Category Archives: Environmental Sustainability and ESG Reporting

Water Management Is the Wave of the Future

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Companies that operate in regulated industries or those that are interested in improving how they manage water and wastewater both benefit from water quality management.
Companies that operate in regulated industries or those that are interested in improving how they manage water and wastewater both benefit from water quality management.

As wildfires, heatwaves and droughts become more common and more deadly around the globe, everyone is starting to take climate change more seriously. Until recently, many companies would “talk the talk” and promote their organization’s green initiatives to fool the consumer, but that is no longer the case. The reality of climate change, along with other factors, are driving companies to “walk the talk” and aggressively improve sustainability efforts as part of their corporate ESG strategy.

There are many ways for companies to improve sustainability. One approach is to reduce energy consumption and invest in renewable energy sources. Companies that operate in regulated industries must manage their water consumption and wastewater discharge; solid and hazardous waste treatment and disposal as well as greenhouse … Read more...

Second Week Highlights from COP26 – The Good and Bad News

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Global leaders pledged to work towards ensuring that by 2040 or earlier and no later than 2035 in leading markets all new cars and vans sold will be zero emission vehicles.
Global leaders pledged to work towards ensuring that by 2040 or earlier and no later than 2035 in leading markets all new cars and vans sold will be zero emission vehicles.

“We have kept 1.5°C (global warming limit by the end of the century) alive. But its pulse is weak, and it will only survive if we keep our promises and translate commitments into rapid action.” – COP26 President Alok Sharma

Therein lies the ultimate question as leaders of the world breakoff from the conclusion of COP26. Political will seems absent, particularly among the biggest carbon dioxide-emitting nations, to take rapid action?

But let’s start with the positive. A mere two years ago, only 30 percent of the world was committed to net zero greenhouse gas emission targets and at the conclusion of COP26 it now stands at around 90 percent with 154 parties having submitted new CO2 national targets … Read more...

Highlights from COP26 – Will Leaders Deliver on Promises Made?

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The tools needed to solve the environment crisis exist and commitments promised by world leaders last week could help the world move towards solutions.
Over 130 leaders of countries representing more than 90 percent of the world’s forests pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030.

The halfway point of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 saw many green commitments made by world leaders, but will these promises be kept?

Judging by a historical lack of collective action from the international community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the answer to that question would seem to be a resounding “no!” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had estimated in 2011 that limiting global average temperature increases to 1.5C would require a reduction of carbon dioxide or CO2 emissions of 45 percent in 2030, or a 25 percent reduction by 2030 to limit warming to 2C.  

Discouraging news came this week with the latest results of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) from more than 100 nations monitoring their CO2 … Read more...

Staying Focused Key Step to ESG Reporting Success: Panel

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key step in the ESG process is creating a core document, often referred to as a corporate sustainability report, that encapsulates a company’s overall mission around ESG and how they intend to meet their goals.
A key step in the ESG process is creating a core document, often referred to as a corporate sustainability report, that encapsulates a company’s overall mission around ESG and how they intend to meet their goals.

It’s tough to surf through business news or visit a company’s website without coming across a mention of ESG – Environmental, Social & Governance. The term refers to a firm’s collective efforts to conduct business in ways that benefit the environment and ensure social equality within its workplaces. Increasingly, stakeholders are basing their opinions and investment choices on how well companies are performing in these areas.

Getting ESG right is, quite simply, now a corporate imperative.

The challenge for firms to not only improve their ESG outcomes but also to communicate their progress to an incredibly attentive public can be monumental, particularly for those just starting out on their ESG measurement and reporting … Read more...

Here’s How ESG Will Further the Cause of EHS

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ESG will further the cause of EHSQ
No doubt most EHS professionals would rightly declare the work they’ve been doing has aligned with many ESG principles all along.

Ever-growing interest by financial investors and consumers in companies that do the right things for people and the planet by adhering to the guiding principles of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is great news for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) concerns.

What does one have to do with the other?

EHS has long been positioned as a cost avoidance function to protect company profits through protection programming. But with growing interest by businesses and their efforts to align with ESG, the one will most definitely help the other. 

