Beyond compliance
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Beyond compliance
- 1. Environmental Sustainability: Moving Beyond Compliance By Tajana Mesic Founder and President, GGG Sustainability Solutions
- 2. Presentation Overview About GGG Sustainability Solutions Sustainability Reporting Sustainability Reporting Frameworks CDP GRI DJSI Sustainable Value Framework Applied Sustainability Future Trends in Sustainable Development
- 3. GGG Sustainability Solutions Sustainability consulting firm integrating sustainability into operations and streamlining business processes Founded in 2008, offices in Houston and Dallas Driving quantifiable and measurable operational excellence
- 5. Sustainability Reporting Disclosure Trends Increased Environmental Impacts reporting Increased Achievements and Commitments
- 6. Sustainability Reporting Frameworks CDP GRI (G3, G3.1, G4) Sustainability Disclosure Database (6,053 organizations, 17,553 reports, 14,363 GRI Reports); great for benchmarks; hosts G3 and G3.1 DJSI SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)
- 7. CDP Formerly Carbon Disclosure Project Systemic look at environmental impacts Corporate Goal – establish sustainable supply chain management Request information on greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and the risks and opportunities from climate change from thousands of the world’s largest companies
- 8. Global Reporting Initiative GRI has pioneered and developed a comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Framework that is widely used around the world A sustainability report is a report published by a company or organization about the economic, environmental and social impacts caused by its everyday activities. Goal is to make the practice standard for all companies and organizations.
- 9. Dow Jones Sustainability Index Launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmark Financial index World (2,500 largest S&P Global Broad Market Index) North America (600 largest North American co’s of the S&P Global Broad Market Index) Europe (600 largest European co’s of the S&P Global Broad Market Index) AsiaPacific (600 largest Asia/Pac co’s of the S&P Global Broad Market Index) Korea (200 largest Korean co’s of the S&P Global Broad Market Index) Emerging Markets (800 largest Emerging Markets co’s of the S&P Global Broad Market Index)
- 10. The Sustainable Value Framework From The Necessary Revolution, 2008, Peter Senge
- 11. Applied Sustainability Baseline and strategy Integration and engagement of key stakeholders Reliable local vendors to execute strategy Quantify
- 12. Future of Sustainable Development Collaboration becomes an accelerator Chemical transparency Water becomes a risk factor Integration of social issues into sustainability programs Strategic employee engagement State of the Green, GreenBiz, 2014
- 13. For in depth information, contact: Tajana Mesic 972-415-3017 tajanamesic@greengrovegroup.com
Editor's Notes
- Does the Earth need saving? Frankly, the earth doesn't need to be saved. Nature doesn't give a hoot if human beings are here or not. The planet has survived cataclysmic and catastrophic changes for millions upon millions of years. Over that time, it is widely believed, 99 percent of all species have come and gone while the planet has remained. Saving the environment is really about saving our environment -- making it safe for ourselves, our children, and the world as we know it. If more people saw the issue as one of saving themselves, we would probably see increased motivation and commitment to actually do so. Robert M. Lilienfeld, management consultant We live in a global economy, interconnected by technology and business demand. As this exciting reality continues to evolve, we also need to understand the realities of natural resources, including water, energy, climate, and natural resources value and account for them in our operations. Just as important are the impacts on our health and well being.
- A sustainability report is an organizational report that gives information about economic, environmental, social and governance performance.Sustainability reporting is not just report generation of collected data it is a method to internalize and improve an organization’s commitment to sustainable development in a way that can be demonstrated to both internal and external stakeholders.Corporate sustainability reporting has a long history going back to environmental reporting. The first environmental reports were published in the late 1980s by companies in the chemical industry, which had serious image problems. The other group of early reporters was a group of committed small and medium-sized businesses with very advanced environmental management systems.Non-financial reporting, such as sustainability and CSR reporting, is a fairly recent trend which has expanded over the last twenty years.Many companies now produce an annual sustainability report and there are a wide array of ratings and standards around. There are a variety of reasons that companies choose to produce these reports, but at their core they are intended to be "vessels of transparency and accountability".Often they also intended to improve internal processes, engage stakeholders and persuade investors.Organizations can improve their sustainability performance by measuring, monitoring and reporting on it, helping them have a positive impact on society, the economy, and a sustainable future. “sustainability reporting” is not necessarily the same thing as “publishing a sustainability report.” Companies disclose information in other ways, such as filings with regulatory agencies as well as to nongovernmental bodies such as the CDP or DJSIAs companies continue to measure and value natural capital, and factor it into their business decisions and metrics, this trend will continue.
- For companies to succeed during these times of change, they'll need to define and embrace a rigorous framework for sustainability, something that helps build a foundation that helps a firm achieve its sustainability and business goals.The study noted that other emerging frameworks like the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), could face an uphill battle to gain traction unless they can prove their value in terms of providing a mix of useful tools, third party validation, and market recognition.
- CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing aglobal system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. If asked to report using this framework, companies disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources with a goal take action to reduce them. Some companies use internal carbon pricing to fund energy efficiency, water conservation and other investments in sustainable resource management. That’s the strategy at Microsoft, which launched a carbon-pricing scheme in 2012 as part of a pledge to become “carbon neutral.” Working with their finance team, their model is to charge a fee for the carbon associated with the use of electricity and business air travel. The funds collected are invested in additional efficiency, clean energy and carbon offset projects. Some of the fees are used to fund carbon offset projects, such as forest conservation or reforestation.
- GRI has been ranked in the top three most widely used and respected sustainability frameworks, according tothought leaders and business executives. GRI stimulates interest among corporation’s customers and make a positive impact on their organization being selected as a supplier.The GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines enable all organizations worldwide to assess their sustainability performance and disclose the results in a similar way to financial reportingApplication Levels indicate the extent to which the G3 or G3.1 Guidelines have been applied in sustainability reporting. They communicate which parts of the Reporting Framework have been addressed - which set of disclosures. By confirming the amount of Reporting Guidelines content that has been addressed, Application Levels aim to reflect the degree of transparency against the GRI Guidelines in reporting. They do not give an opinion on the sustainability performance of the reporting organization, the quality of the report, or on formal compliance with the G3 or G3.1 Guidelines.There are three different Application Levels: A, B and C. Reporters are required to assess their own Application Level. GRI offers a service for organizations to have their Application Level checked.
- The family tracks the financialperformance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. It uses tools such as survey, company documentation, and media and stakeholder analysis to assess a company’s sustainability performance.The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices.
- The Sustainable Value Framework enables a constructive discussion about how best to incorporate the emerging challenges associated with sustainability into core business strategy. Using our Sustainable Value Framework, participants first chart the company’s current sustainability “portfolio.” This allows for a clear understanding of the current reality. Next, participants identify gaps and develop specific strategies and priorities for next steps. The result is a common understanding of how best to integrate the challenges of sustainability into strategy and a set of action items for the future.
- Using your chosen framework, you will establish the baseline and devise a strategy of mitigating your environmental and other chosen impactsAt that point, it is key to find a way to engage your key stakeholders including employees and integrate your strategy into the operations of the company, either at a micro-enterprise, small business, medium, business or enterprise level.To accomplish that, it is important to have a strong internal champion and reliable local vendors. At chosen intervals, either on a quarterly basis or annually, capturing the quantified data of your efforts will ensure that your program is successful and applied.
- Collaboration becomes an accelerator:One of the challenging realities of sustainable business is of companies reinventing wheels. Nearly every company, finds its own solution to its environmental challenges and opportunities, sometimes creating programs and processes that have previously been created by of other firms. The next step in problem solving we are observing is collaboration and alliances across industries. They require getting the right people and organizations to the table, having a clear vision, creating effective governance and setting the right goals. Good example is the Arkansas-based Sustainability Consortium.Chemical Transparency:there are more than 85,000 chemicals in commerce in the United States alone, and there is a push by retail giants Walmart and Target to push chemical disclosures down their supply chain. Walmart announced a policy to require manufacturers of cosmetics and cleaning products to disclose ingredients in their products and remove priority hazardous chemicals. Water becomes a risk factor: As hundreds of millions of people climb up the economic ladder, their water use grows. Cooking and personal hygiene may be the least of it. The bigger piece is likely the water it takes to produce the chemicals, materials, food, fuels, energy and other “stuff” associated with middle-class living and overall economic growth. Water is now one of the highest global risks, alongside the economy, unemployment, food shortages and extreme weather patterns, according to the ninth edition of the Global Risk Reportreleased in early 2014 by the World Economic ForumIntegration of social issues into sustainability programs: A more comprehensive look at the sustainability and corporate social responsibility is the trend. As companies knit together their environmental and corporate responsibility programs to address more holistically the role of business in the world, and what’s needed to ensure long-term success. In some cases that means mitigating environmental risks, such as water shortages or polluted air. In others, it’s about ensuring the well-being and raising the standard of living of the communities in which they operate in order to ensure future customers. The business world has had to rethink what it means to be a “responsible” company. It’s not just about “doing the right thing” or “doing well by doing good.” It’s about creating value — for shareholders, of course, but also employees, customers and communities. Procter & Gamble’s 2010 “sustainability vision,” for example, included a variety of environmental commitments: replacing petroleum-based materials with “sustainably sourced” alternatives, reducing packaging and manufacturing waste, and growing its use of renewable power.Strategic employee engagement: Most of you understand the challenges of engaging employees on environmental and social issues. Your success hinges in large part on how effectively you enlist employeesof the company to help to root out waste, save energy and water, reduce the operational footprint, evangelize achievements and suggest innovations where sustainability can become a driver of customer loyalty or increased revenue.One of the other factors leading to the elevation of employee engagement has to do with the maturing of sustainability inside many companies. Once a company has picked the low-hanging fruit — the blatantly wasteful energy, water and materials use— it’s time to tackle some of the harder stuff. Changing entrenched employee behavior certainly qualifies, and doing so can lead to new levels of environmental impact reductions and cost savings. But it’s hard work.Companies that want to accelerate improvements in their environmental impacts, and leverage sustainability for shared value, will need to engage the entire organization. They just can’t do it unless everyone is involved.