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Business briefing series
20 issues on building a sustainable business
KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services                             The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
networks. KPMG’s Climate Change & Sustainability Services                            (the Institute) is the professional body representing
group works with clients to respond to sustainability and                            Chartered Accountants in Australia. Our reach extends
climate change issues in order to manage risk, create value                          to around 70,000 of today’s and tomorrow’s business
and achieve a competitive advantage.                                                 leaders, representing approximately 57,000 Chartered
Part of KPMG’s Global Climate Change and Sustainability                              Accountants and 13,000 of Australia’s best accounting
Services network, our practice provides services to leading                          graduates currently enrolled in our world-class
businesses and public sector organisations across the globe.                         Chartered Accountants postgraduate program.

Our multi-disciplinary teams with backgrounds in business                            Our members work in diverse roles across commerce
risk, environment, social studies, compliance, finance, tax and                      and industry, academia, government and public practice
audit mean we bring a holistic and integrated approach to help                       throughout Australia and in 108 countries around the
our clients respond to the complex business challenges and                           world.
opportunities arising from climate change and sustainability.                        We aim to lead the profession by delivering visionary
Services include:                                                                    leadership projects, setting the benchmark for
• Sustainability Advisory. Assisting organisations to create                         the highest ethical, professional and educational
  value and manage risk through appropriate sustainability                           standards, and enhancing and promoting the Chartered
  strategies, programs and reporting.                                                Accountants brand. We also represent the interests of
                                                                                     members to government, industry, academia and the
• Climate Change Advisory. Helping organisations prepare
  for, and perform successfully in, a low-carbon economy.                            general public by engaging our membership and local
                                                                                     and international bodies on public policy, government
• Water Advisory. Working with governments, water
                                                                                     legislation and regulatory issues.
  corporations and businesses to respond to the challenges of
  water scarcity. We assist governments execute their water                          The Institute can leverage advantages for its members
  reform agendas and identify and manage public and private                          as a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance
  investment in water projects.                                                      (GAA), an international accounting coalition formed
• Assurance services – sustainability reporting and                                  by the world’s premier accounting bodies. With a
  greenhouse gas emissions. Providing assurance                                      membership of over 800,000, the GAA promotes quality
  services to enhance the credibility of reported information                        professional services, shares information,
  associated with sustainability practices and greenhouse                            and collaborates on international accounting issues.
  gas emissions. We combine the rigour of the financial audit                        Established in 1928, the Institute is constituted by Royal
  approach with a deep understanding of sustainability and                           Charter. For further information about the Institute visit
  greenhouse gas data management and reporting issues.                               charteredaccountants.com.au
For more information visit kpmg.com.au
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Disclaimer                                                                           All information is current as at October 2011
The information in this briefing paper is of a general nature and is not intended    First published November 2011
to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although
we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no             This communication provides general information which is current
guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or         as at the time of production.
that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon           Published by:
such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough            The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
examination of the particular situation.                                             Address: 33 Erskine Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and KPMG expressly               KPMG
disclaim all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any         Address: 10 Shelley Street, Sydney NSW 2000
information contained in this briefing paper.
                                                                                     20 issues on building a sustainable business
Copyright                                                                            First edition
© The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. All rights reserved. This     National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright
Act 1968, it may only be reproduced for internal business purposes, and may          20 issues on building a sustainable business /Institute of Chartered
not otherwise be copied, adapted, amended, published, communicated or                Accountants in Australia, KPMG.
otherwise made available to third parties, in whole or in part, in any form or       ISBN: 978-1-921245-89-3 (pbk.)
by any means, without the prior written consent of The Institute of Chartered
                                                                                     Business enterprises.
Accountants in Australia and KPMG.
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© 2011 KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG
                                                                                     Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International
                                                                                     Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler.
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                                                                                     Business briefing series.
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ABN 50 084 642 571 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia Incorporated in Australia Members’ Liability Limited. 1011-01
ABN: 51 194 660 183 KPMG
Business briefing series
20 issues on building a                            While many businesses are committed to the principles of building a sustainable
                                                   business, many find it difficult to implement practical strategies that will enable this.
sustainable business
                                                   At the Institute, accounting for environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors
                                                   impacting an organisation has been on our agenda for some time, with the advent
                                                   of Broad-Based Business Reporting (BBBR). A recent leadership paper, integrating
                                                   sustainability into business practices: a case study approach, highlighted five
                                                   case studies of Australian and New Zealand organisations that have implemented
                                                   sustainable business practices.
                                                   In this leadership paper, Business briefing: 20 issues on building a sustainable
                                                   business, we have partnered with KPMG to take a strategic, big-picture look at
                                                   how businesses can address ESG risks and practically incorporate sustainability
                                                   into their business plan.
                                                   The paper offers guidance in a number of business areas, including strategy,
                                                   internal and external buy-in, risk management and reporting principles.
                                                   This is the fifth publication in our successful Business Briefing Series, which
                                                   provide guidance for business leaders and financial professionals on a range of
                                                   issues relevant to contemporary businesses.
                                                   As the profile of sustainability evolves, I hope this publication sheds some light
                                                   for you on how to make a sustainable business your reality.




                                                   Rachel Grimes FCA
                                                   President
                                                   Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                         3
4   Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Contents
Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Build sustainability into your strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
      1.     Understanding industry externalities and stakeholders’ expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
      2.     Mapping business risks and opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
      3.     Assessing competition and defining positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
      4.     Integrating sustainability into strategy and strategic objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
      5.     Developing the business case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Implement the strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
      6.     Leading from the top. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
      7.     Building internal awareness and knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
      8.     Developing a cultural change process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
      9.     Involving external stakeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
      10. Developing relevant sustainability metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Embed sustainability into core business processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
      11. Incorporating sustainability within the risk management framework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
      12. Understanding product development and customer attitudes and behaviours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
      13. Promoting sustainable procurement and supply chain management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
      14. Understanding the investment decision-making process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
      15. Measuring performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
      16. Ongoing monitoring of externalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Create value through reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
      17. Determining your audience and objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
      18. Developing reporting principles and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
      19. Moving to integrated reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
      20. Identifying assurance needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26


Resources and further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Contact details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                                                                                                   5
Executive summary
    Sustainability is a business case                                             Sustainability has entered the mainstream of corporate
    Sustainability has transitioned from an environmental                         life, according to a 2010 study by KPMG and the
    issue to a serious business consideration. Industry                           Economist Intelligence Unit.3 Nearly two-thirds of the
    leaders have already anticipated the management                               companies surveyed had already adopted a strategy
    implications of this shift and are embedding sustainability                   for corporate sustainability, up from just over half in
    throughout the operations of their business and strategic                     February 2008. A further 11% were currently developing
    goals. However, running a sustainable business appears                        a sustainability strategy.
    challenging to corporations across Australia, many of                         Sustainability issues are reshaping the rules of business
    which require a new approach to remain competitive                            competition, driving new business models, transforming
    in a fast-changing world.                                                     industry structures, redefining markets, and creating
    The World Commission on Environment and                                       new risks and opportunities. How businesses choose
    Development has defined sustainability as ‘economic                           to respond to and integrate sustainability with core
    development that meets the needs of the present                               business strategy will underpin their success in achieving
    generation without compromising the ability of future                         a long-term competitive advantage.
    generations to meet their own needs’.1 Sustainability                         This paper identifies 20 key issues that are relevant to
    issues can potentially affect most elements of                                implementing a new strategic approach to sustainability
    business strategy, including the price and availability                       in a corporate context. These are discussed under four
    of capital, competitive relativities, operating costs,                        headings:
    risk management, process improvement, innovation,
                                                                                  • Build sustainability into your strategy
    consumer preferences, supply chain management and
    regulatory compliance.                                                        • Implement the strategy
                                                                                  • Embed sustainability into core business processes
    There is growing official and public expectation that
    organisations will conduct their business in a sustainable                    • Create value through reporting.
    manner in order to retain public trust and their licence
    to operate. Beyond that, however, there is a realisation
    across all industry sectors that an organisation’s                                       To build a
                                                                                            sustainable                                 Implement
    sustainability poses significant risks and opportunities                               business, start                                  the
    to its future profitability.                                                              with the                                   strategy
                                                                                              strategy
    This position is reflected in the views of business leaders,
    according to a 2010 UN Global Compact, Accenture CEO                                                         Building a
    Study.2 It reported that 96% of the business and civic                                                      sustainable
    leaders polled thought that sustainability issues should                                                     business
    be fully integrated into strategies and operations, up from
    72% in 2007. Over 90% of CEOs surveyed believed that
                                                                                                                                          Embed
    sustainability matters would be critical to the success of                              Create value                               sustainability
    their businesses.                                                                         through                                    into core
                                                                                             reporting                                   business
                                                                                                                                        processes




    1. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Our Common Future: World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987.
    2. United Nations Global Compact, Accenture CEO Study, A New Era of Sustainability, 2010.
    3. KPMG in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit, Corporate Sustainability: A Progress Report, November 2010.




6                                                                                               Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Build sustainability into your strategy
To build a sustainable business, sustainability related issues, developed in consideration of
externalities and stakeholder concerns and expectations, should be appropriately considered and
embedded in the business strategy. You may also consider trade-offs in order to optimise social,
environmental and business performance for long-term value creation.
The resulting strategy will identify and respond to both potential limits to growth and business
opportunities, such as access to new products or new markets, and apply across the entire
organisation. Performance measurement should be aligned with corporate level objectives and
resonate with management’s business priorities.
Currently, some companies have developed separate standalone sustainability strategies, while
others have integrated sustainability considerations into core business strategy. As integrated
strategies are becoming more commonplace, sustainability is increasingly acknowledged as a
critical component of good governance, risk management and a source of competitive advantage.
The issues are presented in the context of an integrated strategy, but are equally relevant for
standalone sustainability strategies.


1. Understanding industry externalities                                  and needs, and demographic shifts may impact the
   and stakeholders’ expectations                                        assumptions behind business strategies.

  	 Is	your	organisation	exposed	to	industry-specific	                   Each industry faces its own unique environmental and
    regulatory	changes?                                                  social challenges which may affect business models,
                                                                         technological innovation and business outlook. It is
  	 What	physical,	social,	environmental,		
                                                                         important that a strategy is formulated to capture
    technological	and	economic	factors	may		
                                                                         the various risks and opportunities, with particular
    impact	your	operating	environment?
                                                                         attention to physical, environmental, technological,
  	 Does	your	business	strategy	incorporate		                            social, regulatory and economic factors that will
    changing	stakeholder	expectations?                                   impact the operating environment of the organisation.
                                                                         It also requires recognising and understanding the
Understanding the broader context in which your                          interconnections between industries, where a disruption
organisation operates is a critical first step in incorporating          in one may cascade to other industries with random
sustainability considerations into business strategy. This               consequences (e.g. fires in Russia may result in export
requires taking steps to capture, understand and assess                  embargoes, which may push up grain prices around the
the unique sustainability-related factors impacting an                   globe or lead to an increased demand for corn-based
organisation’s industry and geography, such as how                       bio-fuels, which may influence affordability of basic
stakeholder expectations, changing societal tastes                       food produce).




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                             7
Build sustainability into your strategy (continued)

                                                                     Stakeholder engagement involves obtaining input into
      Example: Sustainability challenges                             key strategies and objectives, which will ensure
      facing the airline industry                                    that organisations understand and respond to external
      The	airline	industry	is	highly	competitive	and	                input when developing strategy.
      characterised	by	thin	margins,	volatile	yields,		
                                                                     In this context, stakeholders can include shareholders,
      price-sensitive	customers	and	technological		
                                                                     investors, financiers, employees, customers, suppliers,
      limitations	(e.g.	reliance	on	oil-based	fuels).	These	
      and	other	factors	impact	business	sustainability	              governments, regulators, NGOs, academics, and
      and	sustainability	performance.	Other	sustainability	          communities with strong links to a particular enterprise.
      challenges	may	include:                                        The table below summarises issues facing the financial
      •	 Managing	and	reducing	greenhouse	gas		                      services industry and relevant stakeholder groups.
        emissions	within	the	constraints	of	limited	
                                                                     Seeking input from relevant employees, as critical
        abatement	opportunities
                                                                     stakeholders, during strategy development allows
      •	 Managing	the	economic	impact	of	emission	                   their unique understanding of risks and opportunities
        constraints	in	different	global	markets	
                                                                     to be captured. In addition, early engagement will
      •	 Monopolistic	behaviours	in	parts	of	the	value		             strengthen internal ownership of the strategy during
        chain	(e.g.	airport	managers)
                                                                     implementation.
      •	 Growth	constraints	as	hub	airports	reach		
        capacity
      •	 Poor	labour	flexibility	and	productivity	in		
        certain	markets
      •	 Airline	safety	and	security	issues.



