Blog

The TCFD recommendations and how they support a long-term ESG journey

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'The TCFD recommendations and how they support a long-term ESG journey' on Wednesday 1 December at 11am New York | 4pm London.

Understanding the updated GRI Universal Standards 2021

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has announced the updated version of the Universal Standards - the global benchmarks for sustainability reporting that enable organisations to understand and report on their impacts. The GRI standards are a modular system and consist of three series of standards; revised Universal Standards, new Sector Standards, adapted Topic Standards.

IFRS announces International Sustainability Standards Board at COP26

The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was officially launched by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation today at the COP26 climate conference. As a SASB Materiality Map® and full standards licensee, Greenstone is pleased to share this landmark announcement regarding the future of centralised and universally uniform sustainability-related corporate disclosure. 

Science-Based Targets initiative launches new Net-Zero Standard

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has announced the launch of the first science-based framework for companies to set net-zero targets - the Net-Zero Standard. The purpose of this new Standard will be to emphasise the importance of decarbonisation in corporate net-zero strategies.

Greenstone to speak on ESG data at Responsible Investment Forum Europe

Greenstone is proud to be speaking at the Responsible Investment Forum: Europe 2021 on Tuesday 9th November. The Responsible Investment Forum: Europe, co-hosted with the PRI, is the longest-running private equity forum focused on bringing together fund managers, institutional investors, and expert advisors to discuss ESG issues across alternative asset classes. The key themes for this year's two-day event will be climate change, the route to net-zero, and the rise of impact investing.

Greenstone announces Managing Partner appointments for North America

Last month, Greenstone opened its first North America office in New York as a result of the significant growth and ongoing momentum it is experiencing in the region. The team is growing fast and this week, Greenstone announces two senior hires to the team – Michael Kelly and Jamie Rantanen – who both join as Managing Partners.

GHG and carbon emissions and their role in limiting warming to 1.5°C

With the latest IPCC report, the much anticipated COP26 conference and almost constant news reports on the subject, climate change and the reduction of carbon now seem to be at the centre of most discussions. As our attention is turned towards the ways businesses can act now to limit warming to 1.5°C, some terms used can lead to confusion.

Greenstone opens NYC office to support strong growth in North America

Award-winning sustainability software solutions company, Greenstone, has opened its first North American office in New York, USA. This opening is in response to the significant growth and strong ongoing momentum Greenstone is experiencing in the North America market.

Unlocking ESG data to simplify the reporting challenge

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'Unlocking ESG data to simplify the reporting challenge' on Thursday 23 September at 11 am EST (4 pm UK).

This event is being held in conjunction with Climate Week NYC, taking place September 20-26. Hosted annually by international non-profit the Climate Group in conjunction with the United Nations, Climate Week NYC is a global opportunity to come together to accelerate climate action and assess progress ahead of COP26.

What is ‘double materiality’ and why should you consider it?

During the last year, significant progress was made on unifying sustainability reporting standards and terminology. After a long time of shifting viewpoints on what materiality means, who it is for and whether the sustainability sector should even use the term materiality, an agreement has begun to form that materiality is ‘double’ and dynamic.

Why procurement teams are seeking supply chain sustainability software

Procurement and supply chain management is evolving, and so are the ways businesses interact with their suppliers, manage their relationships with them, and make purchasing decisions.

COP26 and what it means for business

From the 31st of October to the 12th November 2021, the United Kingdom and Italy will co-host the 26th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26) at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. Heads of state and climate scientists will gather to agree on joint steps to combat climate change. As co-host of COP26, the United Kingdom has set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035.

In this blog, Greenstone will focus on the role of businesses and how they can actively act upon the goals set by COP26.

Greenstone’s software achieves Top Product of the Year for 4th year

Greenstone was announced today as winner of the Top Product of the Year 2021 award by Environment + Energy Leader. This is the fourth consecutive year Greenstone has been awarded this accolade, this year for its innovation in scope 3 reporting.

Greenstone publishes scope 3 emissions reporting guide

Greenstone has published a 'Scope 3 Emissions Reporting & Where to Start' guide to help sustainability professionals, responsible for sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting for their organisation, to better understand scope 3 emissions and how to start reporting in this area.

Why ESG data matters in private equity & how SFDR standards can help

The European Commission is soon expected to confirm the new Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) that define the shape of the ‘level 2’ ESG disclosures required under the new Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) from 2022.

In this blog post, we explore the metrics outlined in these standards, how the relevant data can be collected from portfolio companies, and how private equity managers can stay one step ahead by adopting these metrics to enhance their ESG capabilities.

How does TCFD align with CDP?

The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2015 to review how the financial sector could take account of climate-related issues. Chaired by Michael Bloomberg, the TCFD’s objective was to formulate a set of recommendations to help organisations understand and disclose their exposure to climate-related issues.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in supply chains

Over the last few years, COVID-19 and the social justice movement have been stark reminders about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in all aspects of our society. The business world is no exception. Expectations placed on companies have increased and investor and consumer interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, including DE&I, have notably increased.

Scope 3 supply chain emissions – how to improve your supplier data

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'Scope 3 supply chain emissions – how to improve your supplier data' on Thursday 15th July
4pm BST.

Measuring and reducing scope 3 emissions (emissions from the value chain) has become a primary focus for companies, particularly those who have set science-based or net-zero targets. With this comes the challenge of data collection from parties outside of your company – in many cases from suppliers, who can make up a large proportion of scope 3 emissions.

