Discuss embedding ESG and digitisation in trade finance
🔥 #hottopicsofsibos, featuring Marie-Laure Gastellu, Global Head of Trade Finance, Societe Generale
Trade Treasury Payments (TTP)’s Joy Macknight met with Marie-Laure Gastellu, Global Head of Trade Finance, Societe Generale to discuss embedding ESG and digitisation in trade finance at Sibos 2025. Gastellu explained that while digital platforms are an important part of improving efficiency, the real challenge lies in ensuring that all players in the trade finance ecosystem work together to transition from paper-based to data-driven processes.
This requires two key elements: corporate adoption, where trade finance users embrace digital tools, and interoperability, which ensures trust and security when exchanging data and paper documents, allowing seamless movement between the two.
Gastellu highlighted that trade finance is inherently tied to the real economy, with social and local impacts that make ESG integration essential. Societe Generale has been an early advocate, developing its own ESG framework and actively participating in market initiatives such as the ICC’s Sustainable Trade Finance Principles.
Gastellu emphasised the importance of shared standards and common language across geographies, noting that consistent conduct is as critical as digitalisation itself for effective ESG adoption in trade finance.
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Key Topics
- Platforms support digitalisation, but the real transformation depends on ecosystem‑wide adoption of data‑driven processes.
- Interoperability is essential to ensure trust, ownership and legal certainty when shifting from paper to digital trade documentation.
- ESG is inherently linked to trade finance because of its direct connection to real‑economy activity.
Key Insights
Expert Analysis
Marie-Laure Gastellu highlights a pragmatic but forward‑looking view of the trade finance landscape. Digitalisation is not simply about adopting platforms; it requires a coordinated shift from paper to data, supported by trust, interoperability and corporate engagement. At the same time, ESG is becoming inseparable from trade finance, driven by its direct link to real‑economy impact. Societe Generale’s early frameworks and alignment with global standards reflect a broader industry movement towards sustainable, transparent and resilient trade ecosystems.— Marie-Laure Gastellu
Key Findings
- Digitalisation is only effective when all participants — banks, corporates and service providers — adopt data‑first processes
- Trust in digital documentation depends on interoperability and the ability to revert to paper when required.
- ESG integration in trade finance is accelerating, supported by clearer taxonomies and industry‑wide principles.
Implications
- Banks must invest in digital capabilities that enable secure data exchange across multiple systems.
- Corporates will increasingly need to align their trade processes with sustainability frameworks.
- Market‑wide standards will determine the pace and success of both digitalisation and ESG integration.
Key Takeaways
- Digitalisation and ESG are reshaping trade finance, but progress depends on shared standards, ecosystem‑wide adoption and the ability to build trust in data as the new foundation of global trade.