    Issues facing the financial services industry and relevant stakeholder groups

    Material issues                                            Relevant stakeholder groups

    Bank fees and charges, and interest rate decisions         Customers, governments

    Sustainable and responsible investment,                    Environmental social governance (ESG) and mainstream
    lending, products and screening                            investment analysts, employees, NGOs, customers, academics

    Customer service                                           Customers, ESG and investment analysts, employees

    Equal opportunity                                          Employees, ESG and investment analysts

    Job security, talent retention                             Employees, ESG and investment analysts

    Financial inclusion and global financial crisis            Customers, ESG and investment analysts

    Climate change                                             Community, ESG and investment analysts, customers,
                                                               employees, NGOs, academics

    Governance and compliance                                  ESG and investment analysts, employees, customers

    Economic contribution                                      ESG and investment analysts, employees, community

    Safety and security                                        Customers, employees, unions




8                                                                               Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Example: Mapping the key issues in New Zealand Agribusiness

    KPMG	recently	conducted	a	survey	                               Highest ranked priority issues for New Zealand agribusiness
    of	over	80	agribusiness	industry	                               (on a scale of 1 to 10)
    leaders	in	order	to	understand	the	
                                                                           Maintain a robust biosecurity system
    key	opportunities,	policy	settings	
                                                                                   Understand global products
    and	industry	actions	facing	                                                            and eating trends
    agribusiness	in	New	Zealand.
                                                                Ensure practices support ‘clean/green’ image
    Recognising	that	the	agribusiness	
                                                                            Effective mechanisms for extension
    sector	should	be	closely	involved	
    as	the	key	driver	of	New	Zealand’s	                            Build high value solutions with customers
    export	earnings	in	the	future,	the	                                              Recognition of importance
    survey	results	could	help	industry	                                                          of governance
    stakeholders	develop	a	strategy	                                     Aligned industries with a common goal
    that	will	capture	the	potential	                                               Recognise consumer trends
    that	exists	for	the	sector	in	global	                                                 around sustainability
                                                                          Develop brands for global fast moving
    markets.	Key	issues	were	ranked	by	                                              consumer goods markets
    level	of	priority,	and	many	of	those	
                                                                    Realise benefits of free trade agreements
    in	the	top	10	relate	to	sustainability	
    issues	such	as	biodiversity	and		                                                                             0         2         4         6         8   10
    changing	consumer	trends.                                                                                     Source: KPMG Agribusiness Agenda 2011




2. Mapping business risks and                                                                   time with regard to abatement activities developed
   opportunities                                                                                through technological innovation.

  	 What	industry	challenges	and	growth	constraints	                                            Materiality is another issue to consider. Certain
    are	most	material	to	your	organisation?                                                     sustainability issues will have a larger effect on the
  	 Is	a	process	in	place	to	review	changes	and		                                               performance of the organisation than others, just as
    assess	the	impact	of	these	issues	on	strategy?                                              certain activities produce more significant sustainability
                                                                                                consequences than others. Concentrate on identifying
  	 How	can	these	changes	be	leveraged	to	create		
    a	competitive	advantage?                                                                    issues that are likely to have the greatest negative or
                                                                                                positive impact.
Mapping business risks and opportunities will help                                              While sustainability challenges vary considerably
relevant linkages and relationships become evident.                                             between organisations and industries, they invariably
Doing this allows you to pull together and summarise                                            relate to physical, regulatory or market-driven factors
the knowledge and ideas developed in earlier phases                                             that can limit growth and impact on competitiveness.
of strategy formation. At this stage, it is important                                           Limitations can be physically imposed (e.g. water
to make sure that the relevant industry challenges,                                             scarcity), regulatory driven (e.g. carbon pricing,
growth constraints and stakeholder expectations have                                            emission standards) or a consequence of consumer
been properly assessed and included in the process.                                             preference (e.g. demand for greener products).
The mapping process captures relevant knowledge                                                 Identifying and understanding constraints to growth are
at a point in time. This process needs to be regularly                                          key challenges and require strategic responses. Crucial
reviewed because many of the inputs can change as                                               for business longevity and competitive advantage is an
a result of technological, economic and regulatory
                                                                                                understanding of tipping points and your organisation’s
developments. For example, the risks presented by
                                                                                                preparedness to respond to these factors.
the introduction of a carbon price in Australia will
be intensified during the first year as businesses adapt                                        Ultimately, with good planning, constraints and limits can
to the changes and opportunities will increase over                                             be turned into opportunities and competitive advantage.




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                                             9
Build sustainability into your strategy (continued)


      Common risks and opportunities for consideration in a sustainable growth strategy
      Regulatory change. Sustainability	strategy	should	           Licence to operate.	Most	organisations	function	
      include	a	capacity	to	track	and	respond	quickly	and	         under	an	implicit	licence	to	operate.	Adverse	
      effectively	to	relevant	regulatory	changes	(e.g.	a	price	    developments	in	public	opinion	and	government	
      on	carbon	emissions,	changes	to	energy	efficiency	           attitudes	can	cause	the	licence	to	be	removed	or	have	
      standards	or	water	allocations).	While	there	has	been	       conditions	imposed	upon	it.	Events	involving	one	
      considerable	focus	on	changes	to	environmental	              industry	participant	can	have	adverse	consequences	
      regulations,	governments	are	also	increasingly	using	        for	other	players.	For	example,	the	BP	oil	spill	in	the	
      regulation	to	address	social	issues.	An	example	of		         Gulf	of	Mexico	in	2010	resulted	in	tighter	regulation		
      this	is	the	federal	government’s	plan	to	introduce		         of	the	global	oil	and	gas	industries.
      plain	packaging	for	tobacco	products	by	1	July	2012		
                                                                   Workforce considerations.	Sustainability	needs	
      in	an	effort	to	reduce	smoking	rates	and	improve	
                                                                   to	be	considered	in	the	context	of	an	organisation’s	
      public	health.
                                                                   ability	to	attract,	manage	and	retain	quality	employees.	
      Eco-efficiency. The	value	of	constrained	resources	          This	element	may	be	a	critical	issue	in	regards	to	
      and	the	ability	to	maximise	access	to	them	will	become	      employment	choices.	
      a	major	driver	of	competitive	advantage.	In	many	
                                                                   Supply chain pressures.	Sustainability	factors	are	
      cases,	activities	such	as	improving	energy	efficiency	
                                                                   becoming	increasingly	important	in	supply	chain	
      or	reducing	packaging	can	also	lead	to	a	reduction	in	
                                                                   security	and	performance,	and	are	influencing	
      operating	costs,	increased	innovation,	and	enhanced	
                                                                   consumer	choices.	Issues	such	as	sustainable	sourcing	
      brand	image	and	regulatory	compliance.
                                                                   of	raw	materials,	carbon	and	water	performance	and	
      Customer preferences and brand loyalty.	While	               employee	human	rights	are	increasingly	becoming	
      there	is	only	anecdotal	evidence	of	sustainability	          brand	and	reputation	issues	for	organisations	and	
      issues	impacting	a	customer’s	decision	to	buy	a	             are	therefore	attracting	greater	scrutiny.	An	example	
      product,	there	is	significant	evidence	that	customers	       of	this	was	seen	in	2010	when	Greenpeace	targeted	
      may	choose	not to buy	a	product	on	the	basis	of	an	          Nestlé’s	Kit	Kat	product	over	concerns	about	the	use	
      organisation’s	sustainability	performance.	An	example	       of	palm	oil	and	the	resulting	impact	on	the	habitats	
      of	this	is	the	backlash	faced	by	Nike	during	the	            of	orangutans.	A	viral	advertising	campaign	led	to	
      1990s	after	accusations	of	using	sweatshops	drew	            significant	pressure	on	Nestlé’s	brand	and	the	product	
      the	attention	of	human	rights	groups	and	the	media,	         itself,	prompting	Nestlé	to	announce	it	would	stop	
      prompting	campaigns	to	boycott	products.	Customer	           using	ingredients	that	may	be	sourced	as	a	result	of	
      expectations	need	to	be	researched	and	monitored	as	         rainforest	destruction.
      they	evolve.


                                                            Licence		
                                                           to	operate


                                     Eco		                                          Regulatory		
                                 efficiency                                          change

                                                           Limits to
                                                          sustainable
                                                            growth

                                Supply	chain	                                       Customer		
                                  pressure                                           needs

                                                           Workforce	
                                                         considerations




10                                                                            Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
3. Assessing competition and                                             4. Integrating sustainability into
   defining positioning                                                     strategy and strategic objectives
  	 How	do	your	competitors	define	and		                                       	 Is	your	sustainability	strategy	linked	to	core	
    implement	sustainability?                                                    business	objectives?
  	 Do	your	sustainability	initiatives	place	you		                             	 What	potential	intangible	benefits	could		
    as	an	industry	leader?                                                       investment	in	sustainability	deliver?
  	 How	can	your	organisation	be	differentiated		                              	 Does	your	organisation	have	resilience		
    to	gain	competitive	advantage?                                               to	sustainability	shocks?

Analysing your organisation’s peers and competitors                      An effective sustainability strategy should focus on
is critical in order to define an appropriate strategic                  delivering core business objectives and creating business
positioning for market differentiation. For example, are                 value in terms of cost reduction, revenue growth and
you seeking to be an industry leader and innovator, a                    enhanced brand value, or any combination of these.
fast follower or a niche player? This analysis provides an
                                                                         One of the challenges is balancing short- and long-
understanding of your positioning within your industry
                                                                         term business needs. A popular lens for sustainability
and helps to identify how and where your organisation
                                                                         investment is the ‘J curve’ (see below). This involves
wishes to move in the future.
                                                                         initial investment to deliver longer-term benefits for the
Integrating sustainability risks and opportunities within                organisation. At times, this investment may need to be
business strategies is an opportunity for individual                     not only ahead of the market but ahead of regulation
organisations to positively differentiate themselves from                in order to maximise the competitive benefit. Indeed,
their competitors. Organisations can gain positional                     a common challenge in investment approval is the lack
advantages (both in terms of cost and brand reputation)                  of recognition of intangible benefits, such as reputation
by establishing themselves as industry leaders in                        and improved customer loyalty, within cost-benefit and
sustainability matters. Consumers respond positively                     payback analyses.
to perceptions that organisations conduct themselves
in a sustainable and ethical manner.
                                                                         Sustainability investment returns over time
As noted in Issue 2, how an organisation tackles
the risks and challenges posed by management of
sustainability issues will provide the greatest opportunity
for differentiation from competitors and for the broader
positioning of the organisation.
                                                                         Returns




                                                                                                                            Time
                                                                                   0
Sustainability issues can directly impact competitive
positions within industries. For example, in one
high-emission manufacturing industry, the leading
organisation sources and manufactures most of its
products within Australia, while its major competitor
sources material offshore. Consequently, the imposition
                                                                         The development of an effective sustainability strategy
of a carbon price in Australia is likely to impact their
                                                                         will involve certain business performance trade-offs, and
relative competitive positions.
                                                                         numerous considerations must be taken into account to
                                                                         determine how to best optimise the situation. A saving
                                                                         in energy efficiency that in turn increases waste may
                                                                         not necessarily be considered sustainable. Decisions
                                                                         also need to make commercial sense. Overall, strategy
                                                                         formation is about optimising the balance.




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                11
Build sustainability into your strategy (continued)


       Trade-offs: The Qantas experience                                               Setting sustainability goals and
       ‘Managing	environmental	impacts	(and	other	                                     objectives
       sustainability	target	areas)	is	a	balancing	act.	                               After	assessing	the	actual	and	potential	implications	
       Actions	to	mitigate	one	consequently	may	adversely	                             of	sustainability	issues	for	your	organisation,	it	is	
       affect	another.	For	example,	the	Group	is	washing	                              important	to	establish	clear	business	objectives.		
       more	aircraft	to	reduce	drag	to	improve	fuel	                                   This	will	include	defining	what	sustainability	means	
       efficiency.	While	fuel	consumption	is	reduced,	                                 to	your	organisation,	given	that	there	are	many	
       water	consumption	is	increased.	Another	example	                                different	definitions.
       is	that	the	most	fuel	efficient	flight	path	may	reduce	
                                                                                       In	setting	goals	and	objectives,	your	organisation	
       greenhouse	gas	emissions	but	may	increase	the	
                                                                                       needs	to	consider	the	scale	of	threats	and	
       number	of	people	exposed	to	aircraft	noise.	In	some	
                                                                                       opportunities,	the	potential	impacts	on	current	
       cases,	the	Group	has	been	required	to	operate	a	fully	
                                                                                       business	and	growth	goals,	and	positioning	in	
       noise	compliant	but	less	fuel-efficient	flight	path	in	
                                                                                       relation	to	competitors	around	these	issues.
       response	to	local	community	concerns.	These	types	
       of	trade-offs	between	different	impact	areas	create	                            As	suggested	earlier,	isolating	sustainability	within	
       additional	complexity	in	both	setting	environmental	                            only	one	part	of	your	organisation	is	set	to	almost	
       improvement	targets	and	in	identifying	improvement	                             guarantee	failure,	as	the	costs	of	sustainability	
       initiatives.’                                                                   programs	will	be	incurred	but	many	of	the	benefits	
       Source: Qantas Data Book 2010                                                   will	not	be	captured.	
                                                                                       Sustainability	should	become	a	part	of	core	business	
                                                                                       activities,	such	as	procurement,	risk	management,	
     Decisions tend to become more difficult as                                        marketing	and	product	development.	This	integration	
     sustainability’s ‘lowest-hanging fruit’ is picked and                             needs	to	be	implemented	across	the	organisation	
     consumed. Technological innovation, regulatory                                    both	hierarchically	and	geographically.	
     change and shifts in the economic climate can offer                               Implementing	a	sustainability	strategy	and	building	
     opportunities for sustainability and performance                                  resilience	into	your	organisation	requires	process	
     breakthroughs. The ability to identify such opportunities                         changes	and	behaviour	change	at	all	levels.	
     ahead of competitors is becoming a highly desirable                               Sustainability	considerations	can	also	be	integrated	
                                                                                       more	broadly,	in	areas	such	as	recruitment,	cultural	
     competency.
                                                                                       change	programs,	partnerships	and	alliances.
     One of the outcomes of integrating sustainability into
     strategy is that it enables an organisation to develop
     resilience to sustainability shocks. Sustainable business
     policies and practices should provide a measure of
     protection against adverse, unexpected external events
     by making your organisation capable of responding to
     shocks and setbacks.4
     Once it has been determined to what level sustainability
     will be integrated into an organisation, it is important
     to clarify these decisions within the strategy with clear
     goals and objectives.




     4. Examples of this can be found in Early warning systems: can more be done to avert economic and financial crises, a leadership paper released
        by the Institute in February 2011.




12                                                                                                Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
5. Developing the business case                                           The introduction of a carbon price in Australia creates
                                                                          further incentive to address these key areas of value as
  	 Is	there	an	opportunity	to	reduce	long-term		
                                                                          they will be fundamental in mitigating any additional
    operating	costs	through	implementing		
                                                                          carbon costs faced by businesses directly and
    sustainability	measures?
                                                                          throughout their supply chain.
  	 Is	there	a	threat	to	brand	equity	beyond	the	
    operational	control	of	your	organisation	which	
    could	be	minimised	through	sustainability	
    investment?

Demonstrating the business value of a sustainability
strategy is an essential element of building a sustainable
business. When building a business case, there are three
key areas of value to consider:
• Reduced operating costs
   With increasing energy, water and waste costs,
   reductions in use will not only reduce dependence on
   scarce resources and greenhouse gas emissions but
   also impact future operating costs. To give an accurate
   picture of operating cost reductions, modelling future
   price increases is essential. For example, DuPont
   (once named the most polluting company in the
   world) found it cost less to implement energy-saving
   measures than it did to buy and burn fuel. As a
   result, the company estimated that every tonne
   of carbon it displaced saved it $6 5.
• New product and market opportunities
   For many organisations, there is a potential upside
   in integrating sustainability into business strategy
   via new products and markets. A striking example of
   this is General Electric’s ‘Ecomagination’, a business
   initiative focused on developing green technology.
   This helped turn the company’s image around
   following its controversial dumping of toxic chemicals
   in the Hudson River.
• Brand equity
   Sustainability draws focus onto both the protection
   and promotion of an organisation’s brand. You need
   to be aware of the risks to brand and reputation,
   particularly around areas where you have reduced
   control, such as joint ventures, contractors and
   supply chain if they are not meeting your standards.
   Appropriate influence should be applied
   to third parties so that their performance supports
   your organisation’s reputation.




5. Lovins, L. Hunter, The economic case for climate action (March 2010) p 12, www.climateactionproject.com/docs/HL_Economics.pdf




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                               13
Implement the strategy
     To ensure a sustainability strategy is successful, an organisation’s leadership will play a critical role
     in supporting and driving its implementation.


     6. Leading from the top                                                           • How and when will the change process
                                                                                           take place?
       	 Are	the	Board	of	Directors	and	senior	management	                                 While the detail of the strategy development and
         actively	involved	in	communicating	the	value	of	
                                                                                           implementation is likely to be articulated by specialist
         sustainability	to	the	organisation?
                                                                                           leaders, senior management should outline the overall
       	 Are	the	drivers	and	outcomes	of	your	sustainability	                              approach, accountabilities and timeline
         approach	relevant	and	clear	to	employees	and	
                                                                                       • Are support structures in place throughout
         stakeholders?
                                                                                           the organisation?
                                                                                           While leading from the top is essential, it is also
     As with most organisational changes, lasting progress
                                                                                           important to show support for middle management,
     on sustainability is unlikely without strong and focused
                                                                                           who can be caught between the demands of the
     leadership, preferably starting at the Board level. Many
                                                                                           Board and the resistance of employees.
     employees welcome sustainability initiatives and are
     ready to apply them once they see strong leadership
     on these initiatives.                                                                 Key leadership success factors
     Strong leaders create both passion and momentum                                       •	 Take	every	opportunity	to	discuss
     around sustainability issues. To do this, leaders should                              •	 Behave	in	a	way	that	is	clear	and	consistent
     consider a number of questions:                                                       •	 ‘Live	the	values’	and	embed	sustainability		
                                                                                              into	your	daily	life
     • What does sustainability mean for our organisation?
        A clear definition sets the boundaries within which                                •	 Show	support	to	middle	management	and	
        to consider these issues. Sustainability could take on                                operational	employees
        different meanings for different people 6                                          •	 Communicate	the	strategy	and	highlight	results
     • What are the drivers for sustainability issues to                                   •	 Encourage	employees	to	challenge	the	status		
                                                                                              quo,	and	reward	innovative	thinking.
        be among the top issues facing the organisation?
        In other words, why are we doing this? These drivers
        are likely to include alignment with organisational
                                                                                       Board directors and senior management should
        values, regulatory compliance, meeting of stakeholder
                                                                                       think about why they are supporting and promoting
        expectations, improved operating efficiencies, cost
                                                                                       sustainability and ensure the organisation clearly
        reductions, enhanced competitiveness and increased
                                                                                       understands this. Demonstrating value and obtaining
        innovation. It is important to outline opportunities as
        well as risk mitigation as a key driver for change                             buy-in is crucial for securing internal support.

     • How will sustainability initiatives fit within                                  Enabling cultural and business change is an essential
        the existing business strategy?                                                part of success and needs to start at the top. This will
        It is critical that the sustainability strategy is integrated                  help ensure the effective integration of sustainability
        into the current and future business strategy from the                         into the business strategy.
        beginning of the process. Articulating how the strategy
        will protect and promote current business objectives
        will help the rest of the organisation, as well as
        external stakeholders, put the work into context.




     6. Examples of different sustainability case studies can be found in Integrating sustainability into business practices: a case study approach, a leadership
        paper released by the Institute, May 2011.




14                                                                                                    Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Successfully integrating sustainability into your
   Demonstrating value and securing                                         organisation requires employees to be aware of the
   internal support for sustainability                                      ‘big picture’ of what is trying to be achieved, as well as
   Management	sometimes	views	sustainability	as	a	                          what they need to do as individuals for implementation
   compliance	exercise,	and	a	distraction	from	more	                        to be successful. The key question for business is
   important	activities.	This	view	can	be	changed	by	                       how to build this awareness in a cost and time
   clearly	aligning	sustainability	strategy	with	core	                      efficient manner, using existing programs for
   business	objectives.	The	Sloan	Management		                              employee engagement where they exist.
   Review/BCG	study 7	found	a	strong	link	between		
   an	organisation’s	ability	to	integrate	sustainability		                  Arguably, the most critical factor for successfully
   into	overall	business	strategy	and	both	the	                             incorporating sustainability into a business is that
   effectiveness	of	the	relevant	sustainability	initiatives	                each employee clearly understands what they are
   and	the	overall	performance	of	the	enterprise.	                          responsible for and that they acquire the right knowledge
   To	place	sustainability	in	its	proper	context	for	                       to be successful. How this is achieved will vary and
   employees,	an	organisation	should	discuss	the	                           is influenced by existing structures for employee
   business	challenges	facing	it,	and	the	role	of	                          engagement and knowledge sharing. Here are some
   sustainability	in	meeting	these	challenges.		
                                                                            suggested strategies:
   Boards	and	CEOs	should	clearly	demonstrate		
   the	value	of	sustainability	to	the	organisation		                        • Conduct group-level workshops to explain how
   and	the	stakeholders,	making	it	clear	that		                                the sustainability strategy will affect each business
   decisions	and	choices	that	lead	to	better	                                  group, and encourage group members to develop
   sustainability	outcomes	will	be	rewarded.	                                  their own implementation strategies
   As	sustainability	benefits	can	sometimes	be		                            • Identify key individuals from each business group
   difficult	to	monetise	and	reduce	to	a	calculation	                          to take on the role of sustainability ‘champion’, to
   of	return	on	investment,	gaining	business	buy-in	                           identify and communicate what the group is required
   and	support	for	sustainability	initiatives	can	be	                          to do, generate ideas, drive implementation of the
   challenging.	Early	consideration	of	alternate		                             strategy within the group, and identify and seek
   ways	to	measure	the	benefits	is	often	required.	                            assistance to remedy blockages in the implementation
                                                                               process should they arise
                                                                            • Create a ‘live’ library of sustainability information
                                                                               relevant to the business which individuals can access
7. Building internal awareness
                                                                               and add to
   and knowledge
                                                                            • Start with achievable ‘quick wins’ in the sustainability
  	 Are	the	‘big	picture’	sustainability	objectives		                          strategy and ensure they are communicated to
    clear	to	employees?                                                        employees
  	 Is	everyone	in	the	organisation	aware	of	their	role	                    • Provide access to knowledge sources such as
    in	the	implementation	and	ongoing	success	of	                              industry and interest groups, newsletters, magazines
    sustainability	as	a	core	business	function?                                and journals.
  	 What	tools	can	you	use	to	enhance	communication	
    and	support	employee	awareness?




7. MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group, Sustainability: The ‘embracers’ seize advantage, 2011




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                   15
Implement the strategy (continued)

     8. Developing a cultural change process                      9. Involving external stakeholders
      	 Are	the	differences	between	the	current	culture		          	 Which	key	external	stakeholders	can	provide	input	
        and	the	desired	culture	clear	and	understood		               to	your	organisation’s	sustainability	position?
        by	employees?                                              	 Have	external	stakeholders	been	engaged	early	
      	 Which	areas	of	the	organisation	are	likely	to	be	            so	they	can	understand	your	organisation’s	
        most	heavily	impacted?	What	support	is	in	place?             sustainability	perspectives?
                                                                   	 Are	there	opportunities	for	partnerships	with		
     For many organisations, embedding sustainability into           key	stakeholders	to	drive	sustainability	results?
     the core function of a business requires a significant
     shift in the culture. For implementation to be successful,   Effective stakeholder engagement is essential as your
     the organisation needs to know where support is              organisation progresses its sustainability agenda.
     required to sustain this change, and to put it in place      Many organisations focus stakeholder relationships on
     before the transition.                                       governments, shareholders and industry bodies, with
     It is often useful to identify what the current culture      consumer research also providing input. However,
     of the organisation is and how this compares to the          engaging with other groups – such as non-government
     desired culture. This will indicate the degree of support    organisations (NGOs), academics, customers and
     required to facilitate the transition.                       community groups – can also provide significant input
                                                                  into an organisation’s sustainability position.
     A cultural change process is most successful when
     individuals are well informed and supported. The             Effective engagement requires clearly defining who your
     following are some steps organisations can take to           organisation’s stakeholders are and their perspectives
     identify what is required:                                   on sustainability issues and concerns. Engaging with
                                                                  stakeholders early in the strategy development process
     • Ensure everyone in the organisation understands
                                                                  brings important external input into this process. Early
       what is trying to be achieved and what this means for
       them in their individual roles (as discussed in Issue 7)   engagement also helps organisations ‘stress test’ their
                                                                  strategy externally, signal to key stakeholders that
     • Identify which individuals and groups across the
                                                                  the organisation is seriously addressing sustainability
       organisation will be more impacted than others.
                                                                  concerns, and identify partnership opportunities which
       Ensure they and their managers understand what
                                                                  will support the achievement of outcomes.
       they require to successfully fulfil their roles
     • Ensure appropriate mechanisms and supports are             Your organisation should also continue to engage
       in place before people transition to their new roles       with stakeholders during the implementation process.
     • Be prepared to change goals and key performance            Done effectively, this will create trust and enable the
       indicators, retrain individuals, provide access to         organisation to positively influence outcomes to
       further education and/or reassign roles                    support sustainability and business objectives.
     • Link sustainability criteria to incentive schemes          Ongoing engagement and communication with
     • Bring together groups or individuals who have              stakeholders can be achieved via a variety of methods.
       previously worked independently and will now               Some organisations create a stakeholder council, which
       be required to interact and share information.             meets several times a year and is consulted on key
                                                                  organisational initiatives. Other organisations take a more
                                                                  targeted approach by creating close relationships with a
                                                                  select group of stakeholders. For broader engagement,
                                                                  a major channel of communicating with stakeholders is
                                                                  public reporting and disclosure. The quality of reporting
                                                                  is a critical factor in effective stakeholder engagement
                                                                  (see Issue 18).




16                                                                          Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
10. Developing relevant sustainability
    metrics                                                              Example: Stockland liveability index
                                                                         Liveability	is	fundamental	to	the	long-term	
  	 What	are	the	sustainability	indicators	material	to	                  sustainability	of	residential	communities	developer,	
    your	organisation’s	strategic	objectives?                            Stockland’s,	business.	Stockland	is	designing	
  	 Do	they	address	meaningful	key	performance	                          its	own	liveability	index	to	better	understand,	
    indicators	(KPIs),	targets,	and	short	and	long-term	                 benchmark	and	measure	liveability	in	the	planning	
    outcomes?                                                            and	development	of	its	residential	communities.	
                                                                         The	sustainability	and	liveability	of	its	communities	
                                                                         has	always	been	a	top	priority	and	a	key	strategic	
Increasingly, companies understand the value of
                                                                         objective	of	Stockland;	however,	prior	to	developing	
transparent, accurate and timely reporting of matters                    liveability	metrics	it	was	difficult	to	quantify	and	
material to their business, as both the core of corporate                objectively	manage	liveability	within	a	community.
governance and a requirement of the market. But the
                                                                         Stockland	recognised	that	enhancing	the	liveability	
success and sustainability of an organisation will be                    of	its	communities	was	both	a	key	sustainability	
influenced by how well it can measure, manage and                        initiative	and	a	key	business	priority.	Stockland	
report its performance against a range of new reporting                  Managing	Director	Matthew	Quinn	told	a	recent	
metrics. Sustainability metrics will become increasingly                 Sustainability challenge: business creativity in
important in defining the value of an organisation and                   practice	forum	that	innovative	approaches	to	
providing indicators of long-term growth potential.                      sustainability	and	customer	engagement	can		
                                                                         deliver	strong	financial	rewards	for	businesses.
Further, your organisation’s strategy should reflect
                                                                         The	liveability	indicators	that	Stockland	developed	
issues material to the organisation and its stakeholders.                help	to	measure	the	unique	themes	that	create	
Measuring sustainability performance against strategic                   liveability	in	communities.	This	index	will	revolve	
objectives and benchmarks is essential to ensure                         around	six	key	themes:
sustainability-related initiatives retain their credibility.             •	 Affordable	living	and	working
The challenge is to translate strategic goals into                       •	 Economic	prosperity
meaningful KPIs and targets, and achieve the right                       •	 Access	and	connectivity
balance between long-term performance (required                          •	 Sense	of	belonging	and	identity
to deliver sustainability outcomes) and short-term
                                                                         •	 Wellbeing	and	healthy	living
performance pressures.
                                                                         •	 Governance	and	engagement.
Organisations should avoid wholesale adoption of
                                                                         As	a	result	of	developing	the	liveability	indicators,	
indicators specified in sustainability reporting guidelines
                                                                         Stockland	will	be	better	placed	to	internally		
without first mapping those indicators against identified                measure	the	liveability	of	projects,	enhance	
material issues and strategic priorities.                                the	liveability	of	communities,	and	externally	
                                                                         communicate	the	liveability	of	projects	to	planning	
Information systems need to be in place to capture
                                                                         authorities,	customers,	and	other	key	stakeholders.	
the required information and to measure, monitor and
                                                                         In	addition	to	improving	the	liveability	of	Stockland	
report against KPIs. Key to developing an appropriate                    communities,	Stockland	believes	the	indicators		
and lasting system is the support of your finance team.                  will	provide	a	competitive	advantage	in	the	market.	
The team’s involvement in developing and measuring
metrics and achievable sustainability targets will help
ensure consistency of data management and reporting,
and in the long term help with the transition to integrated
reporting (see Issue 19).




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                            17
Embed sustainability into core business
     processes
     Sustainability considerations touch on many management functions and processes. Organisations
     should assess the extent to which sustainability risks, opportunities, goals and performance targets need
     to be reflected within these processes. Failure to adequately review and update processes may result in
     dysfunctional or sub-optimal decision-making, or a lack of alignment with strategy and commitments.


     11. Incorporating sustainability within                        12. Understanding product development
         the risk management framework                                  and customer attitudes and behaviours
       	 Have	the	outputs	of	stakeholder	engagement	been	            	 Has	your	organisation	undertaken	adequate	
         considered	in	the	risk	management	process?                    research	to	understand	current	and	future		
       	 Are	the	impacts	of	sustainability-related	risks	              trends	and	their	implications?
         understood	and	quantified?                                  	 What	factors	are	likely	to	drive	changes	in		
                                                                       your	industry?
     An organisation’s risk management framework is                  	 Are	there	financial	incentives	available	to		
     central to its business. Ensuring that sustainability issues      support	new	sustainable	product	innovation?
     are adequately covered in your organisation’s risk
     management framework will minimise the potential for           Individuals’ responses to sustainability issues affect their
     sustainability-related risk to impede the achievement          attitudes and behaviours as customers. Anticipating
     of business objectives. It will also provide a formal          market transformations and the factors driving them
     framework for managing these risks through establishing        can help your organisation respond more effectively
     clear mitigation actions and accountabilities. Common          to changes in consumer behaviour and societal norms.
     challenges organisations face include:                         With this in mind, leading organisations often engage
     • Reconciling the enterprise risk map to the                   and collaborate with customers in product development.
       identified material sustainability issues
                                                                    It is also important to explore emerging trends and
       In some cases, the risk mapping process may have
                                                                    drivers that may impact on product demand. Customer
       been carried out without sufficient consideration
                                                                    preferences, identified today through engagement, may
       of sustainability risks. In others, there may be
                                                                    not provide insight into tomorrow’s demand. For that,
       insufficient linkage between the outputs of
                                                                    deeper research and engagement with industry experts
       stakeholder engagement, which is a core mechanism
                                                                    may be beneficial. The example overleaf illustrates the
       for capturing current and emerging sustainability
                                                                    dynamics that impact food demand trends flowing
       risks, and the risk management process
                                                                    from changing demographics and income levels.
     • Quantifying the impact of risks associated
                                                                    A range of considerations influence purchasing
       with brand and reputational damage
                                                                    decisions. Care must be taken in teasing out the various
       Some sustainability-related risks fail to become
                                                                    factors involved, and in understanding their relative
       recognised and prioritised because their impacts
                                                                    importance and how they interact with each other.
       are not appropriately quantified.

     Detailed information will enable your organisation to
     create a risk profile which can be used to compare
     elements such as likelihood and size of impact. This
     will determine the level of threat and guide appropriate
     actions. Proactive leaders in this space will be able to use
     the risk management framework to identify opportunities
     to develop new products and services and enhance
     market credibility.




18                                                                            Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Key consumer attributes and corresponding food product trends


   Emerging consumer profile attributes                                   Trend implications



  Income levels/income distribution                                       Different expectations of ‘food product’ e.g.
                                                                          portion sizes, prepared vs. making from scratch,
  Household size decreasing                                               more competition with take-away


                                                                          Organic food demand, education seeking, ‘natural‘
   Healthy lifestyle desirability
                                                                          food, alternative products to traditional market


   Base demographics
                                                                          New food offerings desired
   (age and ethnicity in particular)




13. Promoting sustainable procurement                                       which may not have been a consideration previously.
    and supply chain management                                             While examples like this may pressure an organisation
                                                                            to reduce waste and cut emissions, it may also increase
  	 What	elements	of	your	supply	chain	may	create	                          awareness and potentially improve profitability.
    extra	risk	or	lack	efficiency?
  	 Have	environmental,	social	and	ethical	criteria		                          Many	Australian	businesses	have	undertaken		
    been	developed,	in	addition	to	price	and		                                 the	journey	towards	sustainable	business	practices.	
    availability	criteria,	in	your	purchasing	decisions?                       Detailed	examples	can	be	found	in	the	Institute’s	
  	 Can	you	leverage	your	position	in	the	industry		                           publication,	Integrating sustainability into business
    to	influence	your	suppliers’	actions?                                      practices: a case study approach,	available	on		
                                                                               our	website.
Major global corporations, such as large retailers Tesco
and Walmart, have enjoyed considerable success                              Most organisations lack the ability to leverage supplier
in getting their suppliers to be ‘greener’ and more                         contracts that these powerful retailers have, but they
sustainable. In 2009, Walmart introduced its Supplier                       can still incorporate sustainability considerations into
Sustainability Assessment, a brief survey that evaluates                    supply chain decision-making. They can also enter into
the sustainability of suppliers (in terms of energy,                        partnerships with suppliers to drive both sustainability
climate, material efficiency, natural resource use, people                  and efficiency. Understanding the sustainability risks
and community), with the intention of developing the                        that may impact the supply chain and having effective
first index of a product’s lifecycle impact.8 Walmart’s                     mitigation plans in place, is essential to building supply
suppliers are required to develop systems to measure                        chain resilience.
and report the sustainability issues of each product,




8. Walmart Sustainability Index accessed on 17 May, 2011 from http://walmartstores.com/sustainability/9292.aspx




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                                   19
Embed sustainability into core business processes (continued)