IIRC and SASB form the Value Reporting Foundation

This week, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) officially announced their merger to form the Value Reporting Foundation.

This merger is providing a comprehensive suite of tools to assess, manage and communicate value.

Reporting the impacts of COVID-19 in your environmental reports

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'Reporting the impacts of COVID-19 in your environmental reports' on Tuesday 29 June at 4pm BST.

Managing and reporting environmental data during the global COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge challenge for those responsible for their company’s sustainability reporting. On Tuesday 29 June at 4pm BST, Greenstone is holding a webinar providing some advice and guidance on how to report the impacts of COVID-19 in environmental reports.

Measuring scope 3 supply chain emissions - choosing the right method

As we have covered in some of our recent blogs – ‘Scope 3 GHG emissions explained’ and ‘4 key steps to starting your scope 3 emissions reporting journey’ – there is both a significant need as well as a significant challenge in understanding an organisation’s value chain (or scope 3) emissions.

The importance of data in achieving net-zero & science-based targets

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'The importance of data in achieving net-zero & science-based targets' on Tuesday 15 June at 4pm BST.

With a notable surge in the setting of net-zero and science-based targets, comes a new set of challenges around data. Accessing and reporting accurate data to support and track progress against these ambitious climate targets is becoming an increasing challenge for most companies.

4 key steps to starting your scope 3 emissions reporting journey

Measuring and reporting scope 3 GHG emissions accurately is a key topic for most businesses and one that’s becoming increasingly important as more organisations commit to ambitious emissions reduction targets such as Science Based Targets or Net Zero Targets.

As part of its scope 3 reporting series, Greenstone held a webinar on 22 April, covering the increased reporting of scope 3 emissions as well as the challenges that your business might come across during the process of measuring and reporting. In this blog, we cover some of the challenges that companies face when reporting scope 3 emissions, 4 key steps on where to start and some top tips to help companies prepare.

Hypertherm advances sustainability & supply chain data with software

Greenstone has been working with global manufacturer Hypertherm to improve the company’s data management across its global locations and supply chain. Through the use of Greenstone’s sustainability and supply chain software solutions, Hypertherm has been able to streamline data collection and access the accurate data required to set ambitious goals for 2030. Read the project case study below.

How sustainability software can help you achieve your long-term goals

The non-financial, ESG, sustainability and CSR reporting landscape is constantly evolving. As regulatory frameworks and investor requests increase, we see more and more companies adding to their commitments and establishing long-term global sustainability strategies. The ability to provide assurance for sustainability risk management and ensure that their company has access to reliable data to report to business stakeholders has become one of the main focal points.

GRI and SASB reporting ‘complement each other’

Last week, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) released 'A Practical Guide to Sustainability Reporting Using GRI and SASB Standards'. This guide shares the results of joint research from GRI and SASB, where they explore the experiences of companies that use the two sets of standards together to fulfil their reporting needs.

Greenstone present on ESG software at sustainable finance event

On Monday 26 April, Greenstone will be presenting on ‘Software Solutions for ESG and Private Equity’ at the Wall Street Green Summit 2021.

The Wall Street Green Summit is one of the longest running and most comprehensive sustainable finance events in the industry globally. Launched in 2002, the Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the leading practitioners in sustainability. It is aimed at building the sustainable finance system for responsible investing and the changing role of business in sustainability.

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

The new Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) has made a notable entry into the sustainable finance sphere. This new regulation, which formally came into force on 10 March 2021, requires all financial market participants in the European Union (EU) to report Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures, with additional requirements for products that promote ESG characteristics or that have sustainable investment objectives.

Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions explained

As more and more organisations set ambitious reduction targets, it is becoming increasingly essential that they are able to measure and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their value chain.

How to measure and report scope 3 GHG emissions accurately - webinar

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'How to measure and report scope 3 GHG emissions accurately' on Thursday 22 April at 4pm GMT.

As more and more organisations set ambitious science-based and net-zero reduction targets, it is becoming increasingly essential that they are able to measure and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their value chain (scope 3 emissions).

What impact has COVID-19 had on supply chains & responsible sourcing?

One of the most publicised and immediate impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic was and still is, the impact on supply chains. Everything impacted supply chains - from the restrictions being placed on the movement of people and the ways in which goods could be transported, to the human impact of the virus that meant it became more challenging to produce goods and deliver services.

Webinar - 5 software features to help you improve your CDP reporting

Greenstone and CDP are holding a webinar on ‘5 software features to help you improve your CDP reporting’ on Wednesday 17 March at 4pm GMT. This webinar, hosted by CDP, is part of the ‘CDP Bitesize’ series delivered by CDP’s gold accredited solution providers.

CDP reporting 2021 – what’s changed since last year

With CDP reporting season looming, CDP has published its 2021 CDP reporting guidance and released its 2021 questionnaire on Climate Change. The deadline for submissions is 28 July 2021, and the Online Response System (ORS) will open for users to start entering their information on 12 April 2021.

Tracking GHG emissions across investment portfolios - a new frontier

Greenstone is holding the webinar ‘Tracking GHG emissions across investment portfolios - a new frontier’ on Thursday 25 March at 4 pm GMT. This webinar, presented by Greenstone’s Head of InvestorPortal Toby Robertson, will discuss how collecting and managing GHG emissions data from portfolio companies is becoming increasingly important and provide advice on where to start.

