How HELOBLUE works!
Sustainability ratings usually take into account a number of factors, such as carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste management, energy efficiency, water use, working conditions and labour practices.
A high rating on a recognised sustainability index demonstrates the company’s commitment to all aspects of sustainability.
Sustainability ratings provide useful insights into a company’s environmental, social and governance values and performance.
To establish a sustainability rating, the assessor carefully examines the information published by companies.
One of the top priorities for any company, regardless of size, seeking a competitive advantage today is to become sustainable.
Existing business customers, new customers, long-term investors and regulators – everyone is looking at your company’s commitment to sustainability, and don’t forget your potential employees.
Today, employees are concerned about whether or not their company is committed to sustainability.
So the stakes are clearly high.
Not surprisingly, most companies in all industries have at least a nominal sustainability programme in place at some level.
But is this enough? Or is it just greenwashing without real content?
How do you know if your programme is on track and heading in the right direction?
How can you monitor performance indicators?
And how can customers and investors know the true effectiveness of your sustainability initiatives?
Sustainability ratings provide insight into the environmental, social and governance values and performance of a company or group of companies.
Developed in response to growing concerns about global warming, the environmental crisis and ethical considerations, sustainability ratings provide an in-depth assessment of a company’s sustainability practices and social responsibility.
Sustainability ratings are designed to help organisations, investors and individuals better understand the performance of key sustainability metrics and make informed decisions about who they do business with, what they buy or where they work.
These ratings typically take into account a range of factors such as carbon footprint, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, energy efficiency, water use, working conditions and labour practices.
A high rating on a major sustainability index demonstrates a company's commitment to all aspects of sustainability. This gives the company a competitive advantage in the marketplace, promotes the company to new and existing customers and reassures the investment community. For example, leading retail brands that have consistently achieved high sustainability ratings have successfully increased their customer base over the years.
Our Foundation is one of the first independent certification bodies in the Central European region!
What information do we need to qualify?
Firms need to understand the specific parameters and scoring systems used by rating providers, which may take into account several areas to develop a rating.
Some key areas of the process are outlined below:
We take a close look at the initiatives taken by the company to minimise its environmental impact.
For example, we check the steps taken to reduce the water footprint, the carbon footprint.
We also check recycling activities and the use of renewable energy in business operations.
Social impact can cover a wide range of issues such as diversity and equality in the workplace, a fair working environment and ethical business practices.
For example, businesses that work hard to improve workplace diversity by employing people of different ethnicities are sure to score highly.
Likewise, their score will improve if they have a whistleblowing policy and listen to employees’ views.
Our Foundation is also looking at governance policies and procedures.
We assess whether the management and the board of directors are aware of their environmental and social responsibilities and whether they have appropriate governance procedures in place.
Supply chains are increasingly becoming the focus of attention for sustainability certification providers.
We check how a company monitors its supply chain operations against environmental, social and ethical standards.
For example, is the supplier or subcontractor sourcing responsibly?
Do you monitor how suppliers operate and what the working conditions are in their facilities?
Does the company have a supplier code of conduct or related guidelines in supplier contracts?
Our Foundation also checks whether the company is participating in a community programme to promote sustainability.
For example, a business that supports local events, charities and NGOs will receive a higher sustainability rating than one that does not.
Increasing transparency and data availability makes it easy for customers (and investors) to spot when a company is disclosing information just to score points and increase sales.
They can distinguish between pretentious claims and distinguish between companies that are genuinely striving for sustainability and those that are greenwashing and using sustainability as a marketing ploy.
The real goal for businesses today should be to understand the importance of sustainability and why they should pursue it. The sooner stakeholders recognise this, the more they will focus their efforts in this direction. And if they truly commit to the programme and weave sustainability into the DNA of their business operations, their sustainability rating will eventually improve and they will be part of a better future!