Walk-The-Talk Score™
The first ESG credibility score that measures what companies do, not just what they say. Compare commitments to evidence. Detect greenwashing. Verify corporate accountability.
Why Traditional ESG Scores Fail
The ESG rating industry is worth billions, yet scores from major providers often disagree by 50% or more on the same company. The reason is structural.
Disclosure-Based
Traditional scores reward companies for what they report, not what they do. More pages in a sustainability report often means a higher score.
Lagging Indicators
Scores update annually, after companies publish reports. By the time a controversy is reflected, the market has already moved.
Easy to Game
Companies can optimize disclosures without changing behavior. Hire a sustainability consultant, publish more policies, score higher.
This is why major ESG rating providers can give the same company vastly different scores. They're measuring different things, and none of them are measuring what actually happened.
Three Pillars of Credibility
Walk-The-Talk Score combines three components to measure whether companies actually deliver on their ESG commitments.
Commitments
We extract and catalogue every public ESG commitment: net-zero targets, diversity pledges, governance reforms, supply chain policies.
- Extracted from annual reports, sustainability reports, press releases
- Categorized by theme: Environmental, Social, Governance
- Tracked over time for consistency and ambition
- Compared against industry benchmarks
Evidence
We verify each commitment against real-world evidence. Did the company actually reduce emissions? Hire diverse leadership? Fix supply chain issues?
- Cross-referenced against regulatory filings and third-party data
- Validated through news, NGO reports, and litigation records
- Measured against stated timelines and targets
- Gap analysis between promise and delivery
Controversies
We monitor real-time signals that contradict stated commitments. Lawsuits, regulatory actions, NGO reports, and investigative journalism.
- Real-time controversy monitoring via news and regulatory feeds
- Severity scoring based on impact and credibility of source
- Decay function: recent controversies weighted more heavily
- Category alignment: environmental controversy affects E score
Walk-The-Talk vs. Traditional ESG
A structural comparison of how we differ from disclosure-based ESG ratings.
| Dimension | Traditional ESG | Walk-The-Talk Score™ |
|---|---|---|
| What they measure | Disclosures and policies | Actions and outcomes |
| Data source | Company self-reporting | Third-party verification |
| Update frequency | Annual (after reports) | Continuous (event-driven) |
| Controversy handling | Lagging indicator | Real-time amplifier |
| Gaming potential | High (optimize disclosures) | Low (must change behavior) |
Interpreting the Score
Walk-The-Talk Scores range from 0-100. Here's what each range means.
Strong Credibility
Commitments consistently backed by evidence. Few or no material controversies.
Moderate Credibility
Most commitments supported, but gaps exist. Some controversies or incomplete evidence.
Weak Credibility
Significant gaps between promises and actions. Multiple unresolved controversies.
Poor Credibility
Promises not backed by evidence. Major controversies or pattern of misleading claims.
Who Uses Walk-The-Talk Score
Investment Teams
Screen portfolios for ESG credibility gaps before they become headlines. Identify companies where promises don't match actions.
Risk & Compliance
Monitor supply chain partners and counterparties for ESG credibility. Early warning on controversy signals.
Corporate Strategy
Benchmark your ESG execution against competitors. Understand how external observers perceive your credibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Walk-The-Talk Score methodology and coverage.
See Walk-The-Talk Score in Action
Request early access to explore Walk-The-Talk Scores for companies you care about. Compare commitments to evidence. Verify corporate credibility.