Preparing your data for the EU Taxonomy regulation

The EU Commission's Taxonomy Regulation passed into law in June 2020, marking a significant step in sustainable finance. Now, as we have entered into 2021, companies are about to face their first milestone. The deadline for businesses to report on the taxonomy criteria is now imminent as some participants (in the financial market) will be required to complete their first set of disclosures against the Taxonomy by the 31st of December 2021.

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) releases 2020 progress report

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recently released an annual progress report “From ambition to impact: How companies are cutting emissions at scale with science-based targets”. This report aims to reflect and report on the five years of progress in setting science-based climate goals and setting a baseline for the decade of ambition ahead.

Greenstone publishes UN Global Compact communication on progress 2021

Greenstone has published its annual Communication on Progress (COP) to the UN Global Compact. Through this COP report, Greenstone reaffirms its commitment to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of its company.

SASB standards & how they link to other ESG reporting frameworks -FAQs

Greenstone’s webinar on the 'SASB standards & how they link to other ESG reporting frameworks' was held last month. The 30-minute session, with a guest speaker from SASB, was very well-attended and we had great feedback from attendees.

We had some interesting questions both during and after the webinar. In this blog, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic:

Blackrock’s 2021 letter to CEOs and what is means for ESG reporting

Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, an American multinational investment management corporation, has released his annual letter to CEOs.

The events of 2020 and the need for companies to transition to a net-zero economy, shaped this year’s letter. The past months have been challenging in so many ways. Nonetheless, there are signs of promise, including businesses that have moved forcefully to face climate risk.

How to prepare for CDP reporting in 2021- webinar

The CDP reporting cycle seems to come around quickly each year. The 2021 CDP reporting guidance has already been published and the response system will open in early April. Now is the time for reporting organisations to start collecting and preparing data and supporting information to avoid last minute panic.

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on 'How to prepare for CDP reporting in 2021' on Thursday 25th February at 11am ET / 4pm GMT. With a guest speaker from CDP, this webinar will discuss CDP reporting for 2021, how to prepare and some tips on how to improve on last years' response.

Top 5 sustainability, ESG & supply chain reporting trends for 2021

With the turn of a New Year, sustainability, ESG and supply chain software solutions provider Greenstone, reflects on 2020 and pulls out some key reporting trends to watch out for in 2021. Here are the top 5:

SASB standards & how they link to other ESG reporting frameworks

Greenstone is holding a webinar, with a guest speaker from SASB, on the SASB Standards and how they link to other sustainability and ESG reporting frameworks on Thursday 28 January 2021 at 12pm EST.

There are many reporting frameworks that help companies measure and report sustainability information to a wide range of stakeholders. What distinguishes SASB standards is a focus on financially material information covering a range of industry-specific sustainability areas, including Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) topics.

CDP reporting 2020 scores released

This week CDP released scores for its 2020 Climate Change disclosures. A record-breaking 9,600+ companies disclosed through CDP in 2020, a 70% increase since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 and 14% up on last year.

Greenstone would like to congratulate its clients and partners who have worked hard to improve or maintain their score from last year, and those who were included on the prestigious CDP ‘A List’.

Reporting the impact of COVID-19 in your climate change disclosures

The global COVID-19 pandemic is set to cause the largest ever annual fall in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the dramatic change in the way we all have lived and worked over the past year. However, the fluctuation in climate data has been a huge challenge for those responsible for their organisation’s sustainability reporting.

Greenstone recently presented at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s Virtual Summit on how to report the impacts of COVID-19 in climate change disclosures. In this blog, Greenstone reflects on the impact that COVID-19 has had so far on climate change disclosures, some of the key challenges that companies are facing, and some solutions that we are seeing from our work at Greenstone, and the industry generally. 

KPMG survey on global trends in sustainability reporting

KPMG released its 11th edition of the KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting this week. This annual survey has tracked monumental changes in sustainability reporting since the survey was first published in 1993. This year, KPMG professionals reviewed sustainability reporting from 5,200 companies across 52 countries and jurisdictions, making this the most extensive survey in the series to date.

Greenstone’s 2030 science-based target approved by SBTi

Greenstone’s 2030 science-based emissions reduction target has been approved, as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets. Greenstone has formally joined the movement and set a target to reduce its absolute scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions.

Greenstone launches SASB licensed content in ESG software solutions

Greenstone has recently integrated the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards into its award-winning sustainability and ESG software solutions. In partnership with SASB, Greenstone now licenses the SASB metrics, topics and technical protocols to enable its clients to use the SASB framework when reporting on their ESG impacts and risks.

How to report the impacts of COVID-19 - Greenstone at GRI Summit

Greenstone will be speaking at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)'s Virtual Summit 2020 next week on how to report the impacts of COVID-19 in climate change disclosures. The virtual summit, held on Tuesday 3  November at 9am GMT gathers sustainability professionals for a half-day online conference covering key topics and recent developments in the sustainability reporting space.

Science-based targets and net-zero commitments - FAQs

Climate Week NYC 2020 was held last month and this year’s edition was certainly one to remember. Not only was it held entirely online, but the week of events included ambitious commitments from some of the biggest names. Most notably, the University of Cambridge announced a net-zero target by 2038, Facebook committed to a net-zero target by 2030 and Walmart, the world’s largest company, outlined plans to be 100% carbon neutral by 2040 (without using carbon offsets).

