water management Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:47:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Why water sustainability is key to the success of the SDGs https://sustaincase.com/why-water-sustainability-is-key-to-the-success-of-the-sdgs/ Tue, 04 Jan 2022 09:18:19 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=14117 What are the strategies and practical solutions that businesses and institutions can implement globally, to make sure that water – the most precious resource on Earth – is managed sustainably? Global sustainable development leaders address this fundamental question and make the case for joint action to help ensure availability and access for all to water and sanitation services, in a new episode of SDGs: The Rising Tide. This podcast series from GRI explores corporate innovation supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation The episode features two experts in water management: Dennis van Peppen, International Water […]

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]]> The latest GRI podcast explores the role of business in water management.  Tweet This!

What are the strategies and practical solutions that businesses and institutions can implement globally, to make sure that water – the most precious resource on Earth – is managed sustainably?

Global sustainable development leaders address this fundamental question and make the case for joint action to help ensure availability and access for all to water and sanitation services, in a new episode of SDGs: The Rising Tide. This podcast series from GRI explores corporate innovation supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The episode features two experts in water management: Dennis van Peppen, International Water Programmes Team Lead at the Netherlands Enterprise and Development Agency, and Chong Mien Ling, Chief Sustainability Officer with the Singapore National Water Agency. They discuss the importance of a global water agenda and the role of business in implementing it.

Dennis van Peppen frames the challenge facing the global community, and why this important agenda is not receiving sufficient focus at the moment:

“In many places of the world, we are reaching the limits of our water resources. We urgently need a global water agenda, which simply does not exist. Climate has become a matter of survival for humanity and is being recognized as such, but there is less of a sense of urgency when it comes to water and the challenges associated with water management. Only those people who are working on the inside can clearly comprehend the crisis on the horizon.”

Chong Mien Ling sets out how Singapore’s historical and geographic context, in which it relied on water imports from Malaysia, led to a more innovative approach to securing water supplies of their own:

“Singapore is one of the most water stressed countries in the world. We quickly realized that we simply could not continue with business as usual. At the same time, we started to look into innovative technologies out there to help us reduce the amount of energy required in all processes linked to water management. In the end, we learned that small things can make a big difference.”

The first six episodes of The Rising Tide can be accessed now on Spotify, Apple, and Google podcast. GRI would like to thank the Government of Sweden for supporting this project through the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
 

References:

This article is based on published information by GRI. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.globalreporting.org/about-gri/news-center/international-success-stories-on-actioning-the-sdgs/

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]]> Case study: How PTI optimises water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-pti-optimises-water-use/ Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:44:16 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=11068 Powertech Technology Inc. (PTI) was founded in 1997 and has become a leader among global IC (integrated circuit) packaging and testing providers, with 18,145 employees and operation locations stationed over Taiwan, China, Singapore and Japan. In light of the drastic changes in the water environment, more and more frequent alternation of droughts and floods, and the increased concern that stakeholders have about the issue of water resources as a result of climate change over the years, and continues to promote water conservation measures in respective factories. This case study is based on the 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report by PTI published […]

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]]> Powertech Technology Inc. (PTI) was founded in 1997 and has become a leader among global IC (integrated circuit) packaging and testing providers, with 18,145 employees and operation locations stationed over Taiwan, China, Singapore and Japan. In light of the drastic changes in the water environment, more and more frequent alternation of droughts and floods, and the increased concern that stakeholders have about the issue of water resources as a result of climate change over the years, PTI has enforced water resource management according to its three major strategies, namely reduction, re-utilisation, and recycling  Tweet This! and continues to promote water conservation measures in respective factories.

This case study is based on the 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report by PTI published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

PTI has been participating in the international CDP – Water Disclosure project since 2017 and has had its water risks and opportunities identified and management information further released and disclosed for two consecutive years, demonstrating the success achieved on and the emphasis it places on water resources. In order to optimise water use PTI took action to:

  • promote process water conservation
  • follow the ISO 14046 Water Footprint Standard
  • manage wastewater responsibly

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report PTI identified a range of material issues, such as business performance, workplace safety, ethical management, regulatory compliance, supplier management, labour rights. Among these, optimising water use stands out as a key material issue for PTI.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups PTI engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Shareholders/ Investors

 

 ·      Shareholder meetings

·      Public financial reports

·      Investor conferences

·      Spokesperson and investor relations department

·      Company website
Employees

 

 ·      Employee welfare committee

·      Electronic platforms and company announcements

·      Policy improvement proposals

·      Labour-management meetings

·      Employee mailbox

·      Occupational safety and health committee

·      Employee psychological counselling

·      The World of PTI Quarterly
Customers

 

 ·      Business meetings

·      Customer satisfaction survey

·      Customer complaint system

·      Customer audit
Suppliers

 

 ·      Supplier meetings

·      Supplier audit

·      Supplier assessment

·      Supplier Social Responsibility Communication Workshop
Government Agencies

 

 ·      Official letters and emails

·      Advocacy meetings and hearings by the authorities

·      Issuing official letters
Communities

 

 

 ·      Company website

·      Public contact of the factory management department

·      Courses and visits

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics PTI engaged with its stakeholders through an online and paper-based survey, recovering a total of 541 valid copies of the survey’s questionnaire.


What actions were taken by PTI to optimise water use?

