Environmental messaging bedevilled by 'greenwash'

“Only 10% of US and UK consumers trust green messages from businesses”. That was a year ago – and it’s getting worse...

• The organisation shows a deep understanding of its material issues, and the system for prioritising these is robust and transparent.
• Reporting is used to drive performance and provide a structure for measuring and managing all material issues and impacts.
• Sustainability is incorporated into the company’s main report and accounts. A variety of channels (e.g. the internet) are used to reach different stakeholders and meet their information needs, with a particular focus on the investment community.

Hallmarks of a leader in community affairs

• The organisation openly supports progressive regulation and acts within and beyond its sector to raise standards and performance. It is able to maintain a balance between collaboration and developing a competitive edge without hindering progress on sustainability.

• The value of stakeholder engagement to the business is clearly understood and evidenced through senior management engagement. Equally, the organisation ensures that its stakeholders value and understand the difference they are able to make through engagement.
• Stakeholder views feed into and influence strategic future scanning and long-term planning. The organisation is able to point to actions and real change as a result of this.

Hallmarks of a leader in the environment

Hallmarks of a leader in supply chains 

Do your products and services deliver sustainable solutions?

Hallmarks of a leader in products and services

Hallmarks of a leader in governance and embedding

• The organisation has a clear and aspirational vision of what it means to be sustainable, and understands that sustainability is an essential part of creating value.
• The business strategy is set to deliver sustainability as well as profit.
• There is active engagement with the wider sector on sustainability – influencing others to improve performance and address global challenges, such as poverty and climate change.