Webinar - the value and impact of Supplier Codes of Conduct

Greenstone, in partnership with Ardea International and the University of Westminster Business School, is hosting a webinar on the value and impact of Supplier Codes of Conduct on Thursday 12th November at 4pm GMT. 

A code of conduct is a set of guidelines for suppliers that defines the company’s relationship with a supplier and lays out the behavioural and procedural standards required of them. It is a voluntary document from the company’s perspective, but it is often mandated as part of their contract that suppliers agree to the terms and principles laid out in the code.

Becoming a responsible business – interview with Fujitsu

In this interview, recently published on CDP's blog, Greenstone talks to two leaders at Fujitsu to discuss its journey towards becoming a responsible business, and the importance of reliable data to support it. 

In 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its special report into the global impact of temperatures rising at 1.5°C degrees above pre-industrial levels. As a result, the business sector and corporate leaders face mounting pressure to address their impact on the climate and demonstrate how they are taking action to their stakeholders, consumers, employees and investors.

Global sustainability reporting frameworks guide

Greenstone has published a Sustainability Reporting Frameworks Guide to help companies understand and navigate the global sustainability reporting landscape.

CDP & TCFD reporting: disclosing climate change risks & opportunities

Greenstone has partnered with CDP to hold a webinar on disclosing climate change risks and opportunities. This webinar, on Wednesday 7th October, will put the spotlight on CDP and TCFD in relation to disclosing climate change risks and opportunities. It will also discuss the alignment between frameworks and outline how organisations are using software to manage this disclosure.

SBTi paper on global standard for science-based net-zero targets

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has today issued its initial guidance on the first science-based global standard for corporate net-zero target setting. This paper is the first step to setting a global standard, which will help to ensure that corporate net-zero carbon targets are aligned with climate science.

Greenstone’s investor ESG software awarded Product of the Year

This week, the Business Intelligence Group named Greenstone’s InvestorPortal software ‘Sustainability Product of the Year’ in the 2020 Sustainability Awards program.

Greenstone recently launched InvestorPortal to enable responsible and sustainable investing for private capital investors. This purpose-built Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution enables the collection, management and analysis of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) data across investments and funds.

Webinar: ESG risks and opportunities for private equity firms

As part of Climate Week NYC 2020, Greenstone is holding a webinar on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and the risks and opportunities for private equity firms. This webinar, on Tuesday 22^nd September at 11am EDT, will discuss the growing importance and relevance of ESG reporting in private equity and the opportunities it presents.

ESG performance and long-term resilience – link stronger than ever

As recently as 5 years ago, ESG (Environmental Social Governance) investing was still considered a very niche activity, and typically, most institutional asset managers that had ESG funds, also known as SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) funds, were managed separately from the mainstream portfolios.

The most striking development over the last 1 – 2 years is that we are seeing more and more institutional fund managers adopt ESG reporting.

Greenstone Enterprise awarded Top Product of the Year for 3rd year

Greenstone is delighted to announce that its Enterprise SaaS solution has received Top Product of the Year Award at the Environment + Energy Leader Awards 2020. This is the third consecutive year Greenstone has received this award reinforcing its position as a market-leader in sustainability and ESG software solutions.

GRI & SASB announce collaboration in sustainability reporting

This week, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) announced a collaborative work plan. This announcement is an important step towards increasing clarity and transparency in the sustainability reporting landscape.

EU Taxonomy regulation – key impacts for companies & investors (FAQs)

Yesterday, the EU Commission’s Taxonomy Regulation entered into law, marking a significant step in sustainable finance. The EU Taxonomy is a classification tool aimed at investors, companies and issuers to better define the environmental performance of economic activities across a wide range of sectors, and will give clarity to the requirements economic activities must meet to be considered “green”.  

Why investors are seeking ESG software to manage portfolio data

Across the asset-management world, interest in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has soared since the launch of the UNPRI (Principles for Responsible Investments) in 2006. Integrating ESG factors into investment decisions and portfolio management strategies is increasingly becoming the norm and investors are seeking to better understand a company’s long-term value by looking at ESG information.

Aligning global sustainability frameworks - FAQs and resources

Following Greenstone and GRI’s recent webinar on ‘Aligning global sustainability frameworks – the role of software in mapping data’, below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, plus some helpful resources.

5 things to look for in sustainability software

Sustainability reporting involves data, data and more data. The demand for greater transparency, accurate and reliable information and the continuous monitoring against targets is growing. With reporting requirements constantly increasing, a huge volume of data needs to be collected, managed and reported across an organisation. 

One way to improve sustainability data management is to implement sustainability software to automate and streamline the process. However, finding the right sustainability software solution for your business isn’t always straightforward.

Webinar - how sustainability software enables long term climate action

Greenstone has partnered with CDP to hold a webinar on ‘How to use software to achieve your long-term climate goals and reach Net Zero’ on 17 June. This session is being held as part of CDP’s 2020 Global Workshop Series. Greenstone is a proud sponsor of this series of virtual global and regional events running through until mid-July.

Greenstone sponsors Virtual Responsible Business Week

Greenstone is sponsoring and exhibiting at the Virtual Responsible Business Week running online between 8 – 16 June 2020.

Broadcast to a global audience of sustainability, supply chain and ESG professionals, this event brings a stream of live sessions and discussions from senior global leaders on the business challenges ahead.