In its 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report PTI reports that it took the following actions for optimising water use:

  • Promoting process water conservation
  • PTI is keen on the utilisation and protection of water resources and has actively implemented, since 2009, a Process Wastewater Recycling System in all its plants, solving the problem of large amounts of silicon dioxide particulate matter from the process of wafer dicing and grinding. With the use of ultra-filtration, PTI filters out insoluble solids through the hollow fiber membrane, and steadily recycles and reuses the wastewater from the dicing and grinding process. The PTI Taiwan Plants capable of packaging process water recycling are the Hsinpu Plant (Plant 1), Hukou Plant (Plant 2), Datong Plant (3A Plant), Datong Plant (3C Plant), and Hsinchu Science Park Plant (P8). These Plants are installed with dicing/grinding wastewater recycling systems and the manageable hourly volume is designed based on the estimation of production needs. In response to PTI’s production plans the recycling systems are constantly expanding, with the recycling equipment efficiency rate reaching more than 85% from 2014 to 2018. The packaging process water consumption in 2018 was 2,388,357 tons, increased by 53,919 tons from 2017 – approximately a 2.3% increase – and the recycled water from the packaging process in 2018 was 1,227,588 tons, increased by 175,394 tons from 2017 (approximately a 16.7% increase). PTI continues to optimise the system, to increase water recycling volume and recycling effectiveness. In 2018, PTI Taiwan’s recycled water from the production process had a ratio of 90%, while recycled water from the packaging process had a ratio of 34%.
  • Following the ISO 14046 Water Footprint Standard
  • PTI cares about the issue of water resources and spontaneously and proactively takes part in the projects of the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs. PTI follows the ISO 14046 Water Footprint Standard and has established the procedure for the inventory check of the water footprint of products, tools, forms, and fundamental inventory check ability, among others. The complete water management system is set up in order to meet the international requirement for disclosing water information. PTI’s Hukou Plant (Plant 2), Datong Plant (Plant 3A), and Datong Plant (Plant 3C) passed the verification procedure of SGS Taiwan Ltd. in 2017 and acquired the organisational and product (Flash) water footprint verification declaration, continuing to promote consistent water resource management within the factory and reducing the consumption of water resources, ensuring co-existence and co-prosperity between business operation and the environment.
  • Managing wastewater responsibly
  • PTI’s factories follow the applicable wastewater treatment requirements of the competent authority, with wastewater going through the factory sewage treatment system and processed till it reaches the effluent or control criteria before it is released. Wastewater management is also done through the real-time monitoring equipment and the flow meter and detector are calibrated periodically in order to ensure the accuracy of data and the stability of the processing system. Meanwhile, the plants go through impromptu water quality inspections from the competent authority and have been meeting the requirements. For rainwater gutters, periodic monitoring is carried out as well, in order to prevent against impacts from overflowing of wastewater to an external environment as a result of a storm. The total amount of wastewater discharged by PTI TW in 2018 was 1,784,241 tons, a decrease of 18,867 tons from 2017, mainly because of the increased re-utilisation rate of recycled water and the reduced emissions of wastewater (sewage).

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

2) Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused

3) Disclosure 306-1 Water discharge by quality and destination

4) Disclosure 413-2 Operations with significant actual and potential negative impacts on local communities

 

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused corresponds to:

Disclosure 306-1 Water discharge by quality and destination corresponds to:

Disclosure 413-2 Operations with significant actual and potential negative impacts on local communities corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

 

 

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by PTI, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to PTI: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Case study: How Oriflame reduces its impact on water resources https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-oriflame-reduces-its-impact-on-water-resources/ Mon, 13 Jul 2020 07:36:54 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=11025 Oriflame is a global beauty company selling direct in over 60 markets, with a diverse portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty and wellness products sold and marketed through approximately 3 million Oriflame Beauty Consultants. For more than a decade, Oriflame has been systematically trying to reduce its impact on nature and is constantly looking at ways to engage its consumers around more sustainable water use, whilst also looking into opportunities for developing waterless products. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Oriflame published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this […]

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]]> Oriflame is a global beauty company selling direct in over 60 markets, with a diverse portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty and wellness products sold and marketed through approximately 3 million Oriflame Beauty Consultants. For more than a decade, Oriflame has been systematically trying to reduce its impact on nature and is constantly looking at ways to engage its consumers around more sustainable water use, whilst also looking into opportunities for developing waterless products.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Oriflame published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

By 2030, Oriflame aims to reduce its environmental footprint by 50% per unit of product produced.  Tweet This! In order to reduce its impact on water resources Oriflame took action to:

  • stop using plastic microbeads and plastic glitter in cosmetic rinse-off products
  • increase raw materials’ biodegradability
  • improve water management at manufacturing sites

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Oriflame identified a range of material issues, such as female empowerment, economic and value creation, sustainable sourcing, climate impact, sustainable packaging. Among these, reducing its impact on water resources stands out as a key material issue for Oriflame.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Oriflame engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Oriflame engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees

 

 

 ·      Employee NPS – quarterly survey collecting information and feedback on important elements of employee satisfaction and experiences

·      CEO Connect – annual live broadcast where employees ask the CEO questions both during and in advance of the event

·      Continuous trainings and feedback, e.g. the Oriflame way

·      Dialogue and sharing through Oriflame’s intranet and internal social media
Consultants

 

 

 

 

 ·      Consultant NPS – permanent feedback from Consultants about experiences and possible improvements

·      Business meetings, trainings, conferences and events

·      Sustainability study – through a web panel collecting information on what Oriflame’s Consultants prioritise most regarding sustainability
Investors

 

 

 

 ·      Meetings/calls with investors

·      Conference calls for the financial community in connection to quarterly reports

·      Attending seminars for the financial community

·      Corporate affairs meetings incl. Direct Selling Association (DSA) meetings

·      Yearly roadshows

·      Responding to ongoing investor questions and data reporting requests
Consumers

 

 

 

 ·      Consumer research, primarily product focused

·      Consumer surveys, sometimes including Oriflame Consultants in their role as consumers

·      Oriflame Brand Image Index, OBII (Annual)
Suppliers

 

 

 

 ·      Regular meetings/site visits with Oriflame teams regarding purchasing, packaging etc.

