Let’s face it, becoming a Sustainable Organization is a challenge. There are many factors in the equation, from the obvious things like energy and material consumption to the less obvious community support and supply chain engagement. Even though it can be a challenge, Sustainability is not going away. Organizations need to start somewhere if they are going to compete and win in the new economy.
CSR, aka Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting is a great place for companies to start their journey towards Sustainability and with this, brings a number of benefits. To start, more and more organizations are demanding suppliers report progress towards Sustainability and develop a plan for moving forward. Meeting these expectations will help organizations retain current customers while attracting new ones. CSR reporting is also a great way to get buy in and support from Sr. Mgmt as they are forced to make public facing statements and commitments towards sustainability. In the process of developing a CSR report organizations will also take stock of their current progress, have a means for showcasing these efforts to stakeholders while developing a structure and plan for moving forward.
For organizations that have yet to develop a CSR report it can seem like a daunting task but like anything, it’s important to start small and build from there.
Here are some tips for getting started:
Assess key impacts, risks and opportunities:
This can be done by asking a few simple questions. What are the key impacts the organization has on the environment, its community and its people? What risks and opportunities does this present? When looking at key sustainability trends such as climate change, resource depletion etc., what impacts, risks and opportunities will this present?
Develop a Sustainability Vision:
What is the […]