Bird & Bird streamline supplier information security assessments with SupplierPortal

Global law firm Bird & Bird has implemented Greenstone’s supply chain sustainability software, SupplierPortal, to engage with and assess the performance of its global supplier network.

This case study outlines the journey Bird & Bird have been on to find a robust and reliable solution that supports continual supplier engagement, ongoing assessment, and an efficient annual audit cycle.

Webinar: Aligning global sustainability frameworks – the role of software in mapping data

In the week following the Virtual GRI Reporters’ Summit North America, Greenstone and GRI will be delivering a webinar on ‘Aligning global sustainability frameworks – the role of software in mapping data’ on Wednesday 24 June.

With a guest speaker from GRI, Alyson Genovese, this 45-minute webinar will give an update on global sustainability frameworks, the role of GRI in the current disclosure climate and how software can enable better framework alignment.

CDP 2020 climate change questionnaire - changes for the financial services sector

CDP have released their 2020 questionnaire on Climate Change, aimed at helping companies to disclose their current emissions and actions around climate change mitigation and adaptation. The deadline for submission has been extended in light of COVID-19 to 26 August 2020 and the Online Response System (ORS) is now open for users to start entering their information.

Greenstone sponsors leading sustainable procurement event in North America

Greenstone is sponsoring and exhibiting at the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council’s (SPLC) 2020 Summit next week (May 18-20). Due to the current covid-19 epidemic, this year the Summit is being run as a completely virtual event.

The SPLC Virtual Summit 2020 will bring together sustainable procurement and sustainability professionals, suppliers, and advocates to access more than 24 hours of live content. The Summit will include plenary keynotes, breakout sessions and an interactive exhibit hall across three days. With this new virtual Summit, attendees have on-demand access for up to a year – to catch a missed presentation, download additional resources, hear the inspiring keynotes, or visit exhibitor booths again.

The importance of long-term ESG data management resilience

David Wynn, Managing Director North America at Greenstone, writes the following article.

I was recently on a call with a Fortune 500 company who had a decade of ESG reporting under their belt and several well-earned sector leadership titles in their trophy cabinet. Sustainability is deeply embedded in their business but like companies more broadly, they have seen a significant ramp up in investor pressure and ESG information requests in the last 12 months. 

BlackRock's sustainability announcement - how to respond (FAQs)

Larry Fink’s latest annual letter to CEOs announced a number of significant changes geared at putting sustainability at the heart of BlackRock’s investment strategy. With the incorporation of sustainable investment principles and a clear request for companies BlackRock invests in to produce SASB and TCFD aligned reports by year-end, the pressure on organisations to disclose information on sustainability performance and impacts has never been higher.

CDP reporting 2020 – frequently asked questions

This week, the disclosure platform for CDP 2020 officially opened for companies. Many organisations across all sectors worldwide will be invited to report their environmental data through CDP, some for the first time.  

Greenstone, a Gold CDP accredited software provider, recently held a webinar with a guest speaker from CDP, on ‘CDP Reporting: preparing for 2020’. We had a number of interesting questions during and after the webinar. Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about CDP reporting in 2020.

Webinar: EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance – key impacts for companies and investors

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance - key impacts for companies and investors' on Wednesday 6th May at 3pm GMT. 

In what is one of the most significant developments in sustainable finance, the technical expert group (TEG) advising the European Commission has published its final recommendations on the EU Taxonomy.

Webinar: Sustainable procurement and modern slavery risk – how to ensure you are meeting global legislation

Greenstone and Ardea International, a specialist business and human rights consultancy, have partnered to hold a webinar on how to integrate global modern slavery risk into a sustainable procurement strategy. This webinar will be held on Wednesday 22nd April at 4pm GMT.

Greenstone enhances SupplierPortal with supplier risk and action management

Greenstone has recently updated its supply chain management software solution SupplierPortal with enhanced supplier risk management and corrective action functionality.

This provides SupplierPortal users with a joined-up and fully automated approach to identifying high-risk suppliers, engaging with suppliers and remediating supply chain risk.

Greenstone's UN Global Compact communication on progress 2020

Greenstone recently submitted its annual Communication on Progress (COP) to the UN Global Compact. Through this COP report, Greenstone reaffirms its commitment to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of its company.

At Greenstone, we understand that we play a role in helping organisations to meet many of the UN’s goals and objectives, including the ten principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Greenstone has been a participant of the UN Global Compact since 2013 and actively uses and promotes the ten principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a standard for its clients.

Supplier information security assessments – global law firm case study

Greenstone works with organisations to assess and reduce supply chain risk and enable responsible supply chains. An increasing area of focus in this work is information security. 

Supplier risk management - global bank case study

Greenstone works with its clients, across a variety of different sectors and industries, to build long-term supplier management processes that address and reduce risk, both now and in the future.

The below case study summarises how our client, one of the world’s largest banks, has transformed its supplier risk management through the use of Greenstone's supply chain management software solution SupplierPortal.

Webinar: BlackRock’s sustainability announcement – how to respond

Greenstone, a leading provider of sustainability, supply chain and ESG software solutions, is holding a 30-minute webinar on Thursday 12 March, covering the recent BlackRock sustainability announcement, the direct and indirect impact this will have on corporate sustainability and how organisations can respond to this and other similar reporting requirements.

