Sustainability Reporting
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Environmental Journalism course at HealthCareStudies (An LSPM brand). Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
Assurance #
The process of evaluating and verifying the accuracy and completeness of a sustainability report. This is usually carried out by independent third-party assurance providers.
Carbon Footprint #
The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Climate Change #
A long-term alteration in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) #
A self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. It is a company's commitment to manage the social, environmental and economic effects of its operations responsibly and in line with public expectations.
Eco #
efficiency: A concept that refers to doing more with less, i.E., Creating more value with less environmental impact. It is often used in business to measure the efficiency with which a company uses natural resources.
Eco #
label: A label on a product that identifies it as having a reduced environmental impact, often based on life cycle analysis.
EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) #
A term used to refer to a company's approach to managing its environmental, health, and safety risks.
EICC (Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition) #
A non-profit organization dedicated to improving the social, environmental and ethical conditions in the electronics industry supply chain.
Emissions Trading #
A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions. Companies that pollute less can sell their excess capacity to others.
EMS (Environmental Management System) #
A framework that helps a company manage its environmental impacts in a systematic manner.
Energy Management #
The process of monitoring, controlling, and conserving energy in a building or organization.
Engagement #
The process of involving stakeholders in a company's sustainability efforts. This can include surveys, focus groups, and other forms of two-way communication.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) #
A set of standards used to evaluate a company's performance in areas such as environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance.
GHG (Greenhouse Gases) #
Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere.
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) #
An international independent organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights and corruption.
GRI G4 Guidelines #
The latest version of the GRI guidelines, which provide a framework for companies to report on their sustainability performance.
Impact Assessment #
The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and minimizing the negative environmental, social and economic effects of a project or development.
Integrated Reporting #
A type of reporting that combines financial and sustainability information into one report, providing a holistic view of a company's performance.
ISO 14001 #
An international standard for environmental management systems, providing a framework for companies to manage their environmental impacts in a systematic manner.
ISO 26000 #
An international standard that provides guidance on social responsibility, including principles, practices and an implementation framework.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator) #
A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
Life Cycle Assessment #
A method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or service over its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.
Materiality #
The concept that certain sustainability issues are more important than others, based on their impact on the company and its stakeholders.
NGO (Non #
Governmental Organization): An organization that operates independently of any government, typically non-profit and often working on environmental or social issues.
Renewable Energy #
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, and hydro power.
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) #
A directive that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions #
A classification system for greenhouse gas emissions, with Scope 1 emissions being direct emissions from company-owned or controlled sources, Scope 2 emissions being indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, and Scope 3 emissions being all other indirect emissions.
Stakeholder #
A person or group with an interest in a company, such as shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and communities.
Sustainability Context #
The concept that a company's sustainability performance should be evaluated in the context of broader societal and environmental goals.
Sustainability Reporting #
The practice of communicating a company's sustainability performance to its stakeholders.
Sustainability Strategy #
A company's long-term plan for managing its sustainability risks and opportunities, typically including goals, targets, and initiatives in areas such as climate change, resource conservation, and community engagement.
Sustainable Development #
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Triple Bottom Line #
A framework for measuring a company's performance in three areas: Financial, social, and environmental.
Value Chain #
The series of activities that a company goes through to create and deliver a product or service, from raw material extraction to disposal.
Water Footprint #
The total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services, often expressed in cubic meters.
Zero Waste #
A goal to reduce waste to zero by reusing, recycling, and composting all materials, rather than sending them to landfill or incineration.