ENSOR is one of the market leaders in consulting services for environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) in accordance with both the national requirements of Russia and the CIS countries, and the requirements of international standards and best practices (European Union Directives, IFC standards, requirements of IFIs, such as EBRD, World Bank, Equator Principles signatories, industry standards, etc.).
Our impact assessment services help our clients gain approval from regulators, the public, and financiers (banks, export credit agencies) through early identification and practical management of environmental and social risks and impacts. This helps clients achieve their goals on time, gain broad stakeholder support, attract third-party funding on favourable terms, and put in place effective tools to manage identified impacts and risks.
ENSOR has a deep understanding of environmental and social issues, as well as stakeholder engagement procedures which is based on many years of experience in successfully developing ESIAs for major investment projects in various industries in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other neighbouring countries.
The services we provide include:
·       Environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) in accordance with national requirements and requirements of international financial institutions
·       Cumulative and transboundary impacts assessment
·       Development of environmental and social design criteria, taking into account national and international requirements
·       Development of environmental and social impacts and risks management plans during construction, operation and closure stages, including such aspects as:

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Grievance mechanism
• Air Emissions and Noise
• Water Resources
• Waste
• Contractors
• Health and Safety
• Transport Safety
• Biodiversity
• Hazardous Materials and Substances
• Soil and Groundwater
• Accommodation
• Resettlement and Economic Displacement
• Human Rights
• Cultural Heritage
• Environmental and Social Monitoring
• Assistance with Environmental Permitting and Compliance

ENSOR conducts environmental baseline studies and engineering and environmental surveys for the design of various enterprises and industries in Russia and neighbouring countries in accordance with the requirements of national legislation and, if required, international standards (if, for example, clients plan to borrow funds for their projects from international financial organizations). In this case, a wider range of environmental studies is required, including the use of specific techniques. Such studies are necessary to assess potential impacts of the proposed activity and confirm compliance of the project with international requirements which in some areas are more comprehensive than those adopted nationally.
We also offer services for assessing environmental conditions of greenfield and brownfield sites as well as operating facilities. Such assessments may be required as part of the land acquisition process for sites which are, or have been used for operations characterised by a high risk of past or ongoing contamination of soil and groundwater. An assessment is undertaken to confirm the presence or absence of contamination, assess its extent and potential financial and/or legal liability for the site owner, and develop a cleanup plan, if necessary.
Due to the stricter requirements for the assessment and elimination of historical contamination, existing industries also require an assessment of the current level of impact on soils and groundwater and associated risks. In case of high significance of risks, programs must be developed to minimize them.
ENSOR experts have many years of experience in assessing the environmental baseline of industrial sites in oil and gas, mining, metallurgical, chemical, automotive and other sectors. In providing services we are guided by both national requirements and international standards and best practices (e.g., ASTM E1903 Standard Guide for Phase II Environmental Site Assessments).
The services we provide include:
·       Environmental engineering and ecological baseline studies
·       Assessment of contaminated land plots and territories using the best international methodologies and approaches
·       Asbestos-containing materials presence assessment and management plans development
·       Polychlorinated biphenyls presence assessment and management plans development
·       Environmental monitoring

Independent EHS&S assessments and audits are an important tool for ensuring compliance with legal requirements, internal corporate standards, and best international practices. By proactively identifying issues through assessments and audits and addressing them through corrective and preventive actions, clients improve their EHS&S performance, prevent incidents, violations, and fines, and increase their attractiveness to investors, customers, and other stakeholders. An independent assessment or audit also enables clients to justify investment in the necessary corrective and preventive actions.
Our experts have extensive experience in conducting independent EHS&S assessments and audits of various scale in various industries. Realizing that every organization is unique, we work in partnership with our clients to identify and meet their specific needs in the best possible way. We apply best practices to help our clients understand and address identified issues and improve their EHS&S performance.
Our professional connections with subject-matter experts abroad and a good command of foreign languages enable us to carry out EHS&S assessments and audits in near and far-abroad countries.
Our services include, but not limited to:
·       Environmental audit
·       Occupational health & safety, fire and industrial safety audit
·       Supply chain EHS/ESG audit
·       Best available techniques (BAT) assessment
·       International environmental and social standards compliance assessment, including but not limited to:

• Environmental and social requirements of financial institutions (IFC, EBRD, ADB, NDB, AIIB and etc.)
• Equator Principles
• International conventions and agreements
• Industry standards (ICMM, IRMA, Responsible Steel, Responsible Gold, Together for Sustainability, GLP, GMP, GSP, Responsible Recycling R2, e-Stewards, Operating Standard (RIOS), etc.)

Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation is recognized as one of the main environmental issues of our time. Given the increasing awareness of governments, the public, investors, and other stakeholders of this issue, it is becoming more and more important for clients to understand and minimize their impact on the ecosystems.
An informed, sustainable approach to biodiversity management contributes to business stability and growth. Conversely, the lack of proper proactive management of biodiversity-related risks and impacts often creates a variety of problems and difficulties for companies, including damage to business reputation, delays or even non-approval of project implementation.
We help our clients integrate biodiversity-related risks into their decision-making processes and offer practical solutions to help deliver projects on time, effectively manage existing assets, improve stakeholder relationships, and increase competitiveness. Our biodiversity specialists, which possess a wide range and many years of relevant experience, collaborate with external national and international experts with specialized knowledge of individual components of biodiversity and experience in specific regions.
Our services include:
·       Baseline biodiversity studies
·       Biodiversity and ecosystem services Impact Assessment
·       Assessment of the company’s activities compliance with national requirements and international standards in the field of biodiversity
·       Assessment of risks and opportunities associated with nature (including biodiversity), incl. recommendations of TNFD and GRI
·       Assistance in the preparation of reporting and disclosure of information related to biodiversity and management of risks and opportunities associated with nature considering recommendations of TNFD and GRI
·       Development of strategies, policies, procedures, plans, programs and other internal documents related to biodiversity and ecosystem management

Assessing financial, legal, tax and technical risks and liabilities is a standard practice for many companies in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, IPOs, or project finance. At the same time, non-technical risks, such as environmental and social risks, are not always given due attention.
Research shows that:
§ 90% of all financial transactions are accompanied by a whole range of risks and obligations associated with EHS/ESG issues
§ EHS/ESG factors can increase or decrease the value of an asset by an average of 10-30%
§ EHS/ESG issues remain underestimated in 75% of transactions
§ 20% of transaction agreements are not concluded due to significant EHS/ESG-related risks and liabilities identified during the due diligence process
ENSOR provides clients with services for the timely assessment of environmental and social risks, liabilities, and opportunities, which contributes to clients’ awareness of potential issues and helps effective decision-making, reduces time required for transaction implementation and subsequent integration, facilitates negotiations, and increases financial attractiveness of the asset by taking timely measures to manage the identified risks, liabilities, and opportunities.
ENSOR specialists have many years of experience in supporting transactions on environmental and social issues, know the relevant business terminology and have extensive experience in interacting with other consultants (financial, legal, tax, technical, etc.), as well as with clients’ project teams.
Our professional connections with subject-matter experts abroad and perfect command of foreign languages allow us to conduct EHS/ESG Due Diligence in countries near and far abroad.
Our services include:
Assets mergers, acquisition and sale transactions
·       Buy-side or sell-side EHS Due Diligence
·       Extended due diligence on ESG issues (ESG Due Diligence)
·       Site Assessments in accordance with ASTM Environmental Site Assessment Standard Practices for the Phase I Site Assessment (E1527-21) and ASTM E1903 Standard Guide for Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
·       Qualitative and quantitative (including cost) assessment of EHS/ESG risks and liabilities
·       Verification that risks and obligations identified by EHS / ESG Due Diligence are considered in the sale purchase agreement (SPA)
·       Assistance in filling the virtual data room (VDR) with information on EHS / ESG topics
·       Participation in negotiations with seller / buyer and their consultants on EHS / ESG topics
·       Support on EHS / ESG issues as part of integration after deal closure
Project finance
On the Lenders’ side (lenders environmental and social consultant - LESC):
·       Assessment of the “Key” environmental and social risks of the project (“Red Flags”)
·       Assessment (gap analysis) of the project for compliance with environmental and social requirements and standards of lenders (IFC, EBRD, Equator Principles, OECD Common Approaches, etc.)
·       Development of environmental and social action plan to address identified gaps and inconsistencies
·       Interaction with the Borrowers’ environmental and social consultant
·       Assistance in preparation and discussion of the loan agreement terms regarding environmental and social issues
·       Environmental and social monitoring after financial close
On the Borrower’s side (Borrower’s environmental and social consultant - BESC):
·       Development of environmental and social documentation package for getting external finance
·       Environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) in accordance with national and international requirements
·       Development of environmental and social risks and impacts management plans
·       Interaction with the Lender’s environmental and social consultant
·       Development of Environmental and social management system (ESMS)
·       Educational workshops on environmental and social sustainability standards, including lenders’ requirements
·       Support / preparation for monitoring / audit by international financial institutions
ESG finance transactions
·       Independent environmental and social risk and opportunities assessment of green / transitional / social / sustainable projects
·       Assessment of ESG projects compliance with international and Russian taxonomies criteria and standards
·       Assistance in setting sustainable development goals and KPIs for obtaining ESG loans
·       Independent monitoring of the goals and sustainable development KPIs achievement under the ESG loan
IPO
·       EHS / ESG Due Diligence during the preparation for the IPO
·       Assistance to IPO organizers in the preparation of the securities prospectus (section on environmental protection, labor protection and industrial safety / ESG)
Implementation of new investment projects
·       Environmental risks and obligations assessment when selecting land (greenfield / brownfield) for investment projects

