Blog

Davines Group improves data accuracy and reporting with ESG software

Greenstone has been working with the Davines Group to help streamline data collection and automate carbon emissions calculation and reporting. Through the use of Greenstone’s sustainability reporting software, Davines has been able to automate the GHG emissions calculation process and access the accurate data required to assess ambitious commitments and targets. Read the project case study below.

Greenstone announced as a finalist in the Real Deals ESG awards

We are delighted to announce that Greenstone has been announced as a finalist in the Real Deals ESG Awards 2022. The Real Deals ESG Awards identify and celebrate those who are making positive change through ESG in private equity. Greenstone’s InvestorPortal SaaS solution has been recognised in the ‘ESG Tech’ category.

ESG reporting in 2022 – why it matters and where to start

As part of Climate Week NYC, Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'ESG reporting in 2022 – why it matters and where to start' on Thursday 22 September at 11 am EST (4 pm UK).

Why a SaaS solution is essential for your ESG 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.

What to consider when selecting sustainability reporting software

Finding the right sustainability and ESG 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 sustainability, ESG, EHS, CSR, risk and compliance and supply chain reporting requirements both today and in the future.

Still working on spreadsheets? Here’s why you need ESