How Green Are Your Metrics? - Resources
As You Sow
(asyousow.org). While not a metrics-driven organization, AYS offers rich links to places that can help companies reduce, recycle, and implement their sustainability goals.
Carbon Disclosure Project
(cdproject.net). To date, more than 1,000 large corporations reported to CDP on their emissions on the following criteria:
- Regulatory risk/opportunity
- Physical risk/opportunity
- Consumer sentiment risk/opportunity
- Total companywide global greenhouse gas emissions
- Steps taken to manage and reduce emissions
Their reports can be viewed and downloaded free of charge from their Web site. This is a good way to see what efforts each individual company measures and how they measure them.
Ceres
(ceres.org) is a national network of investors, environmental organizations, and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ceres is responsible for launching the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), used by over 850 companies for corporate reporting on environmental, social, and economic performance. It is also responsible for dozens of other breakthroughs, initiatives, and research studies. In partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Ceres runs the annual Ceres-ACCA Sustainability Reporting Award program.
The Direct Marketing Association
(the-dma.org). The Environmental Planning Tool & Optional Policy Generator, from the DMA's Committee on Environment & Social Responsibility, is designed to educate DMA members on the variety and complexity of issues facing the direct marketing community, as well as to help members evaluate their environmental footprint and make continuous improvement in five key areas: list hygiene and data management; design, production and printing; paper procurement and production; packaging; and recycling and pollution reduction.
Forest Stewardship Council
(fsc.org). The FSC operates an accreditation program that certifies that organizations are getting their raw materials from renewable or sustainable sources. Accredited companies have access to the FSC logo for their printed materials, or in the case of wood or paper products, can be placed right on the product or the product packaging, that serves as a “seal of approval.” While this type of a seal is relatively new, imagine a world where every product on the shelf carried the seal but yours. It could have a real effect on whether your product gets purchased or not. In this case, without proper accreditation, you run the risk of a negative affect on your brand, reputation, and sales.
Global Reporting Initiative
(globalreporting.org) has developed a set of key performance indicators structured to reflect the “inputs, outputs, and modes of impact an organization has on the environment” from their use of energy, water, and materials. For a robust description of GRI’s key performance indicators and protocols, go to: http://www.globalreporting.org/Services/ResearchLibrary/GRIPublications/.
Innovest Strategy Value Advisors
(innovestgroup.com). Make sure your sustainability policy is in line with Innovest’s key performance indicators in order to get a good rating.
Institute for Sustainable Communication
(sustaincom.org). If you want to measure your carbon footprint (and you should) and are looking for help, this is the place to go. ISC helps companies measure the carbon footprint of their marketing efforts.
KLD Research & Analytics, Inc.
(kld.com) is a research and indexing firm used by institutional investors.
Sustainable Asset Management Group
(sam-group.com). Want to be considered for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes? You’ll find the application here.
United Nations Global Compact
(unglobalcompact.org). This organization recently launched the Communication on Progress (COP) Review Project, in which companies are reporting in annually to promote transparency and accountability, share corporate practices, and protect the integrity of the initiative. Currently, 2,000 reports from 100 countries have been filed. Data is being input daily, but once the project is up to date, companies worldwide will have a fully catalogued and searchable database of both academic and company practices. Organizations with 10 reviews will receive a certificate of participation.
World Resources Institute
(wri.org) is a leading source of protocols for quantification of carbon footprints. Go to http://www.wri.org/climate/.