Larry Fink’s latest annual letter to CEOs announced a number of significant changes geared at putting sustainability at the heart of BlackRock’s investment strategy. With the incorporation of sustainable investment principles and a clear request for companies BlackRock invests in to produce SASB and TCFD aligned reports by year-end, the pressure on organisations to disclose information on sustainability performance and impacts has never been higher.

Greenstone becomes gold CDP software partner

Greenstone has renewed its partnership with CDP to become a gold climate change software partner as part of CDP’s accredited solution providers programme.

Greenstone has partnered with CDP since 2013 to ensure its clients have access to the latest CDP content and guidance and can meet their CDP reporting requirements as seamlessly as possible.

Greenstone announces partnership with Ethical Corporation by Reuters Events for Responsible Business Summit New York

Greenstone is pleased to announce its partnership with Ethical Corporation by Reuters Events for their upcoming conference, The Responsible Business Summit New York taking place on March 17-18.

How to address supply chain risk – the risk management journey

Despite growing stakeholder pressure, many companies still do not have an understanding of the compliance, potential risks and impacts of their supply chain. At Greenstone, we believe that companies are on an ever maturing supplier management journey. The ultimate goal of this journey is to integrate sustainable supplier management across their business, in order to create more transparent, responsible and risk free supply chains.

Webinar: CDP reporting – preparing for 2020

Sustainability software solutions provider Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on 'CDP Reporting - preparing for 2020' on Wednesday 11^th March at 4pm GMT.  

With a guest speaker from CDP, Emily Pepper, this webinar will discuss CDP reporting for 2020, how to prepare and some tips on how to improve on last years' response.

Work in sustainability and drowning in spreadsheets? Here’s why you need a new approach

Sustainability reporting season is in full swing, and for some sustainability reporting professionals, this means spending the next two or three months drowning in spreadsheets and suffering from email fatigue.

With reporting requirements constantly increasing, a huge volume of data needs to be collected and reported across an organisation. Once collected, you are then faced with the daunting task of combining datasets from different business functions into something that can be interpreted, analysed and reported on.

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) - FAQs

Following Greenstone’s webinar on the UK Government's Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) policy last week, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about SECR and what it means for organisations.

CDP 2019 scores released

Earlier this week, CDP released scores for its 2019 Climate Change disclosures. Greenstone would like to take this opportunity to congratulate its clients and partners who worked hard to improve or maintain their score from last year, and of course those who were included on CDP’s A-List.

Webinar: How to comply with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) on Thursday 23rd January at 11.30am (GMT). 

The UK Government’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) policy was implemented on 1 April 2019, coinciding with the closure of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Royal Mail transforms its environmental reporting with Greenstone

Royal Mail is using Greenstone's sustainability software to calculate, manage and report its environmental data across 1600 sites with accuracy and confidence. Find out how in this case study.

Webinar - How to address risk in a global supply chain

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on how to address risk in a global supply chain on Tuesday 21st January. 

In an increasingly globalised world, supply chains are becoming more and more complex. With this complexity comes a greater need for transparency and accountability, with higher levels of operational, financial and reputational risk for organisations.

Why a SaaS solution is essential for your 2020 sustainability strategy

Software as a Service (SaaS) has transformed the way we work, share data, and communicate. It means that we need fewer programs installed on our computers, and can access our data and services from more devices.

As technology evolves and organisations become more global and complex, SaaS gives people access to the data they need, wherever they are. Sustainability, supply chain and ESG data is becoming more and more important in the corporate world and, as reporting requirements continuously evolve, the importance of accurate, secure and accessible data is crucial.

Eurostar announces new environmental commitments for 25th anniversary

To mark its 25th anniversary, high-speed rail service Eurostar has announced two new initiatives that build on its 2007-established Tread Lightly programme. These new commitments include a plastic-free service, planting a tree for every Eurostar train service, and gaining a third star from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) for food service.

4 key challenges when bridging the gap between sustainability and procurement

In the second part of this two-part blog, we outline the challenges faced by organisations when integrating sustainability in to procurement and how to overcome them.

Greenstone and Ardea International were recently invited to run a workshop on sustainable procurement at the eWorld Procurement & Supply conference in London. The eWorld conference is a key event for senior procurement and supply chain professionals providing insight into the latest innovations and technologies.

Bridging the gap between sustainability and procurement – workshop insights

Greenstone and Ardea International were recently invited to run a workshop on sustainable procurement at the eWorld Procurement & Supply conference in London. The eWorld conference is a key event for senior procurement and supply chain professionals providing insight into the latest innovations and technologies.

In this two-part blog, we outline some of the themes and insights we took away from the workshop.

4 key insights from the Greenstone Client Conference 2019

Greenstone recently held its annual Client Conference. This years’ event was hosted by Greenstone client Royal Mail Group at the Phoenix Conference Centre in London, UK.

Greenstone joins the United Nations Young SDG Innovators Programme

Greenstone’s David Wynn (Head of Client Services) and Rowan Woods (Sustainability Consultant) have been selected to take part in the United Nations Young SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Innovators Program (YSIP) for 2019 -2020.

SASB and CDSB release TCFD Good Practice Handbook

The Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) have released the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) Good Practice Handbook.

Following the release of the TCFD Implementation Guide in May 2019, this handbook provides real-world examples of TCFD reporting to help companies better understand how they can more effectively communicate with investors about the financially material climate-related risks and opportunities they face.

