitions

Marks means The ESG Institute's name, logo, wordmark, colour palette, accreditation badges, digital membership and role seals, post-nominal letters, Certified Sustainable Business seals, partnership designations, and any other trademark, trade name, designation or visual asset owned by The ESG Institute.

Authorised User means any party described in section 1.2 who has been granted permission to use the Marks under this Policy.

Accreditation Period means the period for which an Authorised User's accreditation, certification, membership or partnership remains current and unexpired.

2. General Principles of Use

2.1 Licence, Not Ownership

The ESG Institute owns all right, title and interest in the Marks. This Policy grants Authorised Users a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence to use the Marks strictly in accordance with its terms. No other rights are granted, and nothing in this Policy transfers ownership of any Mark to an Authorised User.

2.2 Accuracy

An Authorised User must ensure that any use of the Marks accurately reflects the scope, level and current status of the accreditation, certification, membership or partnership giving rise to the permission to use them.

3. Logo and Wordmark

3.1 Approved Artwork

The ESG Institute logo and wordmark must only be used in the official artwork files supplied or approved by The ESG Institute. An Authorised User must not recreate, redraw or approximate the logo using other fonts or design tools.

3.2 Colour Variants

The primary logo uses The ESG Institute's brand colour, tan (#A3826C), together with approved black, white and reversed variants for use on dark or light backgrounds. An Authorised User must select the variant appropriate to the background and must not apply any other colour to the logo.

3.3 Clear Space

An Authorised User must maintain clear space around the logo equal to at least half the logo's height on all sides, free of text, images or other graphic elements.

3.4 Minimum Size

The logo must not be reproduced smaller than the point at which its text and detail remain clearly legible. [To confirm: an exact minimum size in pixels for digital use and millimetres for print, so this section can state a fixed figure rather than a legibility standard.]

3.5 Typography

Where The ESG Institute's own materials are reproduced, its typefaces are Acumin Pro for headings on the live website, Poppins (weights 300, 400 and 500) for web body text, and Montserrat for print. An Authorised User is not required to adopt these typefaces in its own materials, but must not present The ESG Institute's wordmark or headings in a different typeface in a way that could be mistaken for an official ESG Institute communication.

3.6 Alterations Prohibited

The logo and wordmark must not be stretched, skewed, recoloured, rotated, animated, combined with other graphic elements, or otherwise altered.

3.7 Approved Contexts

Subject to this Policy, an Authorised User may display the logo on its own website, marketing materials, certificates and signage to indicate its accredited, certified, partnered or member status with The ESG Institute.

4. Accreditation Badges

4.1 Badge Types

The ESG Institute issues four types of accreditation badge: Accredited Professional Trainer, Accredited Training Institution, Accredited Programme, and Accredited Event.

4.2 Verification Link

Every digital badge must link directly to The ESG Institute's certificate verification page at www.the-esg-institute.org/certificate-verification. A badge that does not carry this link must not be published.

4.3 Duration of Use

A badge may only be displayed while the accreditation to which it relates remains current and unexpired. On expiry, suspension or revocation of accreditation, the badge must be removed in accordance with section 14.

4.4 Restrictions

A badge must not be resized disproportionately, recoloured, cropped, or combined with other logos or badges. A badge must not be displayed alongside content, products or services that fall outside the accredited scope in a way that implies the accreditation extends beyond that scope.

5. Post-Nominal Letters

5.1 Approved Post-Nominal Letters

  • Diplomas: DESGS, DESF, DCMCF, DUAECL, DCBAM, DESI, DCSRD

  • Certificates: CESGR, FCST, CAIPS

  • Accredited Trainers: ATESGI

  • Membership tiers: LESGI (Alumni), AESGI (Associate), PESGI (Professional), FESGI (Fellow)

5.2 Conditions of Use

An individual may use a post-nominal only while holding the relevant qualification, certification, accreditation or membership, and only while it remains current and unexpired. Post-nominals must be used in the form set out above, for example "Jane Smith, DESGS", and must not be combined, abbreviated or altered. An individual holding more than one post-nominal may list them in the order in which they were obtained. Post-nominals must not be used in a way that implies a qualification or scope of expertise broader than that actually held. Each membership tier in this section also carries an official digital seal, described in section 6.

6. Digital Membership and Role Seals

6.1 Format

The ESG Institute issues a uniform digital seal for certain membership tiers and programme designations. Each seal uses the same gold starburst border, brand-brown radial background, the ESG Institute tree emblem and wordmark, a circular perimeter tagline, and a coloured tag naming the specific designation, for example "AMBASSADOR" or "CORPORATE".

6.2 Who May Use Each Seal

A seal may be used only by the party it names, and only for the designation shown on the seal:

  • The LESGI, AESGI, PESGI and FESGI seals, by members of the corresponding membership tier;

  • The Corporate Member seal, by Corporate Members; and

  • The Ambassador seal, by Ambassador Programme participants.

6.3 Duration of Use

A seal may only be displayed while the membership, corporate membership, or Ambassador status to which it relates remains current and unexpired. On expiry, lapse, or revocation of that status, the seal must be removed in accordance with section 14.

6.4 Source Files and Alterations

A seal must be used only in the file supplied by The ESG Institute. An Authorised User must not recreate the seal, alter its colours or wording, remove or replace the designation tag, or combine it with other logos or badges.