A business that strives to be truly sustainable needs to effectively manage environmental and social risks and impacts and integrate these management processes into its business strategy. Many management systems are established formally and exist only on paper. Such systems may jeopardize the stability of performance rather than create real benefits for the business. Even systems that are formally certified to international standards may not yield tangible results and benefits if they are poorly designed and implemented. ENSOR specialists have extensive experience in designing and implementing practical and effectively functioning systems that are designed to generate real benefits and ensure the stable performance of an organization.
Our services include:
·       Diagnostics / gap analysis of the existing environmental and social management system
·       Development, implementation and preparation for certification of management systems according to ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 26000, SA 8000 standards
·       Development and implementation of an environmental and social risk management system (ESRM) for the banking sector when lending projects (including systems compliant with international standards and best practices)
·       Development and implementation of an environmental and social management system (ESMS) in accordance with the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
·       Development and implementation of integrated environmental and social management systems

·       Training of senior management and staff on implementation and effective application of environmental and social management systems

Influenced by growing demands from investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders to incorporate sustainable development goals into their business strategy and disclose information about ESG factors, organizations and in particular the senior management of organizations have to devote additional time and effort to the ESG-transformation of their business.
We understand that different companies are at different stages of ESG transformation; some are just starting to understand this process, while others have already achieved some of their strategic goals and have progressed to defining new ones. Even having received high ESG ratings and attracted ESG funding or new profitable customers such communities often decide to progress further.
With in-depth knowledge of business sustainability, as well as practical experience in assessing and managing environmental and social impacts, risks, and opportunities for corporate clients in various industries and financial institutions, ENSOR specialists will help you understand the impact of the ESG agenda on your business, assess gaps, develop a sustainability strategy, and assist in its implementation, as well as in disclosing information about your progress. When implementing sustainability and ESG consulting projects, we always consider the industry and regional specifics of the business, the value chain of your product, as well as regulatory requirements and requirements of industry standards, ratings, and best practices, and the impact of modern sustainability and ESG trends on your business.
Our services include:
·       Maturity assessment / diagnostics of the current level of sustainability and ESG management practices
·       Benchmarking with peers and leaders on sustainability and ESG
·       Analysis of the national and global context, external trends in sustainability and ESG and their impact on the Company’s activities
·       Development of sustainability strategy including goals, KPIs and roadmaps to achieve the goals
·       Assistance in the ESG strategy implementation in various areas (management systems, work with suppliers, compliance with international standards, personnel issues, interaction with stakeholders, environmental protection and energy efficiency, climate change, health and safety, cultural heritage, resettlement, biodiversity, etc.)
·       Identification of internal and external stakeholders, engagement plans development, communication with stakeholders 
·       Trainings and workshops for senior management and employees on sustainable development and ESG
·       Supply chain ESG assessment
·       Product life cycle assessment
·       ESG materiality assessment
·       Development of policies/statements of commitment on various aspects of sustainability/ESG
·       Assistance with a mission, vision and values ​​ statement of the company, as well as CEO statements on sustainable development aspects
·       Assistance with the structure of the sustainable development section of the Company’s website
·       Consulting on reporting systems in the field of sustainable development/ESG
·       Sustainable development reports preparation