·      Regular sustainability site audits

·      Supplier self-assessment survey
NGOs

 

 ·      One-on-one meetings discussing both general strategy and more specific topics

·      Discussions at industry events
Society

 

 

 ·      Participation in industry initiatives and standardisation bodies

·      Community involvement, including Oriflame Foundation initiatives

·      Participation in conferences and events

What actions were taken by Oriflame to reduce its impact on water resources?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Oriflame reports that it took the following actions for reducing its impact on water resources:

  • Stopping using plastic microbeads and plastic glitter in cosmetic rinse-off products
  • Microplastic contamination is identified as a cause of water pollution. A variety of pollution sources have been identified, including the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic formulations. Oriflame has therefore decided to stop using plastic microbeads and plastic glitter in its cosmetic rinse-off products and started testing alternatives in early 2013. Oriflame identified a number of alternatives of natural origin, including plant waxes, nutshells and seeds that all met its high performance and safety expectations. By the end of 2016, Oriflame had stopped manufacturing older rinse-off products with plastic microbeads and glitter and, in 2019, continued to use only natural origin scrubs in all of its exfoliating cosmetic products.
  • Increasing raw materials’ biodegradability
  • Rinse-off products have a high end-of-life impact. They end up in the water system and may have an impact on ecosystems. It is therefore important to Oriflame that it improves its raw materials’ biodegradability. Oriflame’s goal is that all newly developed skin care and personal care rinse-off products will be biodegradable by 2025. To add credibility to its developments, Oriflame independently tests its products to make sure they pass the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) testing protocol for biodegradability. This is also a vehicle to help educate Oriflame Consultants and consumers about responsible product usage and respect for water resources. In 2019, Oriflame relaunched the Love Nature skin care range with all rinse-off products having biodegradable formulations. Not only are the formulations biodegradable, but they also contain organically sourced extracts and natural origin exfoliants. Additionally, the material Oriflame uses to make cosmetic wipes, cloth sheet masks and nail polish remover pads has been biodegradable since 2015. This means the material will break down naturally, as long as it is disposed of correctly and not flushed down the toilet.
  • Improving water management at manufacturing sites
  • At the end of 2019, Oriflame sent out water questionnaires to five of its manufacturing sites to collect more information about their water usage. Oriflame’s wellness factory in China was excluded from the water reporting, since they manufacture products that do not require water. Oriflame’s manufacturing sites withdraw groundwater from wells and/or water from a municipal supply source. To make sure it has a secured water supply, Oriflame either has two wells on site or complements one well with a municipal supply. Four of Oriflame’s manufacturing sites have effluent treatment plants, where the wastewater is discharged into the municipal sewage network after treatment. Oriflame’s wellness factory in India is designed to reuse 100% of its water, for example by using the water from the effluent treatment plant for irrigation purposes. Rainwater is collected in rainwater harvesting pits at two sites, to replenish groundwater (Wellness factory, India) and to reuse for lawn watering (Russia). All manufacturing sites have water meters installed that are measured daily and/or weekly. So far, none of these manufacturing sites have experienced major water delivery interruptions. Oriflame focuses on improving water efficiency and is committed to reducing water use at its manufacturing sites by 15% per produced unit (compared to a 2015 baseline) by 2020. Since 2015, the water usage per produced unit decreased by 18%.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Interactions with water as a shared resource

2) Disclosure 303-2 Management of water discharge-related impacts

3) Disclosure 303-3 Water withdrawal

 

Disclosure 303-1 Interactions with water as a shared resource corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-2 Management of water discharge-related impacts corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-3 Water withdrawal corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Oriflame, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Oriflame: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Oriflame reduces its impact on water resources appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Wistron promotes sustainable water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-wistron-promotes-sustainable-water-use/ Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:00:58 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10690 Wistron Corporation is a leading global technology service provider (TSP) supplying innovative ICT (information and communications technology) products, service solutions, and systems to top branded companies worldwide. , which adheres to national water resource laws, reduces water pollution, and simultaneously seeks to protect water resources and the ecosystem. This case study is based on the 2017 CSR Report by Wistron published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important […]

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]]> Wistron Corporation is a leading global technology service provider (TSP) supplying innovative ICT (information and communications technology) products, service solutions, and systems to top branded companies worldwide. Effective use of water resources is a key priority for Wistron  Tweet This!, which adheres to national water resource laws, reduces water pollution, and simultaneously seeks to protect water resources and the ecosystem.

This case study is based on the 2017 CSR Report by Wistron published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Wistron seeks to raise employee awareness of water conservation by devising water conservation plans to enhance the efficiency of water resources and, by 2020, aimed to use 10% less water per revenue unit than in 2015. In order to promote sustainable water use Wistron took action to:

  • reduce plant water consumption
  • implement water conservation plans and projects
  • use a smart water meter

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 CSR Report Wistron identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, environmental and socioeconomic compliance, product development, customer privacy, occupational health and safety. Among these, promoting sustainable water use stands out as a key material issue for Wistron.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Wistron engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers ·      Regular business review meetings
Employees ·      Business overview meetings

·      Quarterly welfare committee meetings

·      Wistron Employee Relations Committee

·      New supervisor training

·      Orientation to new employees

·      New employee seminars

·      Performance reviews
Customers ·      GP, CSR, RBA, QPA/QSA audits

·      Customers’ GP/environmental protection requirements Customer satisfaction survey

·      Customers’ supplier conferences

·      Questionnaire survey for CSR topics

·      Product RFQ
Suppliers ·      Green Product Management (GPM) System

·      SQP system

·      Onsite inspections

·      Supplier workshops

·      Vendor conferences

·
Shareholders/

Investment Institutions

 

 ·      Company (quarterly/annual) financial reports

·      Annual reports

·      Investor seminars

·      Annual shareholders’ meetings

·      Investor meetings

·      Material information on the Market Observation Post System

·      Corporate social responsibility reports

·      Company website
Competent authority for securities ·      Official documents

·      Company website

·      Market Observation Post System

·      Questionnaires and related briefings
Environment and charity groups ·      Project meetings

·      Semi-annual/ annual report
Media

 

 ·      Financial report

·      Online investor conferences

·      Company website

·      Press conferences

·      News release
Directors (including independent directors) ·      Board of Directors

 
Independent directors ·      Audit Committee

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Wistron carried out a questionnaire survey among its stakeholders, collecting a total of 217 questionnaires.

What actions were taken by Wistron to promote sustainable water use?

