The top 10 sustainability services available today

 

1. CSRD consultant/materiality assessment 

Even with the recent Omnibus announcement, forward-thinking companies are still committed to complying with the original Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

And as this is no easy task, many companies are turning to CSRD consultants to make sure they get it right. 

A CSRD consultant is a sustainability professional who helps companies navigate the complexities of the CSRD, ensuring that they comply fully with its detailed and specific requirements.

These consultants help to guide companies through the process of structuring ESG data collection, and aligning that data with evolving reporting standards. A significant aspect of this where the CSRD is concerned, is the double materiality assessment. This is an assessment of both how sustainability issues impact the company, and how the company affects people and the environment.

Rather than try and figure all of this out by themselves, increasingly companies are pushing the ‘CSRD sustainability service button’ for expert help.

And who can blame them!?

2. EcoVadis assessment

EcoVadis is the leading sustainability intelligence platform for global supply chains.

And through the globally recognized EcoVadis sustainability assessment, companies can undergo extensive assessments based on their policies, actions, and performance across key sustainability themes such as labor rights, human rights, ethics, and environmental responsibility.

Why would any company in its right mind want to subject itself to such a rigorous assessment you might ask!? Well, because a strong EcoVadis rating enhances credibility, and makes companies more attractive to all key stakeholders.

To achieve a strong rating though, involves a lot of work. Extensive and particular documentation prep is crucial, as well as competent gap analysis, questionnaire response optimization, and of course, improving sustainability practices themselves.

It’s no wonder that guidance through the EcoVadis assessment process is such a popular sustainability service.

3. CDP assessment/disclosure

CDP disclosure is a widely used system for companies to disclose environmental impacts such as carbon emissions, water security, and deforestation.

By going through the CDP disclosure process — which involves a detailed questionnaire that assesses areas such as governance, risks, opportunities, emissions, and sustainability strategies — companies can build trust with stakeholders by demonstrating transparency and accountability.

But preparing a high-quality disclosure is no walk in the (hopefully pollution-free) park. Doing so requires accurate data collection, robust emissions calculations, supply chain engagement, risk and opportunity analysis, governance transparency, and clear reporting on climate targets and progress.

Sounds like a job for a CDP expert? Unsurprisingly, many companies today would agree with you.

4. Scope 3 calculations/support

Scope 3 emissions — those originating from a company’s value chain — often make up the largest portion of an organization’s carbon footprint. And they are nearly always the most difficult to calculate and manage!

That’s why numerous organizations avail of Scope 3-related sustainability services. With expert guidance, companies can accurately assess and quantify emissions from suppliers, transportation, product use, and other indirect sources. And they can do this using industry-specific methodologies to improve data accuracy, and provide actionable insights for emissions reduction.

A valuable service, making it easier for companies to comply with emissions-related regulations, and achieve their sustainability goals.

5. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method for evaluating the environmental impact of a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle. All the way from raw material extraction and production to distribution, use, and disposal. (When we say comprehensive here, we really do mean, as comprehensive as physically possible!)

There are many reasons why companies might need to conduct an LCA at some point or another. To comply with sustainability regulations, reduce costs through resource efficiency, enhance brand credibility, or to meet stakeholder expectations for transparency, to name a few.

As you can imagine, conducting an assessment as comprehensive as an LCA is incredibly complex. Which is why companies usually bring in an LCA expert to help them get it right from start to finish.

6. Decarbonization

Do you know what else is incredibly complex? You guessed it! Decarbonization.

Transitioning to low-carbon operations involves carefully identifying emissions reduction opportunities, and implementing the most suitable energy-efficient solutions. This might include solutions like renewable energy adoption, process optimization, electrification, and carbon offset strategies.

Getting decarbonization right is definitely worth it, as it helps companies align with net-zero targets, comply with regulations, reduce energy costs, future-proof their operations, and just as importantly, pollute the planet less! 

Probably no need to say more regarding why decarbonization is such a widely-used sustainability service.

7. Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

One framework that can help to guide certain aspects of a decarbonization strategy is the one provided by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). By following this framework, companies can set emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science.

Establishing such science-based commitments helps to strengthen climate credibility, and enhances brand reputation among environmentally conscious stakeholders.

But to reap these advantages, targets must be developed in line with the SBTi’s strict methodologies. And the proposed targets must be validated by the SBTi.

To maximize the chance of success, companies can and are choosing to seek the help of an SBTi expert.

8. EU Taxonomy

The ‘EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities’ is a classification system, which defines what qualifies as environmentally sustainable economic activities within the European Union.

It requires companies to assess and disclose the sustainability of their activities based on environmental objectives such as climate change mitigation, protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, transition to a circular economy, and others. 

As you might expect, to achieve compliance, the required information must be gathered and disclosed in a very particular way.

So to save time and stress, companies are increasingly turning to EU Taxonomy freelancers for expert guidance.

9. Interim sustainability manager

For various reasons — such as managing specific sustainability projects for example, or bridging sustainability knowledge gaps during transitions — it is often the case that companies find themselves needing temporary sustainability cover. 

In fact, we have found that the interim sustainability manager is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after sustainability services. Because hiring an interim sustainability manager allows companies to seamlessly fulfill any pressing sustainability needs they may have, without having to bring a new full-time employee on board.

This is a service that offers expert knowledge that is affordable, flexible, and on-demand. More and more, companies are starting to notice the benefits services like this offer.

10. Sustainability communications

Effectively communicating sustainability efforts is just as important as implementing them. (This is a case where the good deeds should definitely not go unspoken!).

Your sustainability initiatives can only ‘woo’ your stakeholders and improve your brand image if people actually know about them and react to them. And to achieve this, you need to craft the right sustainability story, and communicate it to the right people, in the right ways, and in the right places.

This is where sustainability communications experts come in. They help companies master the art of sustainability storytelling, to craft compelling narratives that resonate with the appropriate audiences. Allowing companies to reap maximum benefit from their sustainability efforts. 

We only expect demand for this sustainability service to increase moving forward, as more companies come to understand the value of effective sustainability communications.