                                                                    Putting sustainable procurement into practice
          Technology is enabling ethical                            To facilitate putting sustainable procurement into
          choices for consumers                                     practice, consider the following questions:
          Organisations	are	under	increasing	pressure	from	         • Strategic level
          consumers	to	ensure	their	products	and	services		           How can sustainable procurement help achieve
          are	produced	in	an	ethical	and	sustainable	way,		
                                                                      business goals? What is our ambition – industry
          and	new	technology	and	social	media	are	making		
                                                                      leader or fast follower?
          it	easier	to	make	these	choices.	For	example,		
          iPhone	applications	such	as	Shop Ethical!	show	           • Tactical level
          consumers	the	environmental	and	social	record	              What product categories and suppliers should we
          of	companies	behind	common	brands	in	the	                   focus on? How do we collaborate with suppliers?
          supermarket,	allowing	them	to	make	informed	
          choices	based	on	considerations	such	as	food		            • Operational level
          miles,	palm	oil	use,	overfishing,	child	labour,		           What requirements do we have for product specification,
          genetic	engineering,	multinational	ownership	and	           supplier selection, control and monitoring, follow-up,
          packaging.	There	are	also	applications	that	suggest	        evaluation and implementation?
          alternative	products	available,	which	is	basically		
          free	marketing	for	the	most	sustainable.
                                                                    14. Understanding the investment
                                                                        decision-making process
     Integrating sustainability into the                             	 Are	sustainability	issues	and	risks	properly	
     procurement process                                               evaluated	as	part	of	the	due	diligence	process?
     • How is it done?                                               	 Where	they	can	be	measured,	are	sustainability	
          Organisations should factor sustainability into              factors	included	in	your	valuation	models?
          purchasing decisions and matching the intention
          to be sustainable with the action                         There are heightened sustainability risks associated
     • What criteria would you use?                                 with some of the most critical business decisions
          Organisations can use environmental (e.g. lifecycle)      an organisation might make, such as mergers and
          or social (e.g. working and living conditions) criteria   acquisitions, entering a new market overseas, forming
          to decide who to buy goods and services from, in          a joint venture and making major capital expenditures.
          addition to conventional purchasing criteria such as      Sustainability should therefore be seen as part of the due
          price, availability and value for money                   diligence process. In relation to a potential investment,
     • Key drivers of action:                                       your organisation could consider, for example:
          Globalisation of supply chains and increasing scrutiny    • How a carbon price could be factored into your
          and awareness from stakeholders (e.g. consumers             organisation’s valuation model
          and specialised NGOs), drive organisations to act in      • How constraints and variability of the supply of
          the sustainabillity space.                                  water impact operations and supply chain

     Six reasons to implement sustainable                           • How human rights and corruption risks apply in
                                                                      an organisation’s country of operations
     procurement:
     1.   Corporate reputation                                      • How a potential joint venture partner’s sustainability
                                                                      record and alignment of policies and practices align
     2.   Legislation
                                                                      with your organisation’s standards.
     3.   Increased revenue (opening new markets)
     4.   Stimulant for innovation
     5.   Reduced risk of conflict with stakeholders
     6.   Shareholder value.




20                                                                            Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
Schematic overview of procurement process
Level                  Definition

Strategic              Long-term impact of purchasing and supply decisions
level                  on an organisation’s business; determine mission and
                       vision on purchasing responsibility of top-management                     Mission & Vision
                                                                                                   Purchasing
                                                                                                    Function


Tactical               Encompasses the involvement of the purchasing
level                  function in decisions affecting product, process                          Supply Policies
                       and supplier selection; draw directive supply policies
                       for commodities/segments; medium-term impact                          Commodities /Segments


Operational            All activities related to Supplier Selection
level                  (product specification, supplier selection),                                                  Supplier
                                                                                Supplier
                       Contracting of supplier and Supplier                                        Contract          Performance
                                                                                Selection
                       Performance Measurement (monitoring                                                           Measurement
                       and evaluation)

Source: KPMG
                                                                                            Procurement / Ordering




It is important that due diligence and capital expenditure
processes properly incorporate sustainability risks and
considerations. In most organisations, actions required
to achieve this include:
• Updating procedures and decision-making criteria,
   and changing documentation for process approvals
• Upskilling the due diligence and capital project
   appraisal teams to be able to properly identify and
   evaluate sustainability issues and risks
• Ensuring related governance processes incorporate
   an assessment of the appropriateness of the
   consideration and mitigation of sustainability-related
   risks and issues.

By ensuring sustainability considerations form part of
the due diligence process, an organisation will have a
broader understanding of the longer term risks arising
from any potential investment.




Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business                                                             21
Embed sustainability into core business processes (continued)

     15. Measuring performance                                  16. Ongoing monitoring of externalities
      	 Can	incentive	schemes	be	implemented		                    	 What	tools	(such	as	industry	groups	or	associations)	
        or	updated	to	align	to	key	sustainable		                   can	be	used	to	keep	your	organisation	informed	of	
        business	goals?                                            relevant	developments?

      	 How	can	the	quality	and	reliability	of		                  	 Can	your	organisation	be	involved	in	the	regulatory	
        sustainability-related	metrics	be	continually	              process	and	also	maintain	independence?
        improved?                                                 	 Who	is	responsible	for	monitoring	externalities?

     Once your organisation has appropriate metrics and         Regulation, societal attitudes and physical conditions
     targets in place to manage sustainability-related          can change rapidly, with significant consequences.
     commitments and issues, the main considerations            While relevant externalities can initially be identified and
     that follow are:                                           assessed in developing a strategy, it cannot be assumed
     • What are the implications for incentive schemes          that they will remain static and relevant over time. As
       and systems and how should they be updated               such, these factors need to be monitored and considered
       to align outcomes with new commitments and               on an ongoing basis.
       targets? Which targets need to be revised to
                                                                Two major considerations for organisations when it
       enforce compliance with commitments?
                                                                comes to monitoring are who will be responsible for
     • How does management reporting need to change             monitoring and how trusted and up-to-date information
       to incorporate the wider focus on sustainability-
                                                                can be sourced in a cost-effective way.
       related metrics and targets? Is there clarity on
       which metrics are core? What are the implications        Which individual or team is responsible for monitoring
       for internal assurance over core metrics?                will largely depend on the size of your organisation and
                                                                their ability to commit resources to the task. In larger
     Typically, systems that support the reporting of
                                                                organisations, dedicated sustainability managers are
     sustainability measures are less mature than those
                                                                often assigned this task, with assistance from group-
     relevant to financial reporting. Organisations need
                                                                level individuals. In smaller organisations, it is often an
     to understand the quality of information relating to
                                                                individual with a personal and passionate interest in
     sustainability and develop a roadmap for improving
                                                                sustainability issues who is best for this role.
     the reliability of information.
                                                                When it comes to monitoring factors that have the
     The involvement of your organisation’s finance team
                                                                potential to impact the organisation, ongoing (day-to-
     in identifying sustainable value drivers, related KPIs
                                                                day/week-to-week) monitoring is more effective than
     and measureable targets and outcomes will enhance
                                                                annual monitoring. Having regular access to information
     the credibility of the systems and processes, and the
                                                                relating to relevant factors will enable your organisation
     effectiveness of the reporting structure. KPIs and
                                                                to flag changes and respond in a timely manner, thereby
     qualitative outcomes must be relevant and material if
                                                                minimising potential impacts.
     they are to be aligned with overall strategy and vision.




22                                                                         Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business
20 Issues on building a sustainable business

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20 Issues on building a sustainable business

