The Sustainability Reporting Landscape Posted August 7, 2017 by Jordan Chamberlain In 2016, 1,089 companies responded to investor requests to report greenhouse gas (GHG) data through CDP Climate Change. This number has been steadily rising year-over-year, increasing ten-fold since 2010. As investor and consumer awareness on climate change continues to increase, organizations can expect to see new reporting frameworks and standards emerging and existing standards gaining momentum. While CDP is a leading framework for disclosure of climate, water and forests information, there are a number of other frameworks for disclosing similar information that organizations can consider. If your organization has put in the effort to understand its environmental footprint and is already reporting publicly through CDP, there are opportunities to further expand the influence and impact of this data. For example, you could report through sector-specific channels, such as GRESB and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) or use available guidelines to further develop your citizenship and financial reporting. Sector-specific reporting Read More
How could an LCA help answer the question “what is the carbon footprint of a purchase or email account?” Posted July 7, 2017 by Julie Sinistore Have you ever taken one of those personal carbon footprint calculator quizzes? They calculate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on how you commute, how much you fly, where you get your electricity from, what you buy and what you eat, but what about how you invest and how you store your data? Financial transactions and cloud storage services are just two of the many services that can have significant impact on the environment and are difficult to quantify. I often describe life cycle assessment (LCA) as a process to evaluate the total environmental impacts, like GHG emissions and water from the production, use, transportation and disposal of goods and services. While there is an abundance of LCAs on goods out there, LCA’s of services are rarely done. As a long-time LCA practitioner, I understand that LCAs of services pose a number of challenges and can seem like a daunting Read More
The Do’s and Don’ts of Sustainable Supply Chain Engagement Posted May 3, 2017 by Kealy Herman Sustainability now has been at the forefront for several years, and as companies have become more adept at managing their own environmental impact, they are beginning to ask their suppliers to do the same. Many companies have programs, goals or targets, measurement tools, and performance indices. But aside from broad programs, how do you truly engage your supply chain to mitigate impact? For most companies, this is a daunting task. Supply chains are often made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of suppliers who provide products and services that may or may not be mission-critical. Here are a few things to consider when venturing into sustainable supply chain. Do: Focus your efforts Chances are, the majority of impact in your supply chain is the result of a only a subset of your suppliers. By categorizing your suppliers by direct/indirect as well as annual spend, you will find that most impact Read More