In its 2017 CSR Report Wistron reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainable water use:

  • Reducing plant water consumption
  • A number of plants and offices at Wistron typically use tap water, except for its Mexico plant, where groundwater is used. The Mexico plant is located in an industrial park which is not a preservation zone or water supply reservoir, so water usage does not affect the local environment or biodiversity. The production lines at Wistron, except for those in Taizhou plant and Kunshan OPT plant, are primarily composed of the assembly line, which does not require the use of water. The plants primarily use water resources in domestic activities and cooling towers and water replenishment for air conditioners. Large volumes of pure water are used in the processes of the Taizhou plant, accounting for 12.81% of total water consumption. To effectively manage and reduce water usage Wistron takes the following actions:
    • Making promotional posters and strengthening water conservation advocacy among employees
    • Taking records on the water meter on a daily basis, tracking water levels, and responding immediately to any leakages or irregularities
    • Retrofit old and water-consuming equipment
    • Using equipment with water conservation labels
    • Cleaning water towers every year
    • Inspecting the quality of drinking water every year
  • Implementing water conservation plans and projects
  • To achieve its goal in water conservation, Wistron has devoted robust efforts to promoting all types of water-conserving projects, including: The Taipei Headquarters and Hsinchu plant plan to use a raft foundation water collection engineering to collect rainwater for reuse in cooling towers, thereby reducing the use of tap water and lowering overall water consumption. Wistron’s Mexico plant is also planning and constructing a water treatment facility to process domestic wastewater for reuse in irrigation. Wistron introduced water recycling measures to several plants, to reduce their water consumption. They recycled 173,650 tons of water in a single year, which accounts for 3.27% of their total water consumption. Compared with 2016, this reflects a reduction of 2.55% based on water consumption per revenue unit (km3 water consumed/NTD billions of revenue). Furthermore, Wistron has also started to develop a product water footprint inventory method with reference to ISO 14046, to monitor the influence of its products on water resources. 
  • Using a smart water meter
  • For a more effective water management, Wistron’s Chengdu, Kunshan, and Chongqing plants have initiated a smart water meter project, which integrates smart water meter signals into the energy billboard management system to display the plant’s water consumption status, thus enabling administrators to monitor and analyse the consumption of water in different regions, identify the cause of irregular consumption, and devise a proper solution.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

2) Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water

3) Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused

 

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Wistron, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Wistron: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Wistron promotes sustainable water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Grundfos promotes sustainable water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-grundfos-promotes-sustainable-water-use/ Sun, 02 Feb 2020 16:29:20 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10406 Grundfos is one of the world’s leading providers of pump solutions, supplying complete pumping systems and solutions for buildings, industry and every aspect of water use, with annual production standing at more than 17 million units. With water scarcity affecting more than 40% of the world’s population, Grundfos seeks to contribute to meeting the global water challenge through technology and by utilising new business models to introduce sustainable solutions. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Grundfos published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies […]

The post Case study: How Grundfos promotes sustainable water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Grundfos is one of the world’s leading providers of pump solutions, supplying complete pumping systems and solutions for buildings, industry and every aspect of water use, with annual production standing at more than 17 million units. With water scarcity affecting more than 40% of the world’s population, Grundfos seeks to contribute to meeting the global water challenge through technology and by utilising new business models to introduce sustainable solutions.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Grundfos published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Operating in 56 countries around the globe, Grundfos has the technology and solutions to make a significant contribution to sustainable water use  Tweet This!, measuring progress qualitatively by reaching ever-more people with sustainable solutions and by the quality and innovation value of the partnerships in which Grundfos engages. In order to promote sustainable water use Grundfos took action to:

  • implement the Water2Life programme
  • deliver Lifelink solutions
  • join partnerships

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Grundfos identified a range of material issues, such as energy efficiency, product life-cycle, anti-corruption, employee satisfaction, human rights, occupational health & safety. Among these, promoting sustainable water use stands out as a key material issue for Grundfos.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Grundfos engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers

 

 ·      Consumer survey

·      Websites

·      Product websites

·      E-learning (Grundfos for installers)

·      Online tool for wholesalers (MyGrundfos)

·      Social media

·      Direct contact through sales

·      Customer meetings

·      Industry trade group meetings

·      Awards (Customer Satisfaction Survey)
Employees ·      EMS (Employee Motivation Survey)

·      Intranet

·      Town hall meetings

·      Training & learning warehouse,

·      Whistleblower system

·      Safety week

·      Water2Life
Suppliers

 

 

 

 

 ·      Direct purchase

·      Supplier awards

·      Supplier Code of Conduct awareness

·      Meetings

·      Audits

·      Trainings

·      Conferences
Global and local partners

 

 

 ·      For Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) partners, Grundfos has key account managers who hold regular meetings with them every year
Local communities

 

 

 

 ·      Direct local engagement

·      Employee volunteers

·      Collaborative partnerships

·      Sponsorships
NGOs

 

 

 

 

 ·      Governmental affairs liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue
Development banks and advocacy organisations

 

 ·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue
Government & policy makers

 

 ·      Governmental affairs liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Grundfos engaged a wide range of stakeholders through a materiality survey, asking stakeholders to rank different topics, adding interviews as verification.

What actions were taken by Grundfos to promote sustainable water use?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Grundfos reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainable water use:

