What do you think about when we say ‘Environmental Reporting?’ Maybe something along the lines of: “Environmental reporting is a way to keep businesses focused on sustainability goals though tracking of resources, energy consumption and waste.”

In this blog post, we look further than the basic description you just read. Below, we list 5 undeniable facts about Environmental Reporting.

1. Sustainability Reporting is on almost every company’s radar

According to KPMG’s Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2020, 80% of companies worldwide report on sustainability. This ranges from a pledge to reduce carbon emissions to tracking what happens with hazardous waste and natural resources.

As more companies set environmental and sustainability goals, a clear framework to evaluate performance and to review goals needs to be put in place. Environmental reporting offers such a framework to companies of all sizes and across all industries.

2. Environmental reporting is more than just mentioning the SDGs

Companies tend to link their business activities to the SDGs, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. However, there’s a long way to go yet, as SDG reporting is often unbalanced and disconnected from business goals. To successfully integrate concern for the environment into your day-to-day operations, sustainability needs to be part of your company’s DNA.

Best practices tell us that businesses should closely track their environmental efforts and the effect they have on the world’s ecosystem. You need a transparent solution that makes it easier for you to gather insights on the possible environmental risks and impact of your operations.

3. Environmental reporting goes further than data collection

The essence of Environmental Reporting is describing findings, risks and the impact of a company’s operations on nature. But that’s not all: environmental reporting is about much more than just the simple collection of data.

Environmental reporting is a method to improve an organization’s commitment to sustainable development. Using resources responsibly and safeguarding the environment has two advantages:

• You reduce your company’s environmental footprint and mitigate hazardous risks related to energy consumption and (toxic) waste
• You uphold safety standards for employees and create a safer working environment

4. You can keep track of your environmental efforts, 100% paperless

You should practice what you preach if you do environmental reporting and want to achieve your sustainability goals. By adopting a 100% paperless digital solution to keep track of your environmental efforts, you reduce your company’s carbon footprint.

A digital way of environmental reporting also:

• Provides a clear view on activities that might impact environmental concerns.
• Offers strategic support for assuring compliance to regulations
• Helps you gain insights and assure compliance by embedding the environmental, social and energy expectations into the daily operations

A well-organised digital solution allows you to collect data and set objectives. In one single platform, you’re able to keep track of your air emissions, (waste) water, hazardous (chemical) waste and energy consumption. And all this while being compliant with existing environmental regulations and (inter)national standards.

5. You have to play by the rules

Speaking of regulations and standards, all corporations have to be compliant with the rules of the country or part of the world they’re located in. Through environmental audits and registration of your environmental activities and impact, you can show that you are in compliance with existing legislation.

What then immediately comes to mind is ISO 14001, the internationally accepted standard containing requirements for an environmental management system. When you opt for a digital solution for your environmental reporting, the software should be designed with the ISO 14001 standard in mind. This enables you to meet all necessary regulatory guidelines and obligations.

 

 

Get in touch to learn more on how to keep track of your company’s environmental efforts.