Sustainable development is a sound business strategy. Arguably it is the principal way to gain competitive advantage in the new world that exists after the credit crunch and where climate change policy is beginning to affect all aspects of business life.

The business gains in terms of lower costs, strategic advantage and enhanced reputation from a genuine commitment to sustainable development are significant and can be an effective new element in strategic thinking and planning. We assist your thinking through workshops, facilitation, research and project identification.

Sustainable development is also a sound marketing opportunity for ecologically-minded organisations as customers increasingly demand a green approach from firms they want to do business with.

Read on to understand more about these measures and how we can help your organisation.

Environmental Impact Assessment
Developing a more sustainability-focused organisation requires us to understand exactly what our environmental impact is: this is where a footprint analysis comes in. Once this is done it becomes possible to reduce impact and, where it is impossible to do so, to find other indirect ways to minimise it. This becomes a cycle of assessment – remediation – mitigation that will drive down environmental impact time and again.

We are a partner organisation of the Global Footprint Network - the international body for Ecological Footprinting – and conduct Carbon Footprint and Environmental Footprint analyses for organisations and events worldwide.

Carbon Footprint Analysis
The carbon footprint methodology is an accounting tool that provides an audit of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. The carbon footprint is a useful tool for quantifying both the potential damage to the climate and practices of sustainable and unsustainable fossil fuel use. A typical Carbon Footprint Analysis will result in a report of total CO2 emitted with recommendations for future reductions and how to mitigate the emissions. CF methodology follows the recommendations of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and guidance from DEFRA.

Ecological Footprint Analysis
The ecological footprint is a potent measure of humankind’s impact on the environment. It goes beyond measuring carbon emissions to also provide a measure of the amount of land and water needed to provide the raw materials and crops, and to absorb the pollution and waste produced by a given population, using existing technology and resource management schemes. Consequently, it incorporates issues such as biodiversity loss, over-fishing, desertification, and the hidden environmental costs of our human infrastructure.

Comparison of the ecological footprint with the global availability of productive area gives an indication of sustainability. An ecological footprint greater than the per capita carrying capacity for the planet implies that the current rate of resource consumption and waste generation is unsustainable. Similarly, comparison of trends over time can be used as a measure of movements towards or away from sustainable practices.

Environmental Impact Remediation and Reduction
Our environmental impact assessment provides baseline data that is used to assess the potential efficiencies that could be achieved through remediation and reduction measures. These can be tactical – energy efficiencies for example – or strategic, including design of new plant and machinery, buildings design, new energy systems and re-engineering business systems and processes. Key elements include supply chain and procurement, direct and embodied energy, waste and emissions, materials and transportation.