7. Certified Sustainable Business Seals

7.1 Tiers

The Certified Sustainable Business seal is awarded at one of three tiers, Bronze, Silver or Gold, reflecting the score achieved in the underlying assessment.

7.2 Current Certification Required

A business may display its Certified Sustainable Business seal only for as long as its certification remains current and unexpired. On expiry of a certification period without renewal, the business must remove the seal in accordance with section 14.

7.3 Accurate Tier Representation

A business must display only the seal for the tier it has actually been awarded. A business must not display a higher tier, an outdated tier following re-assessment, or a generic "Certified Sustainable Business" seal that does not identify the tier held.

8. Co-Branding

8.1 Accredited Programmes Only

No party may co-brand a programme, course, event or piece of content with The ESG Institute's name or Marks unless that programme, course or event has been formally accredited under the Educational Accreditation Policy.

8.2 Approval and Format

Co-branding of an accredited programme must follow the logo and clear space requirements in section 3, must clearly identify both parties, and must not imply a joint venture, partnership or shared ownership beyond the accreditation relationship actually in place. Any co-branding format that departs from the standard accreditation badge, for example a jointly designed cover page or certificate, requires prior written approval from The ESG Institute under section 11.

9. Partnership and Network Designations

9.1 Global Partners Network

A Global Partners Network member may use the designation "In partnership with The ESG Institute" and an @the-esg-institute.info email address for the duration of its membership. No other partnership wording, for example "official partner", "strategic partner" or "in association with", may be used without prior written approval.

9.2 Country and Distribution Partners

A party appointed as a country or distribution partner may use The ESG Institute's logo, images, website content and tools strictly as set out in its partnership agreement and this Policy, for the purpose of distributing The ESG Institute's programmes within its designated territory. Use of the Marks outside the scope of the partnership agreement, or after the agreement has ended, is not permitted.

9.3 Ambassador Programme

An Ambassador Programme participant may use their individual referral link, any marketing materials supplied by The ESG Institute, and The ESG Institute's official Ambassador digital seal (section 6), for the purpose of referring learners, members or clients, for as long as their Ambassador status remains active. An Ambassador must not represent themselves as an employee, officer or exclusive representative of The ESG Institute, and must not create their own variations of The ESG Institute's logo, seal or marketing materials.

9.4 Corporate Members

A Corporate Member may use the designation "Corporate Member of The ESG Institute", its digital Corporate Certificate, and The ESG Institute's official Corporate Member seal (section 6) on its website, proposals and communications, for the duration of its membership.

10. Prohibited Uses

Regardless of category, no Authorised User may:

(a) use the Marks in a way that implies The ESG Institute endorses a product, service or organisation beyond the accreditation, certification, membership or partnership actually granted;

(b) use the Marks to imply accreditation, certification or membership that has not been granted, or that has expired, lapsed or been revoked;

(c) misrepresent the scope, level or tier of any accreditation or certification;

(d) incorporate any Mark, or a confusingly similar variation of one, into a domain name, subdomain, email address or social media handle;

(e) alter, distort, recolour or recombine any Mark in a way not expressly permitted by this Policy;

(f) use the Marks in connection with content that is unlawful, discriminatory or misleading, or that could bring The ESG Institute into disrepute; or

(g) sublicense, sell or transfer permission to use the Marks to any third party.

11. Requests Outside Standard Permissions

Any use of the Marks that falls outside the standard permissions set out in this Policy requires prior written approval from The ESG Institute. Requests should be sent to team@the-esg-institute.org, describing the proposed use, the materials involved, and the intended duration. The ESG Institute will respond within a reasonable time and may grant, refuse, or attach conditions to any approval at its sole discretion.

12. Consequences and Withdrawal of Permission

12.1 Grounds for Withdrawal

The ESG Institute may suspend, restrict or withdraw any party's permission to use its Marks at any time, with or without prior notice, where it considers that this Policy has not been observed, where a use of the Marks risks damaging The ESG Institute's reputation or credibility, or where the underlying accreditation, certification, membership or partnership on which the permission depends has expired, lapsed or been revoked.

12.2 No Breach

Withdrawal of permission under this Policy does not constitute a breach of any underlying agreement between the party and The ESG Institute.

12.3 Interaction with the Code of Conduct

Where the party is also an Accredited Party, action taken under this Policy is without prejudice to any investigation, suspension or revocation carried out under the Accredited Party Code of Conduct.

13. Amendments to This Policy

This Policy may be amended by The ESG Institute at any time. Authorised Users will be notified of material changes where practicable and are responsible for complying with the current version, as published at www.the-esg-institute.org/brand-usage-policy.

14. Expiry, Revocation or Termination

On expiry, non-renewal, suspension, revocation or termination of the accreditation, certification, membership or partnership giving rise to permission under this Policy, the party must stop using the relevant Marks and must remove them from its website, social media profiles and handles, email signatures, signage, and all other public-facing materials within 7 calendar days.

15. Contact

For any questions about this Policy, or to request permission for a use not covered above, please contact team@the-esg-institute.org.

Note: This Brand Usage Policy may be amended by The ESG Institute at any time. Authorised Users are responsible for complying with the latest version.

Last updated: 4th September 2026