  • 1. Business briefing series 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 2. KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia networks. KPMG’s Climate Change & Sustainability Services (the Institute) is the professional body representing group works with clients to respond to sustainability and Chartered Accountants in Australia. Our reach extends climate change issues in order to manage risk, create value to around 70,000 of today’s and tomorrow’s business and achieve a competitive advantage. leaders, representing approximately 57,000 Chartered Part of KPMG’s Global Climate Change and Sustainability Accountants and 13,000 of Australia’s best accounting Services network, our practice provides services to leading graduates currently enrolled in our world-class businesses and public sector organisations across the globe. Chartered Accountants postgraduate program. Our multi-disciplinary teams with backgrounds in business Our members work in diverse roles across commerce risk, environment, social studies, compliance, finance, tax and and industry, academia, government and public practice audit mean we bring a holistic and integrated approach to help throughout Australia and in 108 countries around the our clients respond to the complex business challenges and world. opportunities arising from climate change and sustainability. We aim to lead the profession by delivering visionary Services include: leadership projects, setting the benchmark for • Sustainability Advisory. Assisting organisations to create the highest ethical, professional and educational value and manage risk through appropriate sustainability standards, and enhancing and promoting the Chartered strategies, programs and reporting. Accountants brand. We also represent the interests of members to government, industry, academia and the • Climate Change Advisory. Helping organisations prepare for, and perform successfully in, a low-carbon economy. general public by engaging our membership and local and international bodies on public policy, government • Water Advisory. Working with governments, water legislation and regulatory issues. corporations and businesses to respond to the challenges of water scarcity. We assist governments execute their water The Institute can leverage advantages for its members reform agendas and identify and manage public and private as a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance investment in water projects. (GAA), an international accounting coalition formed • Assurance services – sustainability reporting and by the world’s premier accounting bodies. With a greenhouse gas emissions. Providing assurance membership of over 800,000, the GAA promotes quality services to enhance the credibility of reported information professional services, shares information, associated with sustainability practices and greenhouse and collaborates on international accounting issues. gas emissions. We combine the rigour of the financial audit Established in 1928, the Institute is constituted by Royal approach with a deep understanding of sustainability and Charter. For further information about the Institute visit greenhouse gas data management and reporting issues. charteredaccountants.com.au For more information visit kpmg.com.au All rights reserved. Disclaimer All information is current as at October 2011 The information in this briefing paper is of a general nature and is not intended First published November 2011 to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no This communication provides general information which is current guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or as at the time of production. that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon Published by: such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia examination of the particular situation. Address: 33 Erskine Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and KPMG expressly KPMG disclaim all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any Address: 10 Shelley Street, Sydney NSW 2000 information contained in this briefing paper. 20 issues on building a sustainable business Copyright First edition © The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. All rights reserved. This National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, it may only be reproduced for internal business purposes, and may 20 issues on building a sustainable business /Institute of Chartered not otherwise be copied, adapted, amended, published, communicated or Accountants in Australia, KPMG. otherwise made available to third parties, in whole or in part, in any form or ISBN: 978-1-921245-89-3 (pbk.) by any means, without the prior written consent of The Institute of Chartered Business enterprises. Accountants in Australia and KPMG. Success in business. © 2011 KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler. Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Business briefing series. KPMG and the KPMG logo are registered trademarks of KPMG International. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. 338.7 ABN 50 084 642 571 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia Incorporated in Australia Members’ Liability Limited. 1011-01 ABN: 51 194 660 183 KPMG
  • 3. Business briefing series 20 issues on building a While many businesses are committed to the principles of building a sustainable business, many find it difficult to implement practical strategies that will enable this. sustainable business At the Institute, accounting for environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors impacting an organisation has been on our agenda for some time, with the advent of Broad-Based Business Reporting (BBBR). A recent leadership paper, integrating sustainability into business practices: a case study approach, highlighted five case studies of Australian and New Zealand organisations that have implemented sustainable business practices. In this leadership paper, Business briefing: 20 issues on building a sustainable business, we have partnered with KPMG to take a strategic, big-picture look at how businesses can address ESG risks and practically incorporate sustainability into their business plan. The paper offers guidance in a number of business areas, including strategy, internal and external buy-in, risk management and reporting principles. This is the fifth publication in our successful Business Briefing Series, which provide guidance for business leaders and financial professionals on a range of issues relevant to contemporary businesses. As the profile of sustainability evolves, I hope this publication sheds some light for you on how to make a sustainable business your reality. Rachel Grimes FCA President Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 3
  • 4. 4 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 5. Contents Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Build sustainability into your strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1. Understanding industry externalities and stakeholders’ expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. Mapping business risks and opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3. Assessing competition and defining positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 4. Integrating sustainability into strategy and strategic objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 5. Developing the business case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Implement the strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 6. Leading from the top. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 7. Building internal awareness and knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 8. Developing a cultural change process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 9. Involving external stakeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 10. Developing relevant sustainability metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Embed sustainability into core business processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 11. Incorporating sustainability within the risk management framework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 12. Understanding product development and customer attitudes and behaviours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 13. Promoting sustainable procurement and supply chain management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 14. Understanding the investment decision-making process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 15. Measuring performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 16. Ongoing monitoring of externalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Create value through reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 17. Determining your audience and objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 18. Developing reporting principles and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 19. Moving to integrated reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 20. Identifying assurance needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Resources and further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Contact details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 5
  • 6. Executive summary Sustainability is a business case Sustainability has entered the mainstream of corporate Sustainability has transitioned from an environmental life, according to a 2010 study by KPMG and the issue to a serious business consideration. Industry Economist Intelligence Unit.3 Nearly two-thirds of the leaders have already anticipated the management companies surveyed had already adopted a strategy implications of this shift and are embedding sustainability for corporate sustainability, up from just over half in throughout the operations of their business and strategic February 2008. A further 11% were currently developing goals. However, running a sustainable business appears a sustainability strategy. challenging to corporations across Australia, many of Sustainability issues are reshaping the rules of business which require a new approach to remain competitive competition, driving new business models, transforming in a fast-changing world. industry structures, redefining markets, and creating The World Commission on Environment and new risks and opportunities. How businesses choose Development has defined sustainability as ‘economic to respond to and integrate sustainability with core development that meets the needs of the present business strategy will underpin their success in achieving generation without compromising the ability of future a long-term competitive advantage. generations to meet their own needs’.1 Sustainability This paper identifies 20 key issues that are relevant to issues can potentially affect most elements of implementing a new strategic approach to sustainability business strategy, including the price and availability in a corporate context. These are discussed under four of capital, competitive relativities, operating costs, headings: risk management, process improvement, innovation, • Build sustainability into your strategy consumer preferences, supply chain management and regulatory compliance. • Implement the strategy • Embed sustainability into core business processes There is growing official and public expectation that organisations will conduct their business in a sustainable • Create value through reporting. manner in order to retain public trust and their licence to operate. Beyond that, however, there is a realisation across all industry sectors that an organisation’s To build a sustainable Implement sustainability poses significant risks and opportunities business, start the to its future profitability. with the strategy strategy This position is reflected in the views of business leaders, according to a 2010 UN Global Compact, Accenture CEO Building a Study.2 It reported that 96% of the business and civic sustainable leaders polled thought that sustainability issues should business be fully integrated into strategies and operations, up from 72% in 2007. Over 90% of CEOs surveyed believed that Embed sustainability matters would be critical to the success of Create value sustainability their businesses. through into core reporting business processes 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Our Common Future: World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. 2. United Nations Global Compact, Accenture CEO Study, A New Era of Sustainability, 2010. 3. KPMG in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit, Corporate Sustainability: A Progress Report, November 2010. 6 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 7. Build sustainability into your strategy To build a sustainable business, sustainability related issues, developed in consideration of externalities and stakeholder concerns and expectations, should be appropriately considered and embedded in the business strategy. You may also consider trade-offs in order to optimise social, environmental and business performance for long-term value creation. The resulting strategy will identify and respond to both potential limits to growth and business opportunities, such as access to new products or new markets, and apply across the entire organisation. Performance measurement should be aligned with corporate level objectives and resonate with management’s business priorities. Currently, some companies have developed separate standalone sustainability strategies, while others have integrated sustainability considerations into core business strategy. As integrated strategies are becoming more commonplace, sustainability is increasingly acknowledged as a critical component of good governance, risk management and a source of competitive advantage. The issues are presented in the context of an integrated strategy, but are equally relevant for standalone sustainability strategies. 1. Understanding industry externalities and needs, and demographic shifts may impact the and stakeholders’ expectations assumptions behind business strategies. Is your organisation exposed to industry-specific Each industry faces its own unique environmental and regulatory changes? social challenges which may affect business models, technological innovation and business outlook. It is What physical, social, environmental, important that a strategy is formulated to capture technological and economic factors may the various risks and opportunities, with particular impact your operating environment? attention to physical, environmental, technological, Does your business strategy incorporate social, regulatory and economic factors that will changing stakeholder expectations? impact the operating environment of the organisation. It also requires recognising and understanding the Understanding the broader context in which your interconnections between industries, where a disruption organisation operates is a critical first step in incorporating in one may cascade to other industries with random sustainability considerations into business strategy. This consequences (e.g. fires in Russia may result in export requires taking steps to capture, understand and assess embargoes, which may push up grain prices around the the unique sustainability-related factors impacting an globe or lead to an increased demand for corn-based organisation’s industry and geography, such as how bio-fuels, which may influence affordability of basic stakeholder expectations, changing societal tastes food produce). Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 7
  • 8. Build sustainability into your strategy (continued) Stakeholder engagement involves obtaining input into Example: Sustainability challenges key strategies and objectives, which will ensure facing the airline industry that organisations understand and respond to external The airline industry is highly competitive and input when developing strategy. characterised by thin margins, volatile yields, In this context, stakeholders can include shareholders, price-sensitive customers and technological investors, financiers, employees, customers, suppliers, limitations (e.g. reliance on oil-based fuels). These and other factors impact business sustainability governments, regulators, NGOs, academics, and and sustainability performance. Other sustainability communities with strong links to a particular enterprise. challenges may include: The table below summarises issues facing the financial • Managing and reducing greenhouse gas services industry and relevant stakeholder groups. emissions within the constraints of limited Seeking input from relevant employees, as critical abatement opportunities stakeholders, during strategy development allows • Managing the economic impact of emission their unique understanding of risks and opportunities constraints in different global markets to be captured. In addition, early engagement will • Monopolistic behaviours in parts of the value strengthen internal ownership of the strategy during chain (e.g. airport managers) implementation. • Growth constraints as hub airports reach capacity • Poor labour flexibility and productivity in certain markets • Airline safety and security issues. Issues facing the financial services industry and relevant stakeholder groups Material issues Relevant stakeholder groups Bank fees and charges, and interest rate decisions Customers, governments Sustainable and responsible investment, Environmental social governance (ESG) and mainstream lending, products and screening investment analysts, employees, NGOs, customers, academics Customer service Customers, ESG and investment analysts, employees Equal opportunity Employees, ESG and investment analysts Job security, talent retention Employees, ESG and investment analysts Financial inclusion and global financial crisis Customers, ESG and investment analysts Climate change Community, ESG and investment analysts, customers, employees, NGOs, academics Governance and compliance ESG and investment analysts, employees, customers Economic contribution ESG and investment analysts, employees, community Safety and security Customers, employees, unions 8 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 9. Example: Mapping the key issues in New Zealand Agribusiness KPMG recently conducted a survey Highest ranked priority issues for New Zealand agribusiness of over 80 agribusiness industry (on a scale of 1 to 10) leaders in order to understand the Maintain a robust biosecurity system key opportunities, policy settings Understand global products and industry actions facing and eating trends agribusiness in New Zealand. Ensure practices support ‘clean/green’ image Recognising that the agribusiness Effective mechanisms for extension sector should be closely involved as the key driver of New Zealand’s Build high value solutions with customers export earnings in the future, the Recognition of importance survey results could help industry of governance stakeholders develop a strategy Aligned industries with a common goal that will capture the potential Recognise consumer trends that exists for the sector in global around sustainability Develop brands for global fast moving markets. Key issues were ranked by consumer goods markets level of priority, and many of those Realise benefits of free trade agreements in the top 10 relate to sustainability issues such as biodiversity and 0 2 4 6 8 10 changing consumer trends. Source: KPMG Agribusiness Agenda 2011 2. Mapping business risks and time with regard to abatement activities developed opportunities through technological innovation. What industry challenges and growth constraints Materiality is another issue to consider. Certain are most material to your organisation? sustainability issues will have a larger effect on the Is a process in place to review changes and performance of the organisation than others, just as assess the impact of these issues on strategy? certain activities produce more significant sustainability consequences than others. Concentrate on identifying How can these changes be leveraged to create a competitive advantage? issues that are likely to have the greatest negative or positive impact. Mapping business risks and opportunities will help While sustainability challenges vary considerably relevant linkages and relationships become evident. between organisations and industries, they invariably Doing this allows you to pull together and summarise relate to physical, regulatory or market-driven factors the knowledge and ideas developed in earlier phases that can limit growth and impact on competitiveness. of strategy formation. At this stage, it is important Limitations can be physically imposed (e.g. water to make sure that the relevant industry challenges, scarcity), regulatory driven (e.g. carbon pricing, growth constraints and stakeholder expectations have emission standards) or a consequence of consumer been properly assessed and included in the process. preference (e.g. demand for greener products). The mapping process captures relevant knowledge Identifying and understanding constraints to growth are at a point in time. This process needs to be regularly key challenges and require strategic responses. Crucial reviewed because many of the inputs can change as for business longevity and competitive advantage is an a result of technological, economic and regulatory understanding of tipping points and your organisation’s developments. For example, the risks presented by preparedness to respond to these factors. the introduction of a carbon price in Australia will be intensified during the first year as businesses adapt Ultimately, with good planning, constraints and limits can to the changes and opportunities will increase over be turned into opportunities and competitive advantage. Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 9