“With ESG, there’s a triple bottom line: profit, people, and the planet that will be demanded not only by the internal stakeholder, but the consumer and those looking to invest as shareholders,” says Intelex Vice-President of Health and Safety, Scott … Read more...

ESG & IoT Create Smarter Businesses

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The rapid growth in capabilities of new technologies such as AR/VR, drones, robotics and the internet of things is accelerating the pursuance and performance of ESG.

There’s no doubt about it; businesses are becoming smarter. They are ramping up their environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies to score a win-win. They are increasing business profitability while boosting sustainability performance, building a strong social contract and embracing more progressive governance.

In a recent blog post we examined some global trends that are driving companies to focus on ESG, but we didn’t discuss the tools, techniques and technology that are helping to make it happen. This blog will discuss some of those tools and technology.

Over the next decade, technology will make it easier for companies to reduce their energy needs and carbon footprint. Renewable energy generation is skyrocketing, companies are investing in smart buildings and factories to reduce energy consumption … Read more...

How AI is Helping Organizations Meet ESG Expectations

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Using AI, subject matter experts who need to understand ESG requirements can synthesize vast quantities of data that would take weeks or even months for human readers to wade through.

Today’s organizations are part of a dynamic marketplace undergoing seemingly constant disruption. While some of these disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, will produce times of crises, others will be the catalyst to monumental positive change.

Over the last few years, organizations have started to look beyond profit as the primary motivation for doing business to the possibility of having a positive impact on society and the environment. To this end, ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) has become the foundation upon which many organizations and their customers see strategic decisions regarding investment and innovation being made.

However, ESG comes with a number of complex obstacles for implementation. This is where ehsAI’s artificial intelligence and deep learning solutions can make … Read more...

8 Checklists for 2020: A Quick Way to Check In and Level Up Your EHSQ Programs

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These checklists from Intelex offer practical advice about managing aspects of safety like slips and falls and electrical hazards, help you touch base with employees during these stressful times, offer insight into your organization’s preparedness planning, provide guidance on quality issues like voice of customer and 5S, and much more!

Don’t Be Shocked – A Checklist for Electrical Safety – While the objective of protecting the safety of their employees continues to be a strong focus for employers, there still needs to be more checks in place to reduce injuries.

Embrace the New Age of Digital Learning: Training Management in the Age of COVID-19 – Learning and training is more important than ever. When the world moves quickly, sometimes in unexpected ways, we need to make sure our training can keep up and give our teams what they need to survive and thrive.

Back to Work Checklist for Mindful Leaders – While strategic vision … Read more...

Sustainability Trends from NAEM: Zero Waste, Water Efficiency, and More

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Sustainability conferences give attendees a valuable opportunity to learn about industry trends directly from the companies that are leading the way! It’s safe to say that attendees learned a lot last week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the 2016 NAEM Sustainability Management Conference. From benchmarking best practices, to real-world case studies, to suggestions on how to engage with suppliers on common goals, this year’s line-up of speakers didn’t disappoint!

For those of you who missed out, or those who attended but would like a refresher, we’ve compiled our key takeaways from three of the most interesting topics of conversation at the conference.

The Zero Waste Journey

While some safety professionals share a “zero injuries” goal, sustainability professionals are talking more and more about a journey towards “zero waste” or “zero landfill.” The ultimate goal is to imitate sustainable cycles in nature, so that all resources involved in the creation of … Read more...

Materiality Assessments in 4 Simple Steps

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What is it?

Materiality. It’s a concept that comes up more and more frequently – especially when it comes to discussions of sustainability. But what is it exactly and how and why is it applicable to EHS?

Put simply. Materiality is a principle to help define and determine the business, social and environmental topics that matter most to a business and its stakeholders. This is also something that 80% of the world’s largest 250 companies are already tracking and reporting on as part of their sustainability reporting efforts.

Like many topics this is in part due to increased focus on corporate social responsibility as a differentiator for these businesses, and in part due to regulations and standards. Of these standards, the main one is the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G4 guidelines. In Europe there is currently the added pressure of the European Directive on non-financial reporting for publicly traded companies … Read more...