Sustainable Advantage takes a business oriented approach to the creation and implementation of our client’s Business Sustainability Program. Through our Business Sustainability Solution Framework, we offer a comprehensive view of potential sustainability improvement opportunities across our client’s value chain and evaluate each based on their practicality and economic feasibility. We consider the strategic, process, technology and organizational implications of the sustainability program to ensure that “sustainability” is integrated within the on-going activities and systems of the company. We are there to assist clients from program initiation, through implementation and institutionalization.
Initiate, Implement & Institutionalize
Clients are at various stages in the development and implementation of their Sustainability efforts. Leveraging our significant business transformation experience, Sustainable Advantage provides services across the continuum of program design, implementation and on-going management. To assist clients initiate their Sustainability Program, we provide analysis, benchmarking, recommendation development, business case evaluation, and roadmap creation services. To support implementation, we provide leading project management and change management services. Finally, to ensure effective on-going management, we provide periodic audit services and, in appropriate circumstances, outsourcing of the sustainability function.
Business Oriented Sustainability
Clients vary relative to the scope of the sustainability effort they are interested in undertaking. Our solution framework enables clients to understand how the various dimensions of sustainability can impact their particular business, and to determine which combination of solutions they should explore to achieve the greatest business benefit.
Green Strategy
For sustainability programs and actions to be effective, they must support the business strategy. An integrated “sustainability plank” within the overall business strategy will ensure that future decision-making will appropriately recognize energy and environmental factors. Additionally, a formal sustainability strategy exhibits responsible leadership to employees, investors, customers and other stakeholders. Sustainable Advantage assists clients develop creative, fact-based strategies and undertakes leadership workshops which produce measurable corporate and business unit sustainability action plans.
Green Product Development and Marketing
A great market opportunity exists for those companies that build key aspects of sustainability into their products and services. Businesses can create lasting value by adopting design practices that cross functional and life-cycle boundaries, including considerations for packaging, transport, production, and end-of-use processes. Leveraging sustainable product innovation and effectively communicating the value to the market can significantly impact a business’ competitiveness and reputation. Sustainable Advantage works with clients to transform the traditional design process focused on cost, performance and delivery to a broader framework which includes environmental impacts and social responsibility. We also assist clients understand the value proposition for sustainability within their marketplace, if any, and help them position their products and services to address those customer needs.
Green Supply Chain and Operations
Internal business operations, as well as the extended supply chain, pose challenges to the overall sustainability impact of an organization. Sustainable Advantage can analyze operations to detail the current and future impacts and opportunities of upstream, downstream and internal activities. Additionally, the policies and procedures related to procurement activities can impact the organization’s overall energy and environmental footprint as well as positively influence the practices of suppliers. Sustainable Advantage can also assist clients identify and evaluate existing and emerging suppliers in the “green/clean” marketplace.
Green Facilities
A major factor in the sustainability of any organization is the structure and operations of its facilities. In the U.S., the impact of buildings is massive--facilities account for 39% of total energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. Any organization has an opportunity to greatly impact its sustainability by effectively managing the operations of its facilities. Sustainable Advantage assists a wide range of clients that own, lease, rent and develop facilities of all kinds. Our green facility tools are consistent with LEED standards and help our clients focus on architecture & design, facility management, waste management, building materials, and energy and water usage.
Green IT and Administration
“Back-office” operations, including IT, finance and human resources, can have a major impact on the sustainability of an organization. These infrastructure processes as well as significant technology investments have become critical components of business operations and, in some cases, sources of competitive advantage. A renewed focus on the efficiency and sustainability of these components can result in significant positive impacts. Sustainable Advantage works with CFOs, CAOs, CIOs and other business executives to assess and improve the sustainability of administrative processes and information technology operations. Selected opportunities in these areas include: data center optimization; server and desktop management; IT equipment consolidation and virtualization; printer and paper management; travel/meeting policies; training tools and approaches; employee sustainability promotions; financial analysis, budgeting and costing alternatives; tax and insurance issues, and sustainability reporting.
Business Case, Performance Measurement and Reporting
In order to ensure a business oriented approach to sustainability, a sound business case that includes a fact-based analysis of the benefits and costs related to the Business Sustainability Program must be undertaken. The business case must address both quantitative and qualitative benefits in the areas of revenue growth, cost optimization and risk mitigation, as well as, the required investments. Additionally, the creation of a sustainability performance management framework is needed to provide the basis for on-going monitoring and reporting of progress and results.