What are the best ways to measure a client's environmental impact?

2 Life cycle assessment

Another way to measure a client's environmental impact is to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA), which evaluates the environmental effects of a product, service, or process from cradle to grave. An LCA considers the inputs and outputs of materials, energy, water, and waste at every stage of the life cycle, and assesses their potential impacts on various environmental categories, such as climate change, resource depletion, human health, and biodiversity. You can use LCA software and databases, such as SimaPro, GaBi, or Ecoinvent, to model and analyze the life cycle of a client's product, service, or process. You can also use LCA results to identify hotspots, opportunities, and trade-offs for improving the environmental performance of a client.

5 Environmental accounting

A fifth way to measure a client's environmental impact is to use environmental accounting, which is a method that integrates environmental costs and benefits into the financial accounting and reporting of a client. Environmental accounting can help you to measure and disclose the environmental performance of a client in monetary terms, and to evaluate the environmental risks and opportunities of a client. You can use environmental accounting frameworks and principles, such as the Natural Capital Protocol, the Global Reporting Initiative, or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, to apply environmental accounting to a client's business. You can also use environmental accounting results to enhance the transparency, accountability, and value creation of a client.

6 Environmental rating

A sixth way to measure a client's environmental impact is to use environmental rating, which is a method that assigns a score or a grade to a client based on their environmental performance and impact. Environmental rating can help you to compare and rank the environmental performance and impact of a client with other clients, competitors, or standards. You can use environmental rating systems and criteria, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the CDP, or the EcoVadis, to assess and rate a client's environmental performance and impact. You can also use environmental rating results to communicate and promote the environmental reputation and leadership of a client.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?