Sustainability Change Management

Using practices learned from delivering digital transformation programmes, we can work with clients to help them incorporate sustainability into every aspect of their organisation.

Through an innovation sustainability lab and Centre of Excellence (CoE) we are co-developing the processes, introducing technology and providing the education required to inculcate a sustainability mindset across the organisation.

This can extend to an organisation’s supply chain, which is perhaps the best way to collaborate with suppliers on decarbonisation strategies and new product development.

Functions within the organisation that we typically engage with:

Exec & board, Finance, treasury, IT, product, data & engineering teams, sustainability, risk management, IA, Investor relations, corporate affairs, marketing, comms & PR.

We want everyone pulling in the same direction.

Four core outcomes are: 

  • Transform sustainable data creation, data collection, data governance & data analysis capabilities. Plumb the data into business decisioning systems.

  • Develop the capability to communicate a data-informed, integrated corporate + sustainability strategy effectively to stakeholders.

  • Transform the ability to develop new sustainable products & services, potentially alongside key suppliers.

  • Improve corporate access to lower cost of capital via Sustainable Finance (green bonds issuance etc).

Regulatory compliance

An emerging trend is organisations looking to weave their sustainability strategy into their corporate strategy, to both satisfy disclosure requirements, but also provide investors with more insightful data to inform their decision making.

Aside from compliance with regulatory disclosure requirements, developing this capability to create a data-informed narrative could facilitate better access to sustainable finance products from investors.

This confers a potentially significant competitive advantage and will help the sustainability flywheel spin faster.

We are helping our clients develop both their reporting capability as well as their access to the supporting data.

We can help clients create their narrative and develop the required processes, practices and governance to be able to confidently articulate this strategy to their various stakeholders - critically, using data to support the narrative.

Organisations may want to invest in new software, such as carbon accounting software (organisational emissions) or life cycle analysis software (more granular, product level emissions), along with the processes & systems required to collect, collate, report and inform decision making (potentially for internal carbon pricing schemes etc)..

To help companies standardise and automate parts of their reporting process, we can advise on reporting software which can facilitate both financial & non-financial disclosure, such as from vendors like Workiva.

We can also help clients with their supply chain strategy, as this is often the most complex sustainability challenge for organisations.

Decarbonisation

A key outcome for companies developing & implementing a decarbonisation strategy is their ability to tap into Sustainable Finance products, and issuance of green bonds.

Access to lower cost of capital can support the transition and potentially confer a competitive advantage on their slower-moving peers.

We are working with a number of organisations to help them with their decarbonisation strategies.

Often, these organisations have committed to Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and need guidance on the various means to achieve key sustainability objectives, from reducing scope 1 & 2 emissions, to developing and implementing a supply chain strategy (scope 3).

Here are some of the most common decarbonisation strategies

To embark on decarbonisation programmes an organisation needs data.

Data to inform on where the most impact can be made, data to measure & improve that impact, and report it back to key stakeholders.

That data also needs to integrate into existing workflows and BAU - so that everyone across the organisation & extended supply chain can support the transition to lower carbon products & services.

We work with organisations to help them create, capture, process, analyse, visualise, integrate & report on ESG data.

We often work with large tech vendors & GSI’s on larger programmes, particularly in developing ‘ESG data lakes’ and the integrations into business applications.

  • Improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions. Organisations can reduce energy consumption by upgrading equipment, optimising building systems, and implementing energy management systems.

  • Switching to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal can help organisations reduce their carbon emissions. Organisations can install their own renewable energy systems or purchase renewable energy from third-party providers.

  • Bioenergy involves using organic matter, such as crops or waste, to produce energy. This can help organisations reduce their carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

  • Electrifying processes and equipment that currently use fossil fuels can help organisations reduce their carbon emissions. This can include electrifying transportation systems or switching to electric heating and cooling systems.

  • Adopting a circular economy approach involves reducing waste and extending the life cycle of products and materials. This can help organisations reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the need for raw materials and energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

  • Organisations can work with suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chain. This can include using more sustainable transportation methods or encouraging suppliers to adopt renewable energy and energy-efficient practices.

  • Carbon offsetting involves investing in projects that reduce or remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Organisations can purchase carbon credits to offset their own emissions or invest in carbon offset projects such as reforestation, renewable energy development or potentially Technology-based solutions such as Direct Air Capture (DAC)