  • Implementing the Water2Life programme
  • Water2Life is a programme initiated by Grundfos’ employees that seeks to provide clean water to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Grundfos’ involvement in projects is framed by a sustainable solution as decided by the company, and is communicated to employees across the world. The approach is evaluated on a yearly basis, by looking at results in terms of engagement and fundraising. The programme works in partnership with a local NGO that suggests where the greatest impact can be had within a region or country. Grundfos determines which project to focus on and proceeds to fundraise the first half of the project, while the local NGO fundraises the second half and manages the daily responsibilities. In 2017, Grundfos wrapped up its Water2Life project in Vietnam. More than 100 km of pipeline connected the homes of 28,000 people to local waterworks, and the project provided sanitation and hygiene education for more than 3,600 school students. Through Water2Life donations, local waterworks in Vietnam provide clean and affordable water to local communities, which creates both a sustainable business model and jobs for local people. In September 2017, Grundfos partnered with Water Mission and launched a new three-year project in Honduras, bringing clean water to schools and hospitals.
  • Delivering Lifelink solutions
  • Grundfos Lifelink represents Grundfos’ commitment to providing customised sustainable water solutions serving low-income communities in the developing world. By supporting revenue collection, transparency and smarter water management, Lifelink solutions enable water service providers to deliver a sustainable long-term community supply. Grundfos delivers Lifelink solutions to treat surface water in communities that do not have access to potable water or water of sufficient quality for domestic purposes, and combines solar-powered pumps, water treatment (AQpure) and intelligent water ATMs (AQtaps) with online water management and professional service to provide water kiosks connected to groundwater or surface water supplies. Lifelink solutions also build on partnerships across sectors. In 2017, the Grundfos Lifelink team continued building partnerships to bring sustainable access to safe water for low-income communities. Together with World Vision Kenya and funded by the Stone Family Foundation, Grundfos finalised the implementation of 46 automated solar powered water kiosks for 11 water projects in Kenya. Grundfos also engaged with Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom, which made available a special data package at an affordable price so that local communities could access the mobile payment platform for tapping water 24/7 at the AQtaps, and delivered Lifelink solutions to treat surface water in communities that had no access to clean and drinkable water. In West Bengal, India, Grundfos’ ultra-filtration (UF) membrane-based Grundfos AQpure solution is up and running, to treat water for a large village that is surrounded by saline and contaminated surface water. 
  • Joining partnerships
  • For Grundfos, the main value of partnerships is in making a greater difference in the world, particularly when working in unchartered areas. Through SDG #17 on partnerships, Grundfos can achieve its aim to take water of the required quality to where it is needed. Some of Grundfos’ significant partnerships in 2017 are:
    • ADRA International: Grundfos collaborated with the humanitarian organisation ADRA International, to provide access to clean water for 1.5 million people in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the South Pacific over a period of five years. Grundfos’ innovative technology will improve access to water and hygiene resources in under-served peri-urban communities.
    • Ghana Ministry of Water: Grundfos and the Ghanaian Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources signed a Memorandum of Understanding on improving clean water supply for the people of Ghana. Grundfos solutions deployed in both urban and rural areas of the West African country include solar-driven pumps, which are particularly suited for areas with unreliable or non-existent power supplies. Furthermore, the focus is on capacity building and training.
    • Danish Refugee Council: Grundfos partnered with the Danish Refugee Council’s Business-Humanitarian Partnership Lab, bringing the first water solutions to the Bidi Bidi refugee camp.
    • 2030 Water Resources Group: In 2016, Grundfos joined the prestigious 2030 Water Resources Group, named for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs that guide its goals. The group brings together public, private and civil society at country level to have an open discussion about water management and to develop concrete proposals that can help drive action on the management of water resources.
    • World Vision: During 2016 and 2017, Grundfos’ partnership with World Vision benefited more than 700,000 people. In 2016, Grundfos recorded over 322,000 people from nine countries who had access to clean water and in 2017 reached a further 384,500 people from eight countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported

 

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Grundfos, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Grundfos: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Grundfos promotes sustainable water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group reduces water consumption https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-mandarin-oriental-hotel-group-reduces-water-consumption/ Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:01:38 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9915 As an international hotel investment and management group with deluxe and first-class hotels, resorts and residences, operating 29 hotels and eight residences in 19 countries and territories around the globe, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, realising that the availability of clean, accessible water is critical to the health and economic vitality of the communities where it operates, implements a series of water conservation strategies, including investing in water efficient technologies. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through […]

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]]> As an international hotel investment and management group with deluxe and first-class hotels, resorts and residences, operating 29 hotels and eight residences in 19 countries and territories around the globe, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, realising that the availability of clean, accessible water is critical to the health and economic vitality of the communities where it operates, implements a series of water conservation strategies, including investing in water efficient technologies.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has set a goal to reduce water intensity per guest night by 20% from 2007 levels, by 2020.  Tweet This! In order to reduce water consumption Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group took action to:

  • conduct water risk assessments
  • implement water conservation measures
  • recycle and reuse water

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group identified a range of material issues, such as guest health and safety, human rights and diversity, supply chain management, biodiversity, information protection. Among these, reducing water consumption stands out as a key material issue for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement (in 2016)
Guests

 

 ·      Guest Satisfaction Survey

·      Solicitation of Direct and Target Feedback to Inform Quality Programmes
Colleagues

 

 ·      Colleague Engagement Survey

·      Career Development Plans and Performance Reviews

·      Hotel Corporate Responsibility Committees

·      Safe, Sound and Sustainable Programme
Owners and developers

 

 ·      Close Partnerships and Regular Communications Throughout Design, Development, Construction and Management of Properties
Local communities ·      Participation in Local Stakeholder Groups Including:

– Hotel Associations

– Chambers of Commerce

– Business Development Councils

– Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus and Promotion      Organisations

– Travel and Tourism Associations

– Community Benefit Organisations

– Local Heritage Preservation Initiatives

– Training and Local Talent Retention Organisations

– Local Collectives for Recycling

– Employer Organisations and Professional Associations
Shareholders ·      Ongoing and Routine Discussions With the Controlling Shareholder Jardine Matheson Group on Financial Performance, Risk Management and other current issues

·      Financial and Sustainability Reporting

·      Shareholder Feedback Mechanisms
Vendors, suppliers and contractors ·      Supplier Meetings to Discuss Sustainable Sourcing Opportunities

·      Food and Beverage Conference

·      Partnerships with Local Farmers, Ranchers and Fisheries
Industry peers and trade associations ·      Participation in World Travel and Tourism Council’s Task Force on Industry Strategies for Climate Change

·      Participation in Industry Hotel Carbon and Water Measurement Initiatives

·      Monitoring and Evaluating Industry Corporate Responsibility Initiatives
NGOs and outside advisors ·      Interviews and Panel Discussion to Discuss Opportunities to Improve Corporate Responsibility Programmes and Reports

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group engaged with its stakeholders through a stakeholder panel, which integrated perspectives from various organisations such as Conservation International, the International Tourism Partnership, National Geographic Traveler, the United States Green Building Council and the World Wildlife Fund.

