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Benchmarking & Certification

Certification legitimizes organizations' strategies and builds credible measurement and reporting standards, which are essential to be accountable and demonstrate year-on-year improvement.

What are sustainability benchmarks and their scope?

Sustainability benchmarks are a way of systematically evaluating the sustainability performance of standards, certifications, organizations, or other entities' focus to implement sustainability measures or create positive impacts. The results of a benchmark allow its users to recognize, apply, and support the benchmarked entities, for example by recognizing a sustainability standard.

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The two most common approaches for benchmarking sustainability are:

 

  • Sustainability standards, certifications, or similar programs that define sustainable production practices and impacts. For example, an organization or procurer that sources tea leaves can benchmark different tea standards and certifications to decide which ones to include in its policies and contracts.

  • The commitments, policies, and performance of organizations in the supply chain. For example, an NGO can compare how well luxury hotels are realizing their sustainability commitments.

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Steps to develop a benchmark

Step 1

Develop the framework

  • Identify the target audience and their needs

  • Articulate purpose clearly

  • Determine scope regarding:

    • Commodity

    • Geography

    • Type of entity

    • Supply chain

    • Market presence

    • Develop a strong governance structure

Step 2

Define the content

Step 3

  • Pick a suitable evaluation structure:

    • Mandatory vs Aspirational

    • Scoring

    • Ranking

    • Progress Models

Step 4

Implementation

  • An entity applies to be benchmarked

  • Desk review

  • Additional data collection (such as shadow audits)

  • Benchmarking committee

  • Public consultation

  • Evaluation decision

  • Monitoring of continued alignment

Step 5

Disclose Results

  • Ensure proper representation of results

  • Consider the types of claims that can be made

  • Develop a publically available claims policy

  • Support decisions through stakeholder engagement

  • Identify and mitigate conflicts of interest

  • Ensure alignment with international norms and guidelines

  • Accommodate for diverse approaches in the benchmark

Decide on the structure

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Why should organizations go for Sustainability Certifications?

A good sustainability certification legitimizes the sustainability strategy of an organization, by verifying claims and providing external validation on issues such as responsible supply chain management, legal compliance, and environmental and social risks management practices and procedures. Certification programs focus on Key Performance Areas (KPAs) that cover social, cultural, and environmental sustainability (Click here to learn more about KPAs). KPAs are mapped out according to the SDGs to determine where an organization needs to focus and strategize.

 

An effective certification drives improvement in sustainability strategy and performance. There is an increasing trend in clients who demand certification as part of their own sustainability program, and we highly recommend leading organizations such as EarthCheck to be your certification advisor. Take a look at the certification benefits and checklist for choosing an accredited certifier:

Categorization of certification schemes

  • Performance-based focuses on progress and compliance with both internal and external targets or goals. An advisory and awarding body applies criteria benchmarks the performance of an organization rather than its intentions. 

  • Process-based on the other hand focuses on setting up management systems within an organization's business and using internal systems to monitor and improve procedures and practices. 

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Both of these schemes can and are often implemented simultaneously. Process-based schemes aim to achieve greater and improved sustainability through an EMS, whereas performance-based schemes relate to specific actions needed to achieve particular sustainability objectives that are outlined by fixed criteria.

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Steps to achieve certification

Step 1

Benchmarking

Step 2

Adherence

Step 3

Risk

Assessment

Step 4

Approach

Step 5

Performance

Step 6

Communication

1

  • Commit to:

    • Benchmarking

    • Continuous  improvement

  • Comply with legal and regulatory  requirements

  • Identify risks

  • Commit to addressing and reducing risks

  • Commit to an action plan, accredited program or an EMS

  • Commit to improve key performance areas and address them

  • Communicate and address all stakeholders

2

  • Mandatory disclosure and reporting

  • Corporate compliance

  • Identify risks that are below the baseline indicators

3

  • Identify any potential for non-compliance or current non-compliance

  • Determine areas for action.

  • Determine performance objectives

  • Review targets and objectives

  • Measure key performance areas 

  • Identify key performance areas (KPAs) for improvement

  • Communicate reports

  • Promote results

  • Collect feedback for results

  • Identify actions, solutions, and controls

  • Recognize minimum performance requirements

  • Stakeholder meetings

  • Staff training and awareness

4

  • Plan, document and implement action, solutions and controls

  • Determine and assess risks in all KPAs

  • Reporting and stakeholder   consultations

  • Employee training and awareness

5

  • Address and review all KPAs

  • Create a dedicated sustainability  coordination team 

6

  • Customer education

  • Community engagement

  • Continuous training

Not ready to get certified yet?

Certification is a vital step that assures the quality of action taken by an organization, however, for certain individuals certification can be a subject of concern due to financial constraints.

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Other options include entry-level evaluation assessments which are practical tools that can be suitable for operators who wish to become green, clean, and more socially responsible while being budget-conscious.

Get certified: Next step is to upgrade to certification to get more benefits, legitimize your business, and improve your brand further.

Start: Register with a leading  evaluation organization such as EarthCheck

Commitment

Complete an evaluating diagnostic:

  • Sustainability Policy

  • Benchmarking

  • Compliance

  • Approach

  • Performance

  • Communication

  • Result Interpretation

Outcomes

Post-verification phase, applicants will be able to collect and combine their data and the diagnostic to develop a performance and objective index. This could include:

  • Report on carbon

  • Identifying operational hazards and risks

  • Improving brand image

  • Understanding energy, water, waste consumption

  • Ensuring business improvements & transparency

Data Upload & Diagnostics

Upload operational data such as financial costs, water consumption, waste production, and energy. This allows you to:

  • Identify opportunities

  • Access benchmarking information

  • Prioritize issues and objectives

Evaluate.

Improve.

Get Certified.

Achieve

After the verification phase, an evaluator will provide you with a rating of your responses. Applicants will then receive:

  • Achievement certificate 

  • Digital Certificate

Verification

Once the diagnostic is complete and all data has been submitted, the verification process will begin.

Questions?

If you have any questions or need further support, we would be more than happy to consult with you. We are here to guide you as much as we can to transform you or your business into a force for good!

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