·       Consulting on ESG ratings (rating agencies, analysis of current positions and development of plans to improve ratings, assistance in filling out questionnaires and communications with rating agencies)

Business sustainability and growth are based on effective interaction with internal (employees, shareholders, management) and external (media, the public, suppliers, public organizations, government bodies) stakeholders.
Social consulting is aimed at helping our clients achieve their business goals by properly managing their social risks and impacts, effectively building friendly and mutually beneficial relationships with external and internal stakeholders, considering their opinions and needs in the design and operation of enterprises and infrastructure facilities.
Social risks and impacts may be caused by direct and indirect socio-economic effects and processes associated with the realization of human rights, the need for resettlement and economic displacement, development of local communities, including indigenous peoples of the north and other indigenous population.
ENSOR consultants have practical experience in managing social risks and impacts and interacting with stakeholders with consideration of national requirements, international standards, and best practices in Russia and the near-abroad countries.
Our services include:
·       Impact assessment of investment projects on the socio-economic sphere and health in accordance with national and international standards
·       Social impacts and risks management planning
·       Stakeholder engagement planning
·       Assessment and development of a grievance mechanism in accordance with international standards and best practices
·       Socio-economic baseline study, including collection and processing of statistical information, field research and in-depth interviews
·       Disclosure of information, organization of public hearings in accordance with the requirements of national legislation and international financial institutions
·       Assessment and management of risks and impacts associated with cultural heritage and archaeological monuments
·       Indigenous peoples risks and impacts management and engagement planning
·       Development of concepts and programs for the development of local communities
·       Audit of the company’s activities on social aspects

·       Human rights impact assessment / human rights due diligence

ENSOR advises and supports leading companies in improving operational Health and Safety, Industrial and Fire Safety efficiency. We help our clients successfully solve their problems by providing services in building leadership in the field of safety, development and implementation of standards and management systems, training, audits, quantitative assessments of industrial safety risks.
ENSOR experts will help build a risk-based occupational safety management system with a high safety culture in accordance with government regulations, international standards, and best practices. Our approach will minimize accidents at work without compromising production efficiency.
We will instruct clients in the effective use of risk registers so as to achieve direct risk management rather than just as a display for inspectors. We will integrate government regulations into your risk-based system and help develop standards that streamline the work of your health & safety department. We will teach how to calculate the effectiveness of risk minimization measures to optimize both financial and labour costs. We will also show ways to develop a safety culture and protect against the “traps” of a typical approach.
The health & safety management system built with our help will comply with both national standards and best international practices to ensure clearance by government inspections and audits of compliance with international safety and sustainability standards, requirements of partner companies, etc.
In achieving the above objectives, we will not rehaul the existing health & safety management system but rather make necessary adjustments and provide relevant trainings. The extent of these adjustments and trainings will depend on the maturity of the system in place and the needs and requirements of your company.
Our services include:
·       Preparation for audits on occupational health & safety, fire and industrial safety; conducting audits for compliance with the requirements of national legislation, international financial organizations (IFC Performance Standards, World Bank Guidelines, etc.), corporate standards, ISO 45 001 standard, etc.
·       Optimization of the safety management system in order to reduce accidents and optimize costs 
·       Development of health and safety standards in accordance with the best international practices and taking into account the national legislation requirements
·       Adaptation of international corporate health & safety standards to local conditions
·       Hazardous energy management standard and control of hazardous energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard implementation. Adaptation of the standard to the best international practices. Development of LOTO-cards. Conducting practical trainings.
·       Safety culture assessment and advising on its improvement (including trainings)
·       Consulting on the risk management practices implementation in occupational health & safety, industrial and fire safety in accordance with international practices and national legislations
·       Workplace risk assessment at any level from a qualitative assessment to a quantitative one. Development of professional risks register. Development of safety instructions. Development of mitigation measures to minimize the risks and quantifying their effectiveness. Assessment of risks associated with human factor and their minimization.
·       Trainings on risk assessment
·       Quantitative risk assessment for hazardous production facilities using Russian and international assessment methodologies
·       Independent investigations of incidents and accidents at work. Accident and accident investigation trainings.
·       Explosion hazard assessment in accordance with the ATEX standard

