Sustainable development is a sound business strategy. Arguably it is the principal way to gain competitive advantage in the new world that exists after the credit crunch and where climate change policy is beginning to affect all aspects of business life.

    The business gains in terms of lower costs, strategic advantage and enhanced reputation from a genuine commitment to sustainable development are significant and can be an effective new element in strategic thinking and planning. We assist your thinking through workshops, facilitation, research and project identification.

    Sustainable development is also a sound marketing opportunity for ecologically-minded organisations as customers increasingly demand a green approach from firms they want to do business with.

    Read on to understand more about these measures and how we can help your organisation.

    Environmental Impact Assessment
    Developing a more sustainability-focused organisation requires us to understand exactly what our environmental impact is: this is where a footprint analysis comes in. Once this is done it becomes possible to reduce impact and, where it is impossible to do so, to find other indirect ways to minimise it. This becomes a cycle of assessment – remediation – mitigation that will drive down environmental impact time and again.

    We are a partner organisation of the Global Footprint Network - the international body for Ecological Footprinting – and conduct Carbon Footprint and Environmental Footprint analyses for organisations and events worldwide.

    Carbon Footprint Analysis
    The carbon footprint methodology is an accounting tool that provides an audit of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. The carbon footprint is a useful tool for quantifying both the potential damage to the climate and practices of sustainable and unsustainable fossil fuel use. A typical Carbon Footprint Analysis will result in a report of total CO2 emitted with recommendations for future reductions and how to mitigate the emissions. CF methodology follows the recommendations of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and guidance from DEFRA.

    Ecological Footprint Analysis
    The ecological footprint is a potent measure of humankind’s impact on the environment. It goes beyond measuring carbon emissions to also provide a measure of the amount of land and water needed to provide the raw materials and crops, and to absorb the pollution and waste produced by a given population, using existing technology and resource management schemes. Consequently, it incorporates issues such as biodiversity loss, over-fishing, desertification, and the hidden environmental costs of our human infrastructure.

    Comparison of the ecological footprint with the global availability of productive area gives an indication of sustainability. An ecological footprint greater than the per capita carrying capacity for the planet implies that the current rate of resource consumption and waste generation is unsustainable. Similarly, comparison of trends over time can be used as a measure of movements towards or away from sustainable practices.

    Environmental Impact Remediation and Reduction
    Our environmental impact assessment provides baseline data that is used to assess the potential efficiencies that could be achieved through remediation and reduction measures. These can be tactical – energy efficiencies for example – or strategic, including design of new plant and machinery, buildings design, new energy systems and re-engineering business systems and processes. Key elements include supply chain and procurement, direct and embodied energy, waste and emissions, materials and transportation.

    Offsetting
    Our environmental impact assessments will include energy and will therefore calculate an emissions figure which should be mitigated (‘offset’). We offer emissions reductions for the client via an approved scheme. Such schemes have the advantage of combating climate change now, by offsetting or reducing CO2 emissions as they are made. The reference datum for emissions is the Gold Standard under the Clean Development Mechanism. Under the CDM they are coupled to a method of social change or regeneration, usually in the Developing World, thus facilitating sustainable development in areas where unaided development is likely to be anything but sustainable.

    Case Studies
    • Cylch (The Welsh Community Recycling Network), Cardiff
    For the past three years we have run a Carbon Footprint Analysis of the annual Cylch Conference, using a methodology we developed for them in 2006, including attendee travel survey forms, and providing recommendations for decreasing the impact of the event. The most significant outcome has been locating the conference in a town with good rail links to decrease the amount of single occupancy car journeys to and from the conference.

    • Solent Stevedores Ltd, Dursley and Southampton
    Solent Stevedores operate from Southampton Docks, have an office in Dursley and a network of home workers. We provided a CF analysis and report of their 2007-8 operations, with recommendations for remediation and mitigation.

    • The Guardian Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye
    In 2006 we undertook an ecological footprint analysis of the Hay Festival, looking at the key areas of the festival site and shelter, direct energy consumption, food and beverages, transport, water and waste, producing a raft of suggestions and initiatives that became the core of the Festival’s environmental sustainability policy.

    • The World Scout Conference, Jeju Island, South Korea
    In June 2006 we surveyed 150+ national delegations to the World Scout Conference in South Korea. The conference was held in a major conference centre in Jeju Island and over 12 hotels were used by delegates. This major project is still ongoing and will eventually provide the first data on the environmental impact of a major scouting event. This is one of the first results of a strategy decision to ‘green’ world scouting.

    • Six Senses ‘The Climate For Change’ Symposium, Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives
    A carbon footprint analysis of the 2008 Six Senses / Web of Hope eco-symposium entitled ‘The Climate for Change’. The symposium was held at Soneva Fushi resort, Maldives between the 5th and 8th of June 2008. The eco-symposium was attended by representatives from the international tourism industry, the media and the Maldivian Government. In addition, a further 10 persons accompanied delegates to the eco-symposium destination. Forty of these delegates and guests travelled by air; including 38 making international long-haul flights. The total emissions from the eco-symposium were the same as those that would be generated by driving an average family car a distance equivalent to the circumference of the Earth 20 times.