Sustainability and ESG

We view sustainability as an investment in the strength of our culture, the resilience of our business and the future of our planet.

Shaping a sustainable future

For us, sustainability isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about taking steps to continuously evolve our business to be more responsible and more resilient. It’s about doing our part to make a positive impact, leading with purpose, holding ourselves accountable and prioritizing long-term stability over short-term financial rewards.

Investing in sustainable initiatives isn’t just about BDO’s future. It’s about the future of all our stakeholders. That’s why we’re continuing to integrate sustainable practices into our operations and have made commitments that will help us ensure that our planet and its people thrive.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

Focusing on the topics that matter most to our stakeholders

Using our materiality assessment as a foundation, we ensure that our strategy, values and actions align with the issues identified by our stakeholders.

Protecting human rights

We are a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and commit to conducting our business in alignment with its Ten Principles and to prioritize the advancement and achievement of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Achieving Net Zero by 2050

We commit to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by or before 2050, and halve our base year emissions by 2030.

Using science-based targets

We have committed to setting company-wide emission reductions in line with climate science with the Science-Based Targets initiative.

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Minimizing climate risk 

We commit to continuous assessment, mitigation and disclosure of any material climate-related physical and transition risk to our business.

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Monitoring and reporting on our progress 

We continuously monitor, measure and report on our progress, holding ourselves accountable to the commitments we’ve made.

Actionable Steps on Our ESG Journey

While we recognize that there’s a lot more work to do, there’s a lot we’re already doing — and have been doing for many years — as part of our commitment to helping people thrive every day.  

Download our sustainability code of ethics and corporate responsibility

Download our human rights statement

Download our environmental statement

Download our 2023 Sustainability Report

Our Stakeholders

Our sustainability journey began with — and continues to be guided by — engagement with our stakeholders. Through frequent touchpoints across a variety of channels, we seek to open lines of communication and demonstrate alignment between our collective values and the actions taken to maintain and advance that alignment.

Learn how we engage with each of our stakeholder groups. 

Internal surveys, communications, intranet, portals, webinars, voicemails and memos, social media, ethics hotline and code of conduct, education and training, workplace policies, sustainability reports 

Career fairs, social media, internships, bdo.com, strategic relationships with industry organizations and colleges and universities, sustainability reports

Relationship partners and engagement teams, responses to information requests, social media, newsletters, conferences and events, thought leadership, press releases, client listening and feedback programs, sustainability reports

Requests for proposals and information, due diligence requests, ongoing supplier communication and management, sustainability reports

Charitable giving and community engagement activities, volunteerism and nonprofit board service, sustainability reports

Professional associations, committee and board services, bdo.com, sustainability reports, audit quality reports, Audit Quality Advisory Committee

Like many companies, BDO is on a journey to become a more sustainable organization. We’ve made great progress with enthusiastic support from our leaders and our people, yet there is more to do to ensure a thriving company and a thriving planet, today and for future generations.

Cara Mooses
Sr. Director, Sustainability & ESG Corporate Strategy

Meet our Strategy and Services Leader

In 2023, Karen Baum, formerly Managing Partner of Sustainability Services and Solutions, took on the role of Sustainability & ESG Managing Principal, overseeing BDO’s sustainability efforts in the U.S. In this role, she is focused on advancing BDO’s own sustainability program as well as developing and supporting services and solutions to help clients navigate their own sustainability journeys. Baum succeeds Christopher Tower, who retired in 2023. 

We recognize the unique opportunity we have as advisors to the middle market—not only to do our part to advance sustainability and ESG practices within BDO, but to help our clients explore and capture the benefits that integrating sustainability and ESG into operations presents. Sustainable business is just better business.

Karen Baum
Managing Principal, Sustainability & ESG Services

  • Professional Headshot of Karen Baum

    Karen Baum

    Managing Principal; Sustainability & ESG Center Of Excellence, BDO USA; Sustainability & ESG Services & Solutions, BDO Global

Our Sustainability & ESG Center of Excellence

BDO’s Sustainability & ESG Center of Excellence (COE) drives the advancement of sustainability across our organization and helps support our clients in their own sustainability journeys. The COE is responsible for designing, executing and evolving sustainability strategies across the firm — both within BDO and working with our professionals in the market.

COE professionals work across the firm to develop and implement BDO’s corporate sustainability initiatives and collaborate with our core business operations teams on integration and adoption. The team is also responsible for monitoring, measuring and reporting on our progress. 

COE team members are subject matter experts on sustainability and ESG topics, keeping apprised of regulatory developments and reporting requirements, providing technical guidance and market research, and supporting the firm and our clients. The COE also works with our international network of more than 160 member firms to share learnings and best practices, and develop sustainability service offerings worldwide.

Our Sustainability and ESG Services and Solutions

As we prioritize sustainability within our own organization, we believe we have an opportunity – a responsibility – to help our clients do the same. Our team of dedicated professionals bring deep Sustainability and ESG experience, meeting clients wherever they are in their own journeys. 

Insights to Guide Your ESG Journey

  • Industry
  • Asset Management
  • Auto Dealerships
  • Financial Institutions & Specialty Finance
  • Fintech
  • Gaming & Leisure
  • Government & Public Sector
  • Government Contracting
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Life Sciences
  • Manufacturing
  • Natural Resources
  • Nonprofit & Education
  • Private Equity
  • Professional Services
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Restaurants
  • Retail & Consumer Products
  • Technology

Stay current with our latest Sustainability and ESG insights.

Meet Our ESG Center of Excellence Leadership Team

  • Professional Headshot of Karen Baum

    Karen Baum

    Managing Principal; Sustainability & ESG Center Of Excellence, BDO USA; Sustainability & ESG Services & Solutions, BDO Global

  • Professional Headshot of Dan Harris

    Dan Harris

    Audit Principal, Sustainability & ESG Assurance Leader