·       Improvement of the corporate fleet safety management

ENSOR offers a full range of services to help your organization understand and evaluate potential impacts of the climate agenda on your business and help you address challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. The understanding of the climate change processes, and knowledge of relevant national and international requirements and best practices enable ENSOR specialists to advise our clients at any stage of their journey to identify and achieve their climate goals. Our climate change services cover baseline and carbon footprint assessment, assessment of climate risks and opportunities, climate strategy development and assistance in its implementation, as well as information disclosure and stakeholder engagement.
The services we offer include:
·       Maturity assessment of the company’s climate change management practices
·       Greenhouse gas emissions assessment (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
·       Carbon footprint assessment of products and companies
·       Developing a climate strategy and decarbonization roadmap
·       Assessment of risks and opportunities associated with climate change in accordance with the TCFD standard
·       Assistance with reporting in accordance with the TCFD standard
·       Advising on national and international regulatory requirements and climate change trends

·       Assistance in obtaining the CDP rating (gap analysis and readiness for the rating, improvement plan, assistance in questionnaire completion)

The entry into force of regulations based on TR EAEU 041 significantly changes the requirements for documentation that must be prepared before the putting chemicals into circulation in the EAEU countries, including new substances produced in the territory of the Union. Some of the changes have come into effect on July 1, 2022. Failure to timely respond to new legal requirements entails the risk of administrative fines or blocking of circulation of a chemical product (e.g., a ban on release into circulation, on crossing customs borders, etc.).
Imported chemicals must be correctly classified in accordance with the legal requirements of the EAEU or the Russian Federation, and not according to the requirements of the country of origin. Substances that have not been included in the Unified Chemical Inventory will be especially difficult to import.
ENSOR provides services for assessing the conformity of documents for chemical products (labels, warning labels, passports of chemicals, etc.), develops or corrects documents that are missing or inconsistent with the EAEU requirements. ENSOR can also organize state registration of chemical products and represent the interests of clients in discussions with government bodies. If necessary, ENSOR will perform the functions of an authorized representative during subsequent circulation of chemicals in the EAEU.
ENSOR specialists have professional connections with international experts and many years of experience in supporting circulation of chemicals not only in the EAEU, but also in other regions (European REACH, various regional systems similar to REACH in Southeast Asia, the USA, etc.).
Our service include:
·       Assessment / verification of the hazard class of chemical products in accordance with the requirements of the EAEU legislation
·       Assessment of compliance of chemical safety data sheets with the requirements of the EAEU / elimination of inconsistencies, development of safety data sheets for chemical products imported into the EAEU
·       Development of labels and SDS (safety data sheet) for exported products to the regions of operation of the REACH system or other systems similar to it
·       Acting as an authorized representative in the registration of chemical products and their circulation on the territory of the EAEU
·       Preparation of a package of documents, support for state registration and obtaining a certificate of state registration of chemical products imported into the EAEU from various regions of the world