5-Step Sustainability Baseline Assessment Guide

Want to make your business more sustainable? Here's how to do a quick sustainability baseline assessment:

1. Define what to assess
2. Collect needed information
3. Review current performance
4. Set sustainability goals
5. Create an action plan

This guide will walk you through each step to:

• Understand where your business stands on sustainability
• Identify areas for improvement
• Set realistic goals
• Create a plan to achieve them

Key benefits:

• Spot ways to cut waste and boost efficiency
• Meet growing customer demand for eco-friendly companies
• Save money through reduced energy use
• Stay ahead of new sustainability regulations
• Attract talent and investors who value sustainability

Ready to start your sustainability journey? Let's dive in.

Sustainability Strategy Planning:

Define What to Assess

Picking the right areas to assess is crucial for your sustainability baseline. This step shapes your entire sustainability journey.

Focus Areas

Choose key sustainability areas for your business:

• Energy use
• Waste management
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Water use
• Supply chain practices

RPM International Inc., a $6.1-billion specialty coatings company, focuses on:

Carbon footprint, energy efficiency, employee health and safety, product safety, business ethics, board diversity, and inclusion efforts.

Set Boundaries

Decide what's in and out of your assessment:

Choose Data Timeframe

Pick a timeframe that fits your business. Most use a full year of data.

Match your assessment period to your fiscal year for easier reporting.

Track all supply chain parts for a complete impact picture. As you collect data, you'll find areas to cut waste and boost efficiency.

2. Collect needed information

To build a solid sustainability baseline, you need the right data. Here's how to get it:

Record current practices

List what you're already doing for sustainability. This shows where you stand.

A retail store owner told us:

"We spend 10 minutes weekly jotting down sustainability ideas. We also ask 4 employees for feedback monthly. This tracks our progress and sparks new ideas."

Find data sources and how to measure

Identify your data sources and measurement methods. Look at:

• Utility bills (energy and water use)
• Waste management records
• Transport logs (emissions)
• Supplier information

Tip: Use a spreadsheet to organise your data by type. Update it monthly with your bills.

Check data is correct

Make sure your data is accurate:

1. Use standard units (kWh for energy, metric tons for waste)

2. Cross-check numbers with multiple sources when possible

3. Set up regular reviews

Good data leads to good decisions. A sustainability manager said:

"You need reliable data, efficient processes, and analytical skills to track sustainability performance and share results with stakeholders."

3. Review current performance

Time to crunch those numbers. Let's see where you stand on sustainability.

Baseline numbers

Calculate your current figures:

• Energy use: 50,000 kWh/year
• Water consumption: 1,000,000 L/year
• Waste generated: 10 metric tons/month

These are your starting points. Now, let's see how you stack up.

Industry comparison

How do you measure up? Let's use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. It's the go-to for 73% of the world's 250 largest companies across 100+ countries.

Spot the differences? That's where the work begins.

Strengths and weaknesses

Time for a Sustainability SWOT. It'll show you what's working and what's not:

• Strength: Low energy use in office lighting
• Weakness: High water consumption in production
• Opportunity: Switch to renewable energy
• Threat: New waste management regulations

This analysis? It's your roadmap for improvement. Use it to focus your efforts where they'll make the biggest impact.

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4. Set sustainability goals

You've got a clear picture of where you stand. Now, let's set some goals that pack a punch.

Make SMART goals

SMART goals are your roadmap:

• Specific: Nail down what you want to do
• Measurable: Use numbers to track progress
• Achievable: Keep it realistic
• Relevant: Make it fit your business
• Time-bound: Set a deadline

Here's a real example:

WashREIT, a real estate investment trust, aims to cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2025. It's specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Align with company plans

Your sustainability goals should mesh with your business strategy. If they don't, you're asking for trouble.

Mix short-term and long-term targets

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Aim for quick wins and big dreams.

Short-term (1-2 years):

• Switch to LED lighting
• Start recycling
• Train staff on energy-saving

Long-term (3-5 years):

• Install solar panels for 50% of energy needs
• Develop closed-loop manufacturing
• Get B Corp certified

Keep these goals flexible. Review and tweak as you go. The UN says we need to halve annual greenhouse gas emissions in eight years. It's a big ask, but every step counts.

"Your long-term target is great – but who's still going to be around to check that you're actually doing that in 2050?" - Karen Ermel, Associate Director of Responsible Investing at Coutts

Karen's right. That's why short-term goals are key. They keep you honest and on track.

5. Create an action plan

You've set your goals. Now, let's map out how to reach them. Your action plan is your roadmap to sustainability success.

Plan how to improve

Break down your goals into smaller steps. For each goal, list the actions needed.

Let's say you want to cut energy use by 15%. Your plan might look like this:

• Switch to LEDs
• Install smart thermostats
• Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances

Don't forget about resources. Think money, time, and people.

Assign tasks and deadlines

Who's doing what? When? Be clear about responsibilities.

Make sure everyone knows their job and deadlines. It keeps things moving and helps track progress.

Set up ways to track progress

Create a system to monitor your efforts. It shows what's working and what's not.

Try these:

• Weekly check-ins
• Monthly reports
• Quarterly reviews

"To achieve ambitious targets, you will need to create an action plan that helps break the ambitious targets down into steps that are more within reach." - Kevin Moss, Chief of Institutional Alignment of the World Resource Institute (WRI)

Your action plan is your guide. Use it to stay on track and make your sustainability goals a reality.

Conclusion

Let's recap the five steps for a sustainability baseline assessment:

1. Define what to assess
2. Collect needed information
3. Review current performance
4. Set sustainability goals
5. Create an action plan

Each step builds on the last, creating a solid foundation for your sustainability efforts. This process gives you a clear starting point and direction for your company's sustainability journey.

But don't stop there. Your initial assessment is just the beginning. Here's why ongoing improvement matters:

• Stay current: Update your assessment yearly as your business evolves.
• Find new opportunities: Regular reviews can uncover ways to boost efficiency and cut costs.
• Improve your data: Each assessment cycle leads to more accurate data and smarter decisions.
• Engage employees: Get your team involved. Ask for ideas from every department.

"Sustainability reporting keeps an organisation moving forward, growing in all the right ways." - Rob Smallcombe, Founder EcoHedge

FAQs

How do you conduct a sustainability assessment?

Here's how to do a sustainability assessment:

1. Pick key metrics (like energy use and waste)
2. Use tools (like life cycle assessment)
3. Get qualitative data (through stakeholder interviews)

"A sustainability baseline assessment is the best way to set up a solid foundation for your planning - whether it's your first Sustainability Plan or an update." - The Sustainability Consortium

What is a baseline assessment in sustainability?

A sustainability baseline assessment is your starting point. It helps you:

• See where you are now
• Set goals you can actually reach
• Keep track of how you're doing

It's like taking a snapshot of your business right now. This snapshot helps you make smart choices about what to improve next.