How do you evaluate the impact of your operations?

Defining clear sustainability goals and objectives is the compass that guides your journey toward a better future. It's crucial to prioritize the most pressing issues and ensure alignment with global sustainability frameworks. SMART targets make these goals actionable and accountable. This process shapes your purpose, strategy, and actions, driving positive impact for your business and society.

Recopilar y analizar datos relevantes de impacto se vuelve menos complejo cuando tenemos clara nuestra Estrategia de Sostenibilidad, nuestro horizonte como compa?ía. Esto nos permite marcarnos objetivos a corto, medio y largo plazo, que puedan ser alcanzables pero sobre todo, ambiciosos. Objetivos que deberán poder ser medibles y monitorizados con la definición previa de KPIs, alineados a marcos internacionales como los ODS o los estándares de B Corp. La involucración y escucha de nuestros stakeholders será fundamental para identificar, de manera consistente y legítima, nuestros temas materiales en una doble dirección: cómo impacta nuestro negocio en el entorno y las comunidades; y viceversa.

Evaluating operational impact starts with clearly defined sustainability goals. Aligning these goals with global standards like the UN SDGs not only adds credibility but also ensures relevance. The key is to translate these broad objectives into SMART targets, making them actionable and measurable. This sets the foundation for a robust impact assessment

Selecting the right sustainability framework is like choosing a roadmap for your journey towards a better future. It's essential to weigh the options carefully, considering your unique context, goals, and stakeholders. Each framework has its nuances, but the key is to pick one that aligns with your purpose and helps you measure, manage, and communicate your impact effectively.

If you want to measure impact then you need to use an impact framework ! Makes sense right ? GRI or the UN SDPI provide you with guidance on how to assess the impact that you organisation has on the environment and society. ISSB & SASB are NOT impact frameworks. They focus on how ESG risk and opportunities affect your business in a financial way.

Más allá de las directrices obligatorias que empiezan a llegar para las grandes corporaciones, y que se extenderán para las peque?as y medianas en los próximos 3 a?os en lo que respecta a Europa, existen otros marcos que empujan a las compa?ías a demostrar que otra manera de hacer negocios es posible. Me refiero a los estándares de B Corp, que atiende a 5 grandes áreas: Gobernanza, Trabajadores, Medio Ambiente, Comunidad y Clientes. Aunque en estos momentos se están revisando y es previsible que eleven su exigencia a lo largo de 2024, ya son una referencia exigente a la que las empresas pueden mirar y aspirar si quieren acelerar su transición hacia modelos de negocio más sostenibles.

Selecting an appropriate sustainability framework is crucial for effective impact evaluation. While external frameworks like GRI offer comprehensive guidelines, creating an internal framework, inspired by approaches such as the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), can be invaluable. An internal framework, tailored to your organization's unique needs, fosters integrated thinking and allows for a more nuanced understanding of how sustainability efforts intersect with financial performance

Indicators are the compass guiding businesses toward sustainability. They're like vital signs, providing a clear picture of environmental, social, and governance performance. These metrics not only help track progress but also communicate to stakeholders how seriously a business takes its responsibility to the planet and society.

Sin duda, podemos dividir los indicadores entre social, ambiental y gobernanza. Sin embargo, a mi me gusta ir más allá. Pienso en ellos en términos de impacto. Así, estaríamos diferenciando para cualquiera de las tres áreas ESG entre: - KPIs de resultados: obtenidos fácilmente, en el corto plazo. Son cuantitativos. - KPIs de satisfacción: suman información cualitativa a los anteriores. - KPIs de impacto o transformación: obtenidos pasado un mínimo de 6 meses después de nuestras actuaciones, nos permite medir si verdaderamente hemos generado cambios duraderos con nuestro proyecto o estrategia. Estos últimos son los verdaderamente complejos de obtener, pero los que merecen genuinamente la pena para seguir avanzando desde los negocios.

Data collection can be one of the trickiest and toughest part in sustainability reporting journey. There are many companies that don't have correct processes in place to collect the data, even if there is a process the datas are often fragmented, not of the same unit and granularity. Therefore it becomes extremely important that the company have a central data management process in place with fixed roles and responsibility. The future needs to be automated data collection with audit trails so that we move towards enhanced transparency

Accurate and reliable data collection is the foundation of credible sustainability reporting. It's not just about numbers; it's about transparency and accountability, essential for building trust with stakeholders.

Data collection is the backbone of any sustainability reporting effort. Drawing from my experience in managing sustainability reports across five editions for a group operating in 14 countries, I can attest to the critical importance of a robust data collection system. Equally vital is the engagement of data owners within the organization. Ensuring data accuracy, reliability, and comparability is not just a technical exercise but also a collaborative endeavor.

Data analysis is the compass guiding your sustainability journey. It uncovers insights, informs decision-making, and empowers you to continuously improve your impact on the environment and society.

Data analysis is where the rubber meets the road in sustainability reporting. In my decade-long experience with sustainability reports—five years as a project manager and another five contributing to strategy and relationship capital chapters—I've found that the way data is analyzed and presented can make or break the report. I've spent countless hours collaborating with designers to ensure that the data is not only accurate but also compelling and easy to understand.

Effective communication of your sustainability impact is as crucial as the initiatives themselves. In my role overseeing sustainability reports, I've found that stakeholder engagement is key. Tailoring your message for different audiences, from employees to customers, is essential. For instance, we've created dedicated communications to inform both employees and customers about our sustainability efforts. This not only enhances credibility but also fosters a culture of shared responsibility and engagement across all stakeholder groups

in Italgas we structured a Sustainable Value Creation Plan starting from three pillars: the Planet, the People, the Partnerships. To each of these pillars correspond clear commitments and measurable targets that are expected to have a medium-long-term impact that will make it possible to enrich the capitals involved. Planet, for example: we set our targets related to Net energy consumption (-27% by 2028, -33% by 2030, baseline 2020) and Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (-34% by 2028, -42% by 2030, Net Zero Carbon by 2050). To achieve these targets we will leverage digitalisation, innovation, efficiency, safety making the gas supply sustainable, secure and affordable.

This is an iterative process that repeats. The goal is to create an outcome and often times it takes multiple cycles to reach the desired results. It's not enough to just analyze the data, you have to take action. Determine what operational changes can be made based on the data, make the changes, and then measure the results. Rinse and repeat until you've reached the outcome your business requires.