In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate sustainability, the ability to measure and communicate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance has become a critical business function. Enter i-ESG’s ASAP (AI-powered Sustainability Assessment Platform), a solution designed to simplify and strengthen this process. Developed in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Korea, ASAP has completed its first year of operation, demonstrating stability and earning trust among member companies. This review explores how ASAP transforms the often-daunting task of sustainability assessment into a streamlined, credible, and actionable experience.
i-ESG, an AI-powered ESG data and intelligence platform company founded as an internal venture of the POSCO Group, brings substantial expertise to the table. With over 20 million ESG data points and more than 14 AI and data patents, the company has positioned itself as a leader in the field. The platform’s integration with the UN Global Compact’s Communication on Progress (CoP) framework ensures alignment with globally recognized standards. As businesses face increasing pressure from investors, regulators, and consumers, tools like ASAP offer a practical path forward.
What is i-ESG ASAP?
ASAP is a cloud-based platform that leverages artificial intelligence to assess a company’s sustainability performance against the UN Global Compact’s CoP criteria. It guides users through the reporting process, helping them collect, organize, and present data in a structured format. The platform was co-developed with UN Global Compact Network Korea and launched at the Korea Leaders Summit (KLS) in 2025. Since then, it has been operating stably, with member companies using its results to set strategic priorities and inform their sustainability disclosures.
The platform’s core value lies in its ability to reduce the time and effort required for ESG assessment. Traditionally, companies spend weeks gathering data, filling out questionnaires, and ensuring compliance with various frameworks. ASAP automates much of this work, generating assessments that are not only accurate but also traceable. This is particularly important in an era where greenwashing accusations can damage reputations, and verifiable data is paramount.
What stands out
AI-Powered Assessment Engine
ASAP uses AI to analyze company disclosures and generate assessment scores. The underlying algorithms are designed to handle large volumes of data, extracting relevant information and applying consistent criteria. This ensures that assessments are objective and repeatable, a key requirement for credibility in ESG reporting.
Verifiable Evidence with FactTrace AI
One of the most impressive features is FactTrace AI, which records the source sentence and page behind every assessment. This means that users can trace any result back to the original document, providing full transparency. In source checks conducted for a recent report, 99.8% of supporting sentences matched the original text, demonstrating the system’s accuracy.
Pre-fill Feature (Upcoming in ASAP 2.0)
The upcoming ASAP 2.0, targeted for completion in the first half of 2027, introduces a Pre-fill feature. This allows companies to upload existing reports and documents, and the AI drafts responses based on that content. This significantly reduces manual data entry and accelerates the assessment process, making it even more user-friendly.
Alignment with Global Standards
ASAP is based on the UN Global Compact’s CoP, which is a widely recognized framework. The platform’s criteria are updated to reflect the latest CoP requirements, ensuring that companies remain compliant with evolving expectations. The upcoming 2.0 update will include CoP 2027 criteria, keeping users ahead of the curve.
Expansion Potential
The partnership between i-ESG and UN Global Compact Network Korea is exploring ways to extend ASAP beyond member companies to their subsidiaries and key suppliers. This would allow for a consistent standard across supply chains, a growing demand in the ESG space.
Who it’s for
ASAP is designed for companies that need to meet ESG disclosure requirements, particularly those aligned with the UN Global Compact. It is suitable for organizations of all sizes, from small and medium enterprises to large corporations. The platform is especially valuable for sustainability teams, CFOs, and executives who need to report on ESG performance to stakeholders. It also serves consultants and advisors who assist companies in their sustainability journey.
Given the platform’s focus on verifiable evidence, it is also ideal for companies that want to build trust with investors and regulators. By using ASAP, they can demonstrate that their sustainability claims are backed by solid data. Furthermore, the ability to extend assessments to subsidiaries and suppliers makes it a tool for entire corporate groups, not just individual entities.
Pricing and availability
As of this review, i-ESG has not publicly disclosed pricing for ASAP. The platform is currently available to UN Global Compact Network Korea member companies as part of the partnership. For non-members or those outside Korea, it is advisable to contact i-ESG directly for information on availability and pricing. The company is expanding internationally, with entities in Abu Dhabi and Singapore, so broader access is likely in the future.
Given the lack of public pricing, potential users should reach out to i-ESG to discuss their needs and obtain a quote. The investment in such a platform should be weighed against the time savings and credibility gains it offers.
What makes it worth considering
ASAP’s combination of AI efficiency and verifiable evidence sets it apart from many other ESG tools. The platform not only automates the assessment process but also ensures that every result can be traced back to source documents. This dual focus on speed and accuracy is crucial in a field where trust is everything. The upcoming Pre-fill feature will further enhance its appeal, making it even easier for companies to adopt.
Moreover, the partnership with UN Global Compact Network Korea lends significant credibility. Being co-developed with a respected international organization ensures that the platform meets high standards. The positive reception from member companies after a year of operation speaks to its reliability. For companies serious about sustainability reporting, ASAP offers a robust solution that can save time and improve the quality of their disclosures.
Verdict
i-ESG’s ASAP is a powerful tool for any organization looking to streamline its ESG assessment process. With its AI-driven insights, verifiable evidence, and alignment with global standards, it addresses many of the pain points associated with sustainability reporting. The upcoming 2.0 upgrade promises to make it even more user-friendly and comprehensive. While pricing is not yet public, the value it delivers in terms of efficiency and credibility is substantial. For companies operating in the ESG space, ASAP is definitely worth a closer look.
Frequently asked questions
ASAP is an AI-powered sustainability assessment platform developed by i-ESG in partnership with UN Global Compact Network Korea, based on the UN Global Compact Communication on Progress (CoP).
It streamlines ESG data collection, assessment, and reporting, allowing companies to set strategic priorities and inform sustainability reports and executive reporting.
Pre-fill lets companies upload existing reports and documents, and AI drafts responses based on that content, reducing manual data entry.
FactTrace AI records the source sentence and page behind every assessment, allowing users to trace results back to original documents. In source checks, 99.8% of supporting sentences matched the original text.
ASAP is designed for companies of all sizes that need to meet ESG disclosure requirements, including UN Global Compact member companies and potentially their subsidiaries and suppliers.