What actions were taken by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to reduce water consumption?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group reports that it took the following actions for reducing water consumption:

  • Conducting water risk assessments
  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group carried out a Group-wide water risk assessment, using the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct tool. Based on the properties’ location, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group considered its exposure, on a site-by-site basis, to a series of risks that included baseline water stress, flood occurrence and drought severity. The assessment reviewed the current condition, as well as a projection for 2020. The water risk assessment identified 13 properties in Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s existing portfolio and seven development projects that were located in high water stressed areas, and its key findings were used to identify and prioritise target water conservation actions and programmes. For example, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok ran a campaign to educate employees on water conservation during the 2016 drought in Central Thailand.
  • Implementing water conservation measures
  • To achieve the goal of a 20% reduction in water consumption per guest night from 2007 levels by 2020, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group implements best practices to conserve water, including the following:
    • Motion Sensors and Low Flow Fixtures: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group continues to retrofit motion sensor and low flow fixtures in its properties’ common areas, back-of-house areas and guestrooms. In 2016, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong installed new low flow toilets in their guestrooms.
    • Process Improvements and Water Efficient Technologies: From Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s buildings’ heating and cooling systems to its kitchen, laundry and gardening operations, the stimulation of process improvements that conserve water has helped to support the Group’s progress toward its 2020 goal. Each of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s hotels and residences are actively identifying and implementing water efficiency technologies and process improvements to conserve water. In 2016, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong introduced an alternative system for defrosting food, eliminating the traditional use of freshwater and Mandarin Oriental, Boston has begun to offer soakless pedicures to reduce water associated with spa services.
    • Behavioural Change Initiatives: Due to behavioural change initiatives, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has been able to support a culture of conservation. At Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, overnight cleaning water consumption is monitored daily and water saving opportunities are reviewed with the kitchen team on a monthly basis. In 2016, employees at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech began placing water conversation labels next to all back office water taps as a gentle reminder not to be wasteful when using water.
  • Recycling and reusing water
  • Central to Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s water conservation plan is to increase the amount of water that the Group is able to recycle and reuse, as well as using alternative methods to provide cooling to the chiller system whilst maintaining high system efficiency. This is best implemented at the design stage or in conjunction with major system or property renovations. Best practices are beginning to emerge across the Group and throughout its properties, such as the following:
    • Mandarin Oriental, Sanya uses recycled treated grey water for irrigation throughout the resort’s extensive gardens. At Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, ground water is used for irrigating its landscaping and vegetable garden.
    • Mandarin Oriental, Milan is using groundwater for the chiller system rather than evaporative cooling towers. Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum engages in a similar process, using seawater instead.
    • Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and The Excelsior, Hong Kong recycle water from the cooling towers for toilet flushing. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo also uses recycled water for toilet flushing in part of the building.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group reduces water consumption appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Wyndham Worldwide optimises water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-wyndham-worldwide-optimises-water-use/ Wed, 14 Aug 2019 07:15:31 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9902 Wyndham Worldwide is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, with a collective inventory of almost 130,000 places to stay across over 110 countries on six continents, and 38,000 associates. Through its water conservation programmes, This case study is based on the 2016-2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Wyndham Worldwide published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, […]

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]]> Wyndham Worldwide is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, with a collective inventory of almost 130,000 places to stay across over 110 countries on six continents, and 38,000 associates. Through its water conservation programmes, Wyndham Worldwide seeks to use products and implement services that promote cleaner water, as well as more conservative and efficient consumption.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2016-2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Wyndham Worldwide published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

In 2016, Wyndham Worldwide’s water withdrawals were 48 gallons per square foot, declining 20% towards its ten-year goal in the first six years. In order to optimise water use Wyndham Worldwide took action to:

  • promote water conservation
  • assess water risks
  • recycle and reuse water

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016-2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Wyndham Worldwide identified a range of material issues, such as business ethics and compliance, long-term economic trends/issues, data privacy/cyber security, labour standards. Among these, optimising water use stands out as a key material issue for Wyndham Worldwide.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process s of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Wyndham Worldwide engages with:   

Stakeholder Group
Associates
Shareholders
Suppliers
Communities
Customers
Global partnerships

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Wyndham Worldwide conducted surveys and follow-up interviews with more than 50 stakeholders. Wyndham Worldwide also carried out a survey with a sample representation of its stakeholders, to develop its materiality matrix.

What actions were taken by Wyndham Worldwide to optimise water use?

In its 2016-2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Wyndham Worldwide reports that it took the following actions for optimising water use:

  • Promoting water conservation
  • Wyndham Worldwide locations in all business units globally, including franchise locations, are encouraged to use low flow showerheads, faucet aerators and consider other conservation programmes, including low flow toilets, urinals and minimising water loss due to poor landscaping management practices. On a quarterly basis, Wyndham Worldwide’s properties purchase over 9,000 efficient fixtures through the company’s Strategic Sourcing website. Those fixtures, save approximately 40 million gallons over the life of products. Additionally, Wyndham Worldwide has developed a series of programmes and engagement initiatives with its guests, suppliers and franchisees to support its water conservation plan. Guest sustainability programmes, in particular, are a priority. By participating in Wyndham Worldwide’s towel and linen re-use programme at its hotels, guests can choose not to have their linens and towels laundered every day, reducing both water and energy consumption. Wyndham Worldwide calculates that this programme saves more than 300 million gallons of water, on a yearly basis.
  • Assessing water risks
  • Wyndham Worldwide has assessed its water risk from owned, managed and leased properties in its portfolio using the World Resource Institute’s Aqueduct tool and the World Wildlife Fund’s Water Risk Filter. Based on the location of its properties, Wyndham Worldwide considered a series of risks which included water scarcity, water stress, flood occurrence, pollution and overall water risk, across thousands of properties in its portfolio. Based on the findings of Wyndham Worldwide’s water assessment, 26 properties in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Thailand and Singapore were prioritised due to overall water risk and/or degree of water scarcity. The results of the water risk assessment were presented to Wyndham Green Council, in order to develop targeted programmes to address communities and properties with the greatest exposure to water risks.
  • Recycling and reusing water
  • At Wyndham Vacation Resorts Seven Mile Beach Club in Australia, Wyndham Worldwide implements several programmes to help save water, through recycle and reuse. The property harvests 23,650 litres of rain water and uses it for laundry, when available. The water supplies two washing machines and two laundry troughs. In addition, the property treats all onsite sewage and grey water from its apartments and other infrastructure and recycles it into irrigation water that feeds into an underground drip system below resort lawns. The above ground irrigation is supplied via a water storage dam, which saves approximately 100,000 litres of water per week.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

2) Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water

 

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Wyndham Worldwide, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning.  If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Wyndham Worldwide: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Case study: How Gildan optimises water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-gildan-optimises-water-use/ Thu, 30 May 2019 15:11:46 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9411 As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of activewear, underwear and socks, directly controlling almost every step in the process of manufacturing its products, Gildan acknowledges that its operations have an impact on the environment and works relentlessly to develop more efficient technologies and processes to safeguard water resources and optimise water use. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Gildan published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) […]

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]]> As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of activewear, underwear and socks, directly controlling almost every step in the process of manufacturing its products, Gildan acknowledges that its operations have an impact on the environment and works relentlessly to develop more efficient technologies and processes to safeguard water resources and optimise water use.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Gildan published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Since 2015, Gildan managed to reduce its water intensity by 10%  Tweet This! through new equipment and technology, various water management systems and, also, by optimising overall water usage intensity. In order to optimise water use Gildan took action to:

  • improve water consumption
  • reduce water intensity
  • improve wastewater management

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Gildan identified a range of material issues, such as product quality and safety, business ethics and compliance, human and labour rights, energy and emissions management. Among these, optimising water use stands out as a key material issue for Gildan.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Gildan engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Shareholders

 

 ·      Annual General Meeting

·      Earnings Release Conference Calls

·      Conferences and non-deal road- shows
Investors (Institutional)

 

 ·      Investor Relations Day

·      Materiality Assessment

·      Earnings Release Conference Calls

·      Investor perception study

·      Comprehensive facility tour

·      On-request meetings with Board members
Board of Directors ·      Board meetings
Employees

 

 

 

 

 ·      Global employee engagement survey

·      Pulse surveys

·      Materiality Assessment

·      Worker-Management Committee Meetings

·      Employee Meetings – Headquarters

·      Gildan TV Internal Communications

·      Round tables
Customers

 

 ·      Materiality Assessment

·      Benchmarking

·      Audits
NGOs

 

 

 

 ·      Memberships

·      Audit requests

·      Participation in Roundtables

·      Committee Meetings

·      Conferences

·      Webinars

·      Workshops

·      Materiality Assessment
Local Communities ·      Memberships

·      Audit requests

·      Participation in Roundtables

·      Committee Meetings

·      Conferences

·      Webinars

·      Workshops

·      Materiality Assessment

·      Town Hall Meetings
Students / Academia / Schools

 

 ·      Mentoring

·      Internship Programme

·      Participation in research projects
Government ·      Meetings

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Gildan carried out interviews with internal stakeholders (senior leaders from different business functions) and engaged with over 25 external stakeholders (including civil society organisations, printwear and retail customers, investors and trade associations) through focus groups.

What actions were taken by Gildan to optimise water use?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Gildan reports that it took the following actions for optimising water use:

  • Improving water consumption
  • Gildan’s average global water consumption for the dyeing of its textiles was calculated in 2017 to be 56-57 litres of water per kilogram of product, while the indicated industry average water usage needed to create a white cotton t-shirt is, approximately, 65-70 litres per kg of product in the apparel industry. Thus, Gildan’s performance regarding water consumption is strong, relative to the textile industry average. In addition, Gildan sources the vast majority of its water needs from wells (97%), and only a small percentage is supplied by the municipalities (3%). Gildan also makes sure that its water usage does not significantly affect any water source, and does not use water from any Ramsar-listed wetlands or from water bodies recognised as being particularly sensitive.
  • Reducing water intensity
  • In 2010, Gildan first established five-year environmental goals based on its environmental footprint, which included a 20% water reduction in water intensity per kg of product. During the 2010-2015 period, Gildan achieved a reduction in its water intensity by 17% per kg of production. This reduction translated into savings of around 3.85 million cubic meters of water, or the equivalent of more than 1,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
  • Improving wastewater management
  • Effective management of its wastewater effluent is a top priority for Gildan and an area where it has adopted innovative solutions for many years. For example, Gildan’s Biotop system, located in its Honduran and Dominican Republic manufacturing hubs, is a highly efficient biological wastewater treatment system that has been used since these facilities’ inception, has yielded excellent results, and maintained an extremely rich ecosystem adjacent to Gildan’s production facilities. Unlike traditional chemical-based treatment systems, the system’s purpose is to treat wastewater through a series of interconnected lagoons, which naturally eliminate dyes and chemicals from the effluent and stabilise the wastewaters’ pH. Additionally, Gildan implements a series of biological reactors for the treatment of effluents, and to increase its wastewater treatment capacity at textile hubs. These systems leverage biological oxidation as an effective wastewater treatment process, operate at a low operational cost and work together with the Biotop system, guaranteeing a continuous and safe wastewater treatment system. Moreover, Gildan does not discharge water into any protected rivers and/or wetlands and strict controls are enforced on all effluents discharged from Gildan’s wastewater treatment plants. All treatment facilities are required to meet local discharge regulations and exhaustive biological surveys are carried out at least every two years, to review the impact that the facilities may have on the environment.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

2) Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water

3) Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused

4) Disclosure 306-1 Water discharge by quality and destination

 

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused corresponds to:

Disclosure 306-1 Water discharge by quality and destination corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Gildan, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Gildan: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Gildan optimises water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Nestlé improves water efficiency https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-nestle-improves-water-efficiency/ Wed, 06 Feb 2019 07:39:08 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8772 , treating the water it uses as sustainably, responsibly and effectively as possible, protecting it through high-profile collaborations, educating communities in how to use water efficiently, and improving access to water and sanitation.   This case study is based on the 2016 “Nestlé in society” report by Nestlé published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and […]

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Nestlé tries to achieve continuous improvement in its withdrawal, use and treatment of water  Tweet This!, treating the water it uses as sustainably, responsibly and effectively as possible, protecting it through high-profile collaborations, educating communities in how to use water efficiently, and improving access to water and sanitation.