  • 10. Build sustainability into your strategy (continued) Common risks and opportunities for consideration in a sustainable growth strategy Regulatory change. Sustainability strategy should Licence to operate. Most organisations function include a capacity to track and respond quickly and under an implicit licence to operate. Adverse effectively to relevant regulatory changes (e.g. a price developments in public opinion and government on carbon emissions, changes to energy efficiency attitudes can cause the licence to be removed or have standards or water allocations). While there has been conditions imposed upon it. Events involving one considerable focus on changes to environmental industry participant can have adverse consequences regulations, governments are also increasingly using for other players. For example, the BP oil spill in the regulation to address social issues. An example of Gulf of Mexico in 2010 resulted in tighter regulation this is the federal government’s plan to introduce of the global oil and gas industries. plain packaging for tobacco products by 1 July 2012 Workforce considerations. Sustainability needs in an effort to reduce smoking rates and improve to be considered in the context of an organisation’s public health. ability to attract, manage and retain quality employees. Eco-efficiency. The value of constrained resources This element may be a critical issue in regards to and the ability to maximise access to them will become employment choices. a major driver of competitive advantage. In many Supply chain pressures. Sustainability factors are cases, activities such as improving energy efficiency becoming increasingly important in supply chain or reducing packaging can also lead to a reduction in security and performance, and are influencing operating costs, increased innovation, and enhanced consumer choices. Issues such as sustainable sourcing brand image and regulatory compliance. of raw materials, carbon and water performance and Customer preferences and brand loyalty. While employee human rights are increasingly becoming there is only anecdotal evidence of sustainability brand and reputation issues for organisations and issues impacting a customer’s decision to buy a are therefore attracting greater scrutiny. An example product, there is significant evidence that customers of this was seen in 2010 when Greenpeace targeted may choose not to buy a product on the basis of an Nestlé’s Kit Kat product over concerns about the use organisation’s sustainability performance. An example of palm oil and the resulting impact on the habitats of this is the backlash faced by Nike during the of orangutans. A viral advertising campaign led to 1990s after accusations of using sweatshops drew significant pressure on Nestlé’s brand and the product the attention of human rights groups and the media, itself, prompting Nestlé to announce it would stop prompting campaigns to boycott products. Customer using ingredients that may be sourced as a result of expectations need to be researched and monitored as rainforest destruction. they evolve. Licence to operate Eco Regulatory efficiency change Limits to sustainable growth Supply chain Customer pressure needs Workforce considerations 10 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 11. 3. Assessing competition and 4. Integrating sustainability into defining positioning strategy and strategic objectives How do your competitors define and Is your sustainability strategy linked to core implement sustainability? business objectives? Do your sustainability initiatives place you What potential intangible benefits could as an industry leader? investment in sustainability deliver? How can your organisation be differentiated Does your organisation have resilience to gain competitive advantage? to sustainability shocks? Analysing your organisation’s peers and competitors An effective sustainability strategy should focus on is critical in order to define an appropriate strategic delivering core business objectives and creating business positioning for market differentiation. For example, are value in terms of cost reduction, revenue growth and you seeking to be an industry leader and innovator, a enhanced brand value, or any combination of these. fast follower or a niche player? This analysis provides an One of the challenges is balancing short- and long- understanding of your positioning within your industry term business needs. A popular lens for sustainability and helps to identify how and where your organisation investment is the ‘J curve’ (see below). This involves wishes to move in the future. initial investment to deliver longer-term benefits for the Integrating sustainability risks and opportunities within organisation. At times, this investment may need to be business strategies is an opportunity for individual not only ahead of the market but ahead of regulation organisations to positively differentiate themselves from in order to maximise the competitive benefit. Indeed, their competitors. Organisations can gain positional a common challenge in investment approval is the lack advantages (both in terms of cost and brand reputation) of recognition of intangible benefits, such as reputation by establishing themselves as industry leaders in and improved customer loyalty, within cost-benefit and sustainability matters. Consumers respond positively payback analyses. to perceptions that organisations conduct themselves in a sustainable and ethical manner. Sustainability investment returns over time As noted in Issue 2, how an organisation tackles the risks and challenges posed by management of sustainability issues will provide the greatest opportunity for differentiation from competitors and for the broader positioning of the organisation. Returns Time 0 Sustainability issues can directly impact competitive positions within industries. For example, in one high-emission manufacturing industry, the leading organisation sources and manufactures most of its products within Australia, while its major competitor sources material offshore. Consequently, the imposition The development of an effective sustainability strategy of a carbon price in Australia is likely to impact their will involve certain business performance trade-offs, and relative competitive positions. numerous considerations must be taken into account to determine how to best optimise the situation. A saving in energy efficiency that in turn increases waste may not necessarily be considered sustainable. Decisions also need to make commercial sense. Overall, strategy formation is about optimising the balance. Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 11
  • 12. Build sustainability into your strategy (continued) Trade-offs: The Qantas experience Setting sustainability goals and ‘Managing environmental impacts (and other objectives sustainability target areas) is a balancing act. After assessing the actual and potential implications Actions to mitigate one consequently may adversely of sustainability issues for your organisation, it is affect another. For example, the Group is washing important to establish clear business objectives. more aircraft to reduce drag to improve fuel This will include defining what sustainability means efficiency. While fuel consumption is reduced, to your organisation, given that there are many water consumption is increased. Another example different definitions. is that the most fuel efficient flight path may reduce In setting goals and objectives, your organisation greenhouse gas emissions but may increase the needs to consider the scale of threats and number of people exposed to aircraft noise. In some opportunities, the potential impacts on current cases, the Group has been required to operate a fully business and growth goals, and positioning in noise compliant but less fuel-efficient flight path in relation to competitors around these issues. response to local community concerns. These types of trade-offs between different impact areas create As suggested earlier, isolating sustainability within additional complexity in both setting environmental only one part of your organisation is set to almost improvement targets and in identifying improvement guarantee failure, as the costs of sustainability initiatives.’ programs will be incurred but many of the benefits Source: Qantas Data Book 2010 will not be captured. Sustainability should become a part of core business activities, such as procurement, risk management, Decisions tend to become more difficult as marketing and product development. This integration sustainability’s ‘lowest-hanging fruit’ is picked and needs to be implemented across the organisation consumed. Technological innovation, regulatory both hierarchically and geographically. change and shifts in the economic climate can offer Implementing a sustainability strategy and building opportunities for sustainability and performance resilience into your organisation requires process breakthroughs. The ability to identify such opportunities changes and behaviour change at all levels. ahead of competitors is becoming a highly desirable Sustainability considerations can also be integrated more broadly, in areas such as recruitment, cultural competency. change programs, partnerships and alliances. One of the outcomes of integrating sustainability into strategy is that it enables an organisation to develop resilience to sustainability shocks. Sustainable business policies and practices should provide a measure of protection against adverse, unexpected external events by making your organisation capable of responding to shocks and setbacks.4 Once it has been determined to what level sustainability will be integrated into an organisation, it is important to clarify these decisions within the strategy with clear goals and objectives. 4. Examples of this can be found in Early warning systems: can more be done to avert economic and financial crises, a leadership paper released by the Institute in February 2011. 12 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 13. 5. Developing the business case The introduction of a carbon price in Australia creates further incentive to address these key areas of value as Is there an opportunity to reduce long-term they will be fundamental in mitigating any additional operating costs through implementing carbon costs faced by businesses directly and sustainability measures? throughout their supply chain. Is there a threat to brand equity beyond the operational control of your organisation which could be minimised through sustainability investment? Demonstrating the business value of a sustainability strategy is an essential element of building a sustainable business. When building a business case, there are three key areas of value to consider: • Reduced operating costs With increasing energy, water and waste costs, reductions in use will not only reduce dependence on scarce resources and greenhouse gas emissions but also impact future operating costs. To give an accurate picture of operating cost reductions, modelling future price increases is essential. For example, DuPont (once named the most polluting company in the world) found it cost less to implement energy-saving measures than it did to buy and burn fuel. As a result, the company estimated that every tonne of carbon it displaced saved it $6 5. • New product and market opportunities For many organisations, there is a potential upside in integrating sustainability into business strategy via new products and markets. A striking example of this is General Electric’s ‘Ecomagination’, a business initiative focused on developing green technology. This helped turn the company’s image around following its controversial dumping of toxic chemicals in the Hudson River. • Brand equity Sustainability draws focus onto both the protection and promotion of an organisation’s brand. You need to be aware of the risks to brand and reputation, particularly around areas where you have reduced control, such as joint ventures, contractors and supply chain if they are not meeting your standards. Appropriate influence should be applied to third parties so that their performance supports your organisation’s reputation. 5. Lovins, L. Hunter, The economic case for climate action (March 2010) p 12, www.climateactionproject.com/docs/HL_Economics.pdf Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 13
  • 14. Implement the strategy To ensure a sustainability strategy is successful, an organisation’s leadership will play a critical role in supporting and driving its implementation. 6. Leading from the top • How and when will the change process take place? Are the Board of Directors and senior management While the detail of the strategy development and actively involved in communicating the value of implementation is likely to be articulated by specialist sustainability to the organisation? leaders, senior management should outline the overall Are the drivers and outcomes of your sustainability approach, accountabilities and timeline approach relevant and clear to employees and • Are support structures in place throughout stakeholders? the organisation? While leading from the top is essential, it is also As with most organisational changes, lasting progress important to show support for middle management, on sustainability is unlikely without strong and focused who can be caught between the demands of the leadership, preferably starting at the Board level. Many Board and the resistance of employees. employees welcome sustainability initiatives and are ready to apply them once they see strong leadership on these initiatives. Key leadership success factors Strong leaders create both passion and momentum • Take every opportunity to discuss around sustainability issues. To do this, leaders should • Behave in a way that is clear and consistent consider a number of questions: • ‘Live the values’ and embed sustainability into your daily life • What does sustainability mean for our organisation? A clear definition sets the boundaries within which • Show support to middle management and to consider these issues. Sustainability could take on operational employees different meanings for different people 6 • Communicate the strategy and highlight results • What are the drivers for sustainability issues to • Encourage employees to challenge the status quo, and reward innovative thinking. be among the top issues facing the organisation? In other words, why are we doing this? These drivers are likely to include alignment with organisational Board directors and senior management should values, regulatory compliance, meeting of stakeholder think about why they are supporting and promoting expectations, improved operating efficiencies, cost sustainability and ensure the organisation clearly reductions, enhanced competitiveness and increased understands this. Demonstrating value and obtaining innovation. It is important to outline opportunities as well as risk mitigation as a key driver for change buy-in is crucial for securing internal support. • How will sustainability initiatives fit within Enabling cultural and business change is an essential the existing business strategy? part of success and needs to start at the top. This will It is critical that the sustainability strategy is integrated help ensure the effective integration of sustainability into the current and future business strategy from the into the business strategy. beginning of the process. Articulating how the strategy will protect and promote current business objectives will help the rest of the organisation, as well as external stakeholders, put the work into context. 6. Examples of different sustainability case studies can be found in Integrating sustainability into business practices: a case study approach, a leadership paper released by the Institute, May 2011. 14 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 15. Successfully integrating sustainability into your Demonstrating value and securing organisation requires employees to be aware of the internal support for sustainability ‘big picture’ of what is trying to be achieved, as well as Management sometimes views sustainability as a what they need to do as individuals for implementation compliance exercise, and a distraction from more to be successful. The key question for business is important activities. This view can be changed by how to build this awareness in a cost and time clearly aligning sustainability strategy with core efficient manner, using existing programs for business objectives. The Sloan Management employee engagement where they exist. Review/BCG study 7 found a strong link between an organisation’s ability to integrate sustainability Arguably, the most critical factor for successfully into overall business strategy and both the incorporating sustainability into a business is that effectiveness of the relevant sustainability initiatives each employee clearly understands what they are and the overall performance of the enterprise. responsible for and that they acquire the right knowledge To place sustainability in its proper context for to be successful. How this is achieved will vary and employees, an organisation should discuss the is influenced by existing structures for employee business challenges facing it, and the role of engagement and knowledge sharing. Here are some sustainability in meeting these challenges. suggested strategies: Boards and CEOs should clearly demonstrate the value of sustainability to the organisation • Conduct group-level workshops to explain how and the stakeholders, making it clear that the sustainability strategy will affect each business decisions and choices that lead to better group, and encourage group members to develop sustainability outcomes will be rewarded. their own implementation strategies As sustainability benefits can sometimes be • Identify key individuals from each business group difficult to monetise and reduce to a calculation to take on the role of sustainability ‘champion’, to of return on investment, gaining business buy-in identify and communicate what the group is required and support for sustainability initiatives can be to do, generate ideas, drive implementation of the challenging. Early consideration of alternate strategy within the group, and identify and seek ways to measure the benefits is often required. assistance to remedy blockages in the implementation process should they arise • Create a ‘live’ library of sustainability information relevant to the business which individuals can access 7. Building internal awareness and add to and knowledge • Start with achievable ‘quick wins’ in the sustainability Are the ‘big picture’ sustainability objectives strategy and ensure they are communicated to clear to employees? employees Is everyone in the organisation aware of their role • Provide access to knowledge sources such as in the implementation and ongoing success of industry and interest groups, newsletters, magazines sustainability as a core business function? and journals. What tools can you use to enhance communication and support employee awareness? 7. MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group, Sustainability: The ‘embracers’ seize advantage, 2011 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 15
