The first step in your sustainability journey is to conduct a thorough gap assessment. This involves evaluating your current sustainability practices, policies, and performance to identify areas for improvement.

Stage 2 – Materiality Assessment:

Stage 3 – Create a Strategy:

Determine the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues that are most significant and relevant to your organisation and its stakeholders. Prioritise these material topics to ensure your sustainability strategy is focused on the areas that matter most.

Combine insights from the gap and materiality assessments with relevant guidance and regulations to develop a comprehensive, compliant sustainability strategy. Set clear goals, define the necessary initiatives and actions, and align your sustainability efforts with your overall business objectives and corporate regulations.

Collect and analyse data on your organisation's environmental, social, and governance impacts to establish a baseline. This will allow you to track progress and measure the success of your initiatives over time.

Stage 5 – Set Targets:

Stage 6 – Implement Strategy:

With a solid baseline in place, set specific, measurable, and time-bound sustainability targets. Ensure these targets prioritise compliance, are aligned with your overall strategy and are designed to drive continuous improvement in your environmental, social, and governance performance.

Allocate resources, engage employees, and execute the initiatives and projects outlined in your plan. Effective implementation is crucial for realising the benefits of your sustainability efforts.

Track key performance indicators, analyse the data, and adjust your strategy as needed to ensure continuous improvement.

Stage 8 – Reporting on Data Collected:

Stage 9 – Third Party Assurance:

Transparent reporting on your sustainability performance can build trust, demonstrate accountability, and inspire others to join your sustainability efforts. Share your data, progress, and challenges with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.

Seek third-party assurance to enhance the credibility and reliability of your sustainability reporting. Have an independent, external party verify the accuracy and completeness of your sustainability data and disclosures.

Once you have a robust sustainability programme in place, showcase your achievements. Publish your sustainability report, communicate your progress, and share your story with customers, investors, and the broader public.

Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and the work is never truly done. As your business evolves and new challenges and regulations emerge, continue to innovate, explore new technologies and strategies, and stay at the forefront of sustainable business practices.

Sustainability for Success

By embracing this 11-stage sustainability journey, organisations can unlock a wealth of benefits, including improved environmental performance, enhanced brand reputation, increased employee engagement, and stronger financial resilience. Embarking on this transformative path is not only the right thing to do for the planet, but it can also drive long-term success and competitive advantage.

Procuring Sustainability Services

Wherever you are in your sustainability journey, service providers on Framework 500 have the expertise, insight and resources to support you every step of the way. As part of ESPO's Consultancy for Decarbonisation / Net Zero Strategies framework (500), there are recognised service providers with a proven track record of delivering consultancy for decarbonisation and net zero strategies, as well as a wide range of other sustainability advisory and verification services.

If you would like further information on the framework, please contact 0774 862 4366 or place@espo.org.

Discover Bureau Veritas’ full range of sustainability services here.

Find out more about ESPO’s frameworks for sustainability here.