When we think of ESG, the first images that usually come to mind are environmental: cutting emissions, reducing energy use, shrinking carbon footprints. But there is another pillar often overlooked that is just as critical: Social.

This is where the real human impact lives. It’s where companies truly connect with people, whether communities, customers, or employees.

The challenge? Measuring what is human is never simple. While tons of CO₂ and liters of water can be tracked with precision, concepts like inclusion, well-being, mental health, or belonging are harder to quantify. They are shaped by perceptions, personal experiences, and cultural contexts, making social impact far less standardized and harder to compare.

Many organizations fall into a common trap: focusing on activities instead of outcomes. Counting how many trainings were delivered is easy. But the real value lies in the transformations those trainings create: shifts in behavior, inclusive workplaces, healthier cultures. Behind every great result lies a conscious choice to put people at the center. Below, you’ll discover three companies that turned this vision into concrete actions — and the social impact they achieved.

1. O Boticário

More than selling cosmetics, O Boticário understands that it changes lives. In 2021, the brand launched the Squad Sou Boti project, selecting 500 sales representatives across Brazil to become brand influencers. The selection process was rooted in diversity, embracing different genders, sexual orientations, races, and people with disabilities. Throughout the program, participants received training and guidance to create engaging digital content. But the impact went far beyond marketing. O Boticário recognized that its products often support entire families, and by sharing knowledge and empowerment, it turned sales reps into true protagonists of the brand’s story.

2. Gaming1

In 2024, gaming company Gaming1 set a new standard for the industry by launching ROBIN (Responsible Online Behavior Indicators),an AI-powered tool that monitors player behavior in real time. The platform provides tailored communication, moderation, reports, and even personalized interventions to encourage healthier gaming habits. This initiative carries a powerful message: technology can also be used to care. By prioritizing mental health and well-being, Gaming1 showed that responsible entertainment is not only possible, but essential.

3. Vestas

Danish renewable energy leader Vestas not only ranked 3rd on Corporate Knights’ list of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies in 2025, but also brings human impact to every community it serves. Its projects go beyond clean energy generation: they include technical training, job creation, and infrastructure support in rural regions with limited access to electricity. A remarkable example is the Lotus Creek Wind Farm in Australia. According to Danny Nielsen, the company’s Senior VP for Australia and New Zealand, success was only possible by building trust-based relationships with landowners and local communities. At Vestas, energy is not just about turbines — it’s also about the power of human connection.

The way forward is clear: we need to move from operational metrics to indicators of cultural and behavioral change.

At Skillocity, we believe that human capital is the driving force behind ESG transformation. That’s why we empower people not only with technical skills, but also with the ability to lead with empathy, purpose, and a systemic vision.

• Transformative soft skills: Communication, inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence — the heart of the “S” in ESG.
• Personalized learning journeys: to build diverse, collaborative, and impact-driven teams.
• A culture of continuous learning: because ESG is not a project with a start and finish, it’s a journey.

By investing in people, we help our clients build organizations that are more resilient, ethical, and ready for the challenges of the future.

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Sources:

https://exame.com/esg/as-100-empresas-mais-sustentaveis-do-mundo-segundo-o-ranking-corporate-knights

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