  • 16. Implement the strategy (continued) 8. Developing a cultural change process 9. Involving external stakeholders Are the differences between the current culture Which key external stakeholders can provide input and the desired culture clear and understood to your organisation’s sustainability position? by employees? Have external stakeholders been engaged early Which areas of the organisation are likely to be so they can understand your organisation’s most heavily impacted? What support is in place? sustainability perspectives? Are there opportunities for partnerships with For many organisations, embedding sustainability into key stakeholders to drive sustainability results? the core function of a business requires a significant shift in the culture. For implementation to be successful, Effective stakeholder engagement is essential as your the organisation needs to know where support is organisation progresses its sustainability agenda. required to sustain this change, and to put it in place Many organisations focus stakeholder relationships on before the transition. governments, shareholders and industry bodies, with It is often useful to identify what the current culture consumer research also providing input. However, of the organisation is and how this compares to the engaging with other groups – such as non-government desired culture. This will indicate the degree of support organisations (NGOs), academics, customers and required to facilitate the transition. community groups – can also provide significant input into an organisation’s sustainability position. A cultural change process is most successful when individuals are well informed and supported. The Effective engagement requires clearly defining who your following are some steps organisations can take to organisation’s stakeholders are and their perspectives identify what is required: on sustainability issues and concerns. Engaging with stakeholders early in the strategy development process • Ensure everyone in the organisation understands brings important external input into this process. Early what is trying to be achieved and what this means for them in their individual roles (as discussed in Issue 7) engagement also helps organisations ‘stress test’ their strategy externally, signal to key stakeholders that • Identify which individuals and groups across the the organisation is seriously addressing sustainability organisation will be more impacted than others. concerns, and identify partnership opportunities which Ensure they and their managers understand what will support the achievement of outcomes. they require to successfully fulfil their roles • Ensure appropriate mechanisms and supports are Your organisation should also continue to engage in place before people transition to their new roles with stakeholders during the implementation process. • Be prepared to change goals and key performance Done effectively, this will create trust and enable the indicators, retrain individuals, provide access to organisation to positively influence outcomes to further education and/or reassign roles support sustainability and business objectives. • Link sustainability criteria to incentive schemes Ongoing engagement and communication with • Bring together groups or individuals who have stakeholders can be achieved via a variety of methods. previously worked independently and will now Some organisations create a stakeholder council, which be required to interact and share information. meets several times a year and is consulted on key organisational initiatives. Other organisations take a more targeted approach by creating close relationships with a select group of stakeholders. For broader engagement, a major channel of communicating with stakeholders is public reporting and disclosure. The quality of reporting is a critical factor in effective stakeholder engagement (see Issue 18). 16 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 17. 10. Developing relevant sustainability metrics Example: Stockland liveability index Liveability is fundamental to the long-term What are the sustainability indicators material to sustainability of residential communities developer, your organisation’s strategic objectives? Stockland’s, business. Stockland is designing Do they address meaningful key performance its own liveability index to better understand, indicators (KPIs), targets, and short and long-term benchmark and measure liveability in the planning outcomes? and development of its residential communities. The sustainability and liveability of its communities has always been a top priority and a key strategic Increasingly, companies understand the value of objective of Stockland; however, prior to developing transparent, accurate and timely reporting of matters liveability metrics it was difficult to quantify and material to their business, as both the core of corporate objectively manage liveability within a community. governance and a requirement of the market. But the Stockland recognised that enhancing the liveability success and sustainability of an organisation will be of its communities was both a key sustainability influenced by how well it can measure, manage and initiative and a key business priority. Stockland report its performance against a range of new reporting Managing Director Matthew Quinn told a recent metrics. Sustainability metrics will become increasingly Sustainability challenge: business creativity in important in defining the value of an organisation and practice forum that innovative approaches to providing indicators of long-term growth potential. sustainability and customer engagement can deliver strong financial rewards for businesses. Further, your organisation’s strategy should reflect The liveability indicators that Stockland developed issues material to the organisation and its stakeholders. help to measure the unique themes that create Measuring sustainability performance against strategic liveability in communities. This index will revolve objectives and benchmarks is essential to ensure around six key themes: sustainability-related initiatives retain their credibility. • Affordable living and working The challenge is to translate strategic goals into • Economic prosperity meaningful KPIs and targets, and achieve the right • Access and connectivity balance between long-term performance (required • Sense of belonging and identity to deliver sustainability outcomes) and short-term • Wellbeing and healthy living performance pressures. • Governance and engagement. Organisations should avoid wholesale adoption of As a result of developing the liveability indicators, indicators specified in sustainability reporting guidelines Stockland will be better placed to internally without first mapping those indicators against identified measure the liveability of projects, enhance material issues and strategic priorities. the liveability of communities, and externally communicate the liveability of projects to planning Information systems need to be in place to capture authorities, customers, and other key stakeholders. the required information and to measure, monitor and In addition to improving the liveability of Stockland report against KPIs. Key to developing an appropriate communities, Stockland believes the indicators and lasting system is the support of your finance team. will provide a competitive advantage in the market. The team’s involvement in developing and measuring metrics and achievable sustainability targets will help ensure consistency of data management and reporting, and in the long term help with the transition to integrated reporting (see Issue 19). Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 17
  • 18. Embed sustainability into core business processes Sustainability considerations touch on many management functions and processes. Organisations should assess the extent to which sustainability risks, opportunities, goals and performance targets need to be reflected within these processes. Failure to adequately review and update processes may result in dysfunctional or sub-optimal decision-making, or a lack of alignment with strategy and commitments. 11. Incorporating sustainability within 12. Understanding product development the risk management framework and customer attitudes and behaviours Have the outputs of stakeholder engagement been Has your organisation undertaken adequate considered in the risk management process? research to understand current and future Are the impacts of sustainability-related risks trends and their implications? understood and quantified? What factors are likely to drive changes in your industry? An organisation’s risk management framework is Are there financial incentives available to central to its business. Ensuring that sustainability issues support new sustainable product innovation? are adequately covered in your organisation’s risk management framework will minimise the potential for Individuals’ responses to sustainability issues affect their sustainability-related risk to impede the achievement attitudes and behaviours as customers. Anticipating of business objectives. It will also provide a formal market transformations and the factors driving them framework for managing these risks through establishing can help your organisation respond more effectively clear mitigation actions and accountabilities. Common to changes in consumer behaviour and societal norms. challenges organisations face include: With this in mind, leading organisations often engage • Reconciling the enterprise risk map to the and collaborate with customers in product development. identified material sustainability issues It is also important to explore emerging trends and In some cases, the risk mapping process may have drivers that may impact on product demand. Customer been carried out without sufficient consideration preferences, identified today through engagement, may of sustainability risks. In others, there may be not provide insight into tomorrow’s demand. For that, insufficient linkage between the outputs of deeper research and engagement with industry experts stakeholder engagement, which is a core mechanism may be beneficial. The example overleaf illustrates the for capturing current and emerging sustainability dynamics that impact food demand trends flowing risks, and the risk management process from changing demographics and income levels. • Quantifying the impact of risks associated A range of considerations influence purchasing with brand and reputational damage decisions. Care must be taken in teasing out the various Some sustainability-related risks fail to become factors involved, and in understanding their relative recognised and prioritised because their impacts importance and how they interact with each other. are not appropriately quantified. Detailed information will enable your organisation to create a risk profile which can be used to compare elements such as likelihood and size of impact. This will determine the level of threat and guide appropriate actions. Proactive leaders in this space will be able to use the risk management framework to identify opportunities to develop new products and services and enhance market credibility. 18 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 19. Key consumer attributes and corresponding food product trends Emerging consumer profile attributes Trend implications Income levels/income distribution Different expectations of ‘food product’ e.g. portion sizes, prepared vs. making from scratch, Household size decreasing more competition with take-away Organic food demand, education seeking, ‘natural‘ Healthy lifestyle desirability food, alternative products to traditional market Base demographics New food offerings desired (age and ethnicity in particular) 13. Promoting sustainable procurement which may not have been a consideration previously. and supply chain management While examples like this may pressure an organisation to reduce waste and cut emissions, it may also increase What elements of your supply chain may create awareness and potentially improve profitability. extra risk or lack efficiency? Have environmental, social and ethical criteria Many Australian businesses have undertaken been developed, in addition to price and the journey towards sustainable business practices. availability criteria, in your purchasing decisions? Detailed examples can be found in the Institute’s Can you leverage your position in the industry publication, Integrating sustainability into business to influence your suppliers’ actions? practices: a case study approach, available on our website. Major global corporations, such as large retailers Tesco and Walmart, have enjoyed considerable success Most organisations lack the ability to leverage supplier in getting their suppliers to be ‘greener’ and more contracts that these powerful retailers have, but they sustainable. In 2009, Walmart introduced its Supplier can still incorporate sustainability considerations into Sustainability Assessment, a brief survey that evaluates supply chain decision-making. They can also enter into the sustainability of suppliers (in terms of energy, partnerships with suppliers to drive both sustainability climate, material efficiency, natural resource use, people and efficiency. Understanding the sustainability risks and community), with the intention of developing the that may impact the supply chain and having effective first index of a product’s lifecycle impact.8 Walmart’s mitigation plans in place, is essential to building supply suppliers are required to develop systems to measure chain resilience. and report the sustainability issues of each product, 8. Walmart Sustainability Index accessed on 17 May, 2011 from http://walmartstores.com/sustainability/9292.aspx Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 19
  • 20. Embed sustainability into core business processes (continued) Putting sustainable procurement into practice Technology is enabling ethical To facilitate putting sustainable procurement into choices for consumers practice, consider the following questions: Organisations are under increasing pressure from • Strategic level consumers to ensure their products and services How can sustainable procurement help achieve are produced in an ethical and sustainable way, business goals? What is our ambition – industry and new technology and social media are making leader or fast follower? it easier to make these choices. For example, iPhone applications such as Shop Ethical! show • Tactical level consumers the environmental and social record What product categories and suppliers should we of companies behind common brands in the focus on? How do we collaborate with suppliers? supermarket, allowing them to make informed choices based on considerations such as food • Operational level miles, palm oil use, overfishing, child labour, What requirements do we have for product specification, genetic engineering, multinational ownership and supplier selection, control and monitoring, follow-up, packaging. There are also applications that suggest evaluation and implementation? alternative products available, which is basically free marketing for the most sustainable. 14. Understanding the investment decision-making process Integrating sustainability into the Are sustainability issues and risks properly procurement process evaluated as part of the due diligence process? • How is it done? Where they can be measured, are sustainability Organisations should factor sustainability into factors included in your valuation models? purchasing decisions and matching the intention to be sustainable with the action There are heightened sustainability risks associated • What criteria would you use? with some of the most critical business decisions Organisations can use environmental (e.g. lifecycle) an organisation might make, such as mergers and or social (e.g. working and living conditions) criteria acquisitions, entering a new market overseas, forming to decide who to buy goods and services from, in a joint venture and making major capital expenditures. addition to conventional purchasing criteria such as Sustainability should therefore be seen as part of the due price, availability and value for money diligence process. In relation to a potential investment, • Key drivers of action: your organisation could consider, for example: Globalisation of supply chains and increasing scrutiny • How a carbon price could be factored into your and awareness from stakeholders (e.g. consumers organisation’s valuation model and specialised NGOs), drive organisations to act in • How constraints and variability of the supply of the sustainabillity space. water impact operations and supply chain Six reasons to implement sustainable • How human rights and corruption risks apply in an organisation’s country of operations procurement: 1. Corporate reputation • How a potential joint venture partner’s sustainability record and alignment of policies and practices align 2. Legislation with your organisation’s standards. 3. Increased revenue (opening new markets) 4. Stimulant for innovation 5. Reduced risk of conflict with stakeholders 6. Shareholder value. 20 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business
  • 21. Schematic overview of procurement process Level Definition Strategic Long-term impact of purchasing and supply decisions level on an organisation’s business; determine mission and vision on purchasing responsibility of top-management Mission & Vision Purchasing Function Tactical Encompasses the involvement of the purchasing level function in decisions affecting product, process Supply Policies and supplier selection; draw directive supply policies for commodities/segments; medium-term impact Commodities /Segments Operational All activities related to Supplier Selection level (product specification, supplier selection), Supplier Supplier Contracting of supplier and Supplier Contract Performance Selection Performance Measurement (monitoring Measurement and evaluation) Source: KPMG Procurement / Ordering It is important that due diligence and capital expenditure processes properly incorporate sustainability risks and considerations. In most organisations, actions required to achieve this include: • Updating procedures and decision-making criteria, and changing documentation for process approvals • Upskilling the due diligence and capital project appraisal teams to be able to properly identify and evaluate sustainability issues and risks • Ensuring related governance processes incorporate an assessment of the appropriateness of the consideration and mitigation of sustainability-related risks and issues. By ensuring sustainability considerations form part of the due diligence process, an organisation will have a broader understanding of the longer term risks arising from any potential investment. Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business 21
  • 22. Embed sustainability into core business processes (continued) 15. Measuring performance 16. Ongoing monitoring of externalities Can incentive schemes be implemented What tools (such as industry groups or associations) or updated to align to key sustainable can be used to keep your organisation informed of business goals? relevant developments? How can the quality and reliability of Can your organisation be involved in the regulatory sustainability-related metrics be continually process and also maintain independence? improved? Who is responsible for monitoring externalities? Once your organisation has appropriate metrics and Regulation, societal attitudes and physical conditions targets in place to manage sustainability-related can change rapidly, with significant consequences. commitments and issues, the main considerations While relevant externalities can initially be identified and that follow are: assessed in developing a strategy, it cannot be assumed • What are the implications for incentive schemes that they will remain static and relevant over time. As and systems and how should they be updated such, these factors need to be monitored and considered to align outcomes with new commitments and on an ongoing basis. targets? Which targets need to be revised to Two major considerations for organisations when it enforce compliance with commitments? comes to monitoring are who will be responsible for • How does management reporting need to change monitoring and how trusted and up-to-date information to incorporate the wider focus on sustainability- can be sourced in a cost-effective way. related metrics and targets? Is there clarity on which metrics are core? What are the implications Which individual or team is responsible for monitoring for internal assurance over core metrics? will largely depend on the size of your organisation and their ability to commit resources to the task. In larger Typically, systems that support the reporting of organisations, dedicated sustainability managers are sustainability measures are less mature than those often assigned this task, with assistance from group- relevant to financial reporting. Organisations need level individuals. In smaller organisations, it is often an to understand the quality of information relating to individual with a personal and passionate interest in sustainability and develop a roadmap for improving sustainability issues who is best for this role. the reliability of information. When it comes to monitoring factors that have the The involvement of your organisation’s finance team potential to impact the organisation, ongoing (day-to- in identifying sustainable value drivers, related KPIs day/week-to-week) monitoring is more effective than and measureable targets and outcomes will enhance annual monitoring. Having regular access to information the credibility of the systems and processes, and the relating to relevant factors will enable your organisation effectiveness of the reporting structure. KPIs and to flag changes and respond in a timely manner, thereby qualitative outcomes must be relevant and material if minimising potential impacts. they are to be aligned with overall strategy and vision. 22 Business briefing series: 20 issues on building a sustainable business