 

This case study is based on the 2016 “Nestlé in society” report by Nestlé published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

Water is critical to every part of Nestlé’s value chain: employees, suppliers, customers and consumers, the farmers Nestlé works with and the communities in which it operates, all need access to safe, clean water and sanitation. In order to improve water efficiency Nestlé took action to:

  • reduce water withdrawals
  • conduct Water Resource Reviews
  • save water at high-priority sites

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 “Nestlé in society” report Nestlé identified a range of material issues, such as over- and under-nutrition, responsible marketing and influence, food and product safety, business ethics. Among these, improving water efficiency stands out as a key material issue for Nestlé.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Nestlé engages with:  

Stakeholder Group
Academia
Communities
Consumers and the general public
Customers
Employees and their representatives
Governments
Industry and trade associations
Intergovernmental organisations
Non-governmental organisations
Reporting agencies
Shareholders and the financial community
Suppliers (including farmers and smallholders)

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Nestlé assessed the level of interest of its stakeholders in its material topics (including key stakeholders, opinion leaders and investors) through stakeholder convenings, independently commissioned key opinion leader research and investor engagement.

What actions were taken by Nestlé to improve water efficiency?

In its 2016 “Nestlé in society” report Nestlé reports that it took the following actions for improving water efficiency:

  • Reducing water withdrawals
  • Nestlé implements programmes to reduce water withdrawal, reuse water and use alternative sources. By the end of 2016, Nestlé had reduced water withdrawal by tonne of product in every product category, achieving an overall reduction of 25% versus 2010. In addition, Nestlé uses its Water Target Setting methodology to identify more reduction opportunities and, in 2016, assigned CHF 31.6 million to water-saving initiatives. Nestlé is currently applying 516 water-saving programmes across its factories, saving approximately 3.7 million m3 of water every year.
  • Conducting Water Resource Reviews
  • Nestlé’s Water Resource Reviews (WRRs) aim to raise awareness at an operational level, identify risks and opportunities, and develop action plans for more sustainable water use. In 2016, Nestlé conducted 22 new WRRs in various locations, including Cuba, the USA, Vietnam and Switzerland. Nestlé has reviewed a total of 158 of its factories worldwide since the WRRs began, while Nestlé Waters completed WRRs at 100% of its facilities, and continues to work on improving its overall water use ratio (the amount of water required to produce one litre of bottled water). 
  • Saving water at high-priority sites
  • High-priority manufacturing facilities (HPMF) are sites located in areas of severe water stress or that represent an important portion of Nestlé’s annual water withdrawals. In 2016, Nestlé identified 24 such facilities and implemented water-saving projects at 21 of the 24 sites, saving 1.8 million m3 of water. The remaining three sites underwent a Corporate Water Target Setting audit in late 2016, which identified significant water saving projects for future implementation.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source

2) Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water

3) Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused

 

Disclosure 303-1 Water withdrawal by source corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-2 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water corresponds to:

Disclosure 303-3 Water recycled and reused corresponds to: 

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Nestlé, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Nestlé: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Updated GRI Standard on water and effluents: Companies should report impacts across their value chains https://sustaincase.com/updated-gri-standard-on-water-and-effluents-companies-should-report-impacts-across-their-value-chains/ Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:11:08 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=7950 Even though access to freshwater is an essential human right recognised by the United Nations, millions of people around the globe have to deal with water scarcity, poor water quality and insufficient sanitation. Companies operating in water stressed areas have, therefore, to take meaningful action. Promoting effective water management Responding to the global water crisis and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, “The lack of access to freshwater affects more than 40% of the global population. In a world where some companies’ GDPs exceed that of whole countries, the business world is expected to rise to the challenge and do its […]

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]]> Even though access to freshwater is an essential human right recognised by the United Nations, millions of people around the globe have to deal with water scarcity, poor water quality and insufficient sanitation. Companies operating in water stressed areas have, therefore, to take meaningful action.

Promoting effective water management

Responding to the global water crisis and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, GRI engaged with leading water stewardship experts to develop a standard that will help companies better understand and manage their water impacts.  Tweet This!

“The lack of access to freshwater affects more than 40% of the global population. In a world where some companies’ GDPs exceed that of whole countries, the business world is expected to rise to the challenge and do its part in addressing these. The aim of the revised water standard is to help companies report what matters, and where it matters, by using credible, context-based metrics,” said Bastian Buck, Chief of Standards at GRI.

The updated standard, GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018, requires companies to report on water impacts in their value chain, emphasising water stewardship and urging companies to actively manage impacts in the watersheds in which they operate. The standard is, among others, based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, more specifically, Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.

The revised standard puts emphasis on collecting information on water use (e.g. withdrawal, consumption and discharge) and related impacts, including how these are dealt with across the value chain. In addition, companies should report how they manage water as a shared resource and, also, how they manage their impacts locally.

A modular approach

After releasing the GRI Standards in 2016, the standard on water and effluents is the first to be updated by GRI. The modular structure of the GRI Standards allows the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) to frequently update individual standards, on the basis of the urgency and demand from the field.

The project working group for GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 included, among others, representatives from leading water stewardship organisations (for example, the World Resources Institute, the WWF and the Pacific Institute) and members of the mining, beverage and textile industries.

“As the most used sustainability reporting framework, we see it as our responsibility to create credible and robust standards so that companies can measure and report their impacts on the people and society in a meaningful way. This information feeds into internal processes and informs decision-making – accelerating action towards sustainable development,” concluded Mr. Buck.

GRI will present the new standard and answer questions from attendees in two live webinars on 19 September.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

This article is based on published information by GRI. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.globalreporting.org/information/news-and-press-center/Pages/World-Water-Week-Companies-must-look-beyond-own-operations-to-enhance-water-stewardship.aspx

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