TCFD Disclosure - FAQs

We had a number of great questions during and following Greenstone’s webinar on TCFD disclosure held earlier this month so we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked TCFD questions.

Defra 2019 emission conversion factors: what’s changed?

This year’s Defra release of new emission conversion factors for GHG reporting has come with only two major changes to vans/LGVs and natural gas. All other updates were revisions from the year before, based on new and improved data and using a similar methodological approach. The main changes have been summarised below:

Webinar: Five practical steps to start measuring and reporting your organisation’s impact

Greenstone has partnered with impact measurement experts Vertigo Ventures to hold a 30-minute webinar on impact reporting on Tuesday 17 September. 

The increasing awareness of sustainability issues and their potential risk to businesses and communities, has led to an emerging trend in measuring and reporting the value and costs that businesses bring to society and the environment.

Webinar: TCFD disclosure – where to start and how to align it with other frameworks

This webinar has now passed, please click here to view the recording. 

On Tuesday 10 September, Greenstone will be holding a 30-minute webinar on 'TCFD disclosure - where to start and how to align it with other frameworks'. 

Greenstone’s software awarded Sustainability Product of the Year 2019

Today, the Business Intelligence Group named Greenstone’s software solution ‘Sustainability Product of the Year’ in the 2019 Sustainability Awards program. The Sustainability Awards honour people, teams and organisations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission. 

Greenstone enables responsible investing through launch of investor ESG software solution and becomes a PRI signatory

Greenstone has launched its InvestorPortal Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, enabling responsible investing. This purpose-built software solution enables the collection, management and analysis of ESG data across investments, portfolios and funds.

UK government to drive wide-scale reporting on climate-related financial risks

This week, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the HM Treasury (HMT) released their landmark Green Finance Strategy in response to the Green Finance Taskforce’s 2018 report. The strategy details the government’s ambitious plans to encourage investment in sustainable projects, embed climate-related financial risks and opportunities into mainstream financial decision-making, as well as to cement UK’s leadership within green finance.

How are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) influencing responsible investment?

In a recent report published by PwC, 67% of Private Equity (PE) firms said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are relevant to their investments. This is compared to only 38% when surveyed in 2016. [1]

It is clear that the incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors is becoming increasingly important in investments. In this blog, we look at specifically how the SDGs are influencing responsible investment.

PwC report finds increasing focus on ESG reporting by Private Equity firms

According to a report by PwC, there is a growing link between the Private Equity (PE) industry and socially responsible investing. PwC’s Private Equity Responsible Investment Survey 2019, which surveyed 162 firms globally, found that PE houses are increasingly factoring Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) into their investment decisions and portfolio management.

Why Greenstone has committed to a science-based target

Interview with Greenstone CEO, Matthew de Villiers, on why the sustainability software company joined the movement to set an ambitious emissions reduction target.

Science-based targets (SBTs) are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in line with levels identified by climate scientists to prevent global warming. The SBT initiative, a partnership between CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI and WWF, and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments, is championing them as a powerful way of boosting companies’ competitive advantage in the transition to the low-carbon economy.

Greenstone sponsors leading Responsible Business event in Europe

Greenstone is proud to be a sponsor of the Responsible Business Summit Europe in London on 10-12 June 2019. This two-day event brings together more than 500 CEOs, sustainability heads, investors and NGOs with a focus on shaping the future of sustainable business.

This event is on track to be the largest and most senior meeting to date with the aim to build a platform where senior representatives with roles in sustainability, ESG, responsible business and supply chain meet to share practical ideas on how their businesses can lead the change to a sustainable future.

Greenstone publishes Sustainable Procurement Guide

Greenstone, a leading provider of sustainability, supply chain and ESG software solutions, has published ‘Sustainable Procurement – a guide to implementing sustainable purchasing practices’.

This guide is aiming to help procurement and sustainability professionals understand what sustainable procurement is, how their organisation is performing in this area and how they can begin to integrate sustainability into their procurement function.

4 key insights from CDP reporting workshops in New York, London, Singapore & Hong Kong

Author: David Wynn, Head of Client Services, Greenstone

Over the course of April and May, I was able to attend CDP workshops in New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. The spring workshops are key events in the CDP calendar and an opportunity for disclosing companies to learn about questionnaire changes and to connect with other sustainability professionals on the latest trends and thinking in responsible business practices.

Greenstone’s software recognised as Top Product of the Year by Environmental Leader

Greenstone is proud to announce that its software has been named ‘Top Product of the Year 2019’ at the Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards. This is the second consecutive year that Greenstone has received this accolade.

Reinforcing its position as a global leader in EHS & Sustainability reporting software, the judges specifically noted Greenstone’s software as providing companies with “data that is invaluable for decision making”.

The University of Manchester ranks in global top three for social and environmental impact

The University of Manchester ranks as the best higher education institution (HEI) in Europe – and in the top three globally – for its social and environmental impact across its full range of functions.

The prestigious new ranking comes in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings. Manchester was competing against more than 500 universities from around the world.

Greenstone wins two awards at the Regent Street Recycling Awards

Greenstone recently won two awards at the Regent Street Recycling Awards, recognising its innovation in the measurement of its environmental initiatives. Greenstone has been using its own software, in particular the award-winning ‘Initiatives Savings’ module (ISM), to report on consumption, carbon and financial savings it has achieved through its own company initiatives.

Webinar: How to begin your sustainable procurement journey

This webinar has now passed. Please visit our Past Webinars page to access the recording. 

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on 'How to begin your sustainable procurement journey' on Thursday 9 May. 

BNP Paribas survey reveals strong link between ESG and long-term financial performance

According to a report published by BNP Paribas this week, there is growing confidence across the investment community that assets with impressive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance are delivering strong financial returns.

Greenstone sponsors leading sustainable purchasing event in North America

Greenstone is proud to be sponsoring the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council’s 2019 Summit in May. The SPLC 2019 Summit will bring together purchasing and sustainability professionals, suppliers, and NGO experts from different sectors to share and promote sustainable purchasing best practice for organisations. 

University signs up to help Manchester go zero carbon and plastic free

Congratulations to Greenstone's client, the University of Manchester, for taking action on helping Manchester to become zero carbon and plastic-free. 

Last week, The University of Manchester announced its participation in ambitious regional initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and plastic use.

5 steps to managing supplier risk and compliance

Understanding risk and compliance across your supply chain is now essential for any business. By successfully measuring and understanding supplier compliance can ensure that risks are identified, managed and mitigated.

Below, Greenstone outlines five key steps to help you shape your supplier due diligence process to ensure that you are managing your suppliers effectively.

What to consider when selecting sustainability reporting software

Finding the right sustainability reporting software platform for your business isn’t always straightforward. With the ever-evolving reporting landscape, you need to be sure that the software you choose is going to fulfil your non-financial, EHS, CSR, ESG, health and safety, risk and compliance and supply chain reporting requirements both today and in the future.

Whether you are moving beyond spreadsheets for the first time, or looking to replace an existing system that isn’t working for your business, knowing where to start your search and the right questions to ask can be a bit overwhelming.

Below are some of the top reasons why organisations decide to invest in sustainability reporting software, some ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for selecting software and a checklist of what to consider when making the decision.

Collecting and managing supplier compliance data - the questions to ask

There is no doubt that there is more data in the world than ever before. But more data isn’t necessarily better, especially if there isn’t a system or process to manage it fully.  Whether you want to monitor supplier’s information, identify potential areas of risk or manage your suppliers more efficiently, having the right data will make this easier for you.

To help you gather the relevant data from your suppliers, and make the best use of it, here are some of the questions to ask.

CDP reporting 2019 – your questions answered

Greenstone and CDP recently delivered a 30-minute webinar on CDP reporting in 2019, how to prepare and some practical advice on how to improve your CDP response. We had quite a few questions during the webinar, so below we have answered them in the hope that it will help other organisations.

Greenstone to sponsor Responsible Business Summit New York

Greenstone is sponsoring the Responsible Business Summit in New York on March 18-19. This 2-day event is positioned as North America’s leading platform where global businesses gather to create partnerships, share practical insights and shape the future sustainability agenda.

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) announces major updates

Building on the IPCC’s 1.5°C report released in October last year, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has announced that it will introduce major new updates. These updates will enable companies to set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets consistent with the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement; to limit average global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

Webinar: CDP Reporting – preparing for 2019

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on 'CDP Reporting - preparing for 2019' on Tuesday 5 March. 

With a guest speaker from CDP, Associate Director of Reporting Faye Bennett-Hart, this webinar will discuss CDP reporting for 2019, how to prepare and some tips on how to improve your previous years' response.

Webinar: How to prepare for Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar on how to prepare for the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations on 21 February at 11am GMT. 

The UK government’s SECR regulations aim to simplify mandatory carbon and energy reporting requirements for companies. In effect from 1 April 2019, these regulations build on existing mandatory greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reporting frameworks, complement the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and replace the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

5 key trends for corporate sustainability and reporting in 2019

With 2019 already in full swing, the issue of climate change and the requirement for responsible business and investment is more apparent than ever.

Below, Greenstone explains 5 key trends it sees as shaping the direction of corporate sustainability and reporting for business and investors in 2019.

Addressing modern slavery risk with Ardea International

If you are covered by the UK The Modern Slavery Act and need help with meeting the requirements on an ongoing basis, Greenstone’s partner Ardea International can help.

Preparing for the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations

As part of the UK Government’s Clean Growth Strategy, the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations will come into effect from 1 April 2019. The aim of these new regulations is to simplify the carbon and energy reporting requirements for companies, and encourage businesses to take action to reduce energy related emissions and costs.

Whilst BEIS (the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) work on finalising the guidance, expected at the end of this month, we thought it would be a good point to review what we know about the SECR, how it will affect companies and take a look at how Greenstone can help you to comply with the new regulations.

Greenstone sponsors GRI's Sustainability Reporting event in North America

Greenstone is proud to be sponsoring the 3rd Annual GRI Reporters’ Summit being held on 25 February 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona.

This collaborative one-day summit is designed for sustainability professionals who direct and manage the sustainability reporting function within their organisations.

HSBC survey: global businesses targeting more sustainable supply chains

A third of global businesses are looking to improve the sustainability of their supply chains over the next three years, according to a new survey from HSBC.

The survey of 8,500 companies in 34 countries, published in HSBC’s Global Report, shows that those businesses making environmentally sustainable changes to their supply chains are motivated primarily by cost efficiencies and improved revenues. Furthermore, one in five claim that they have taken greater control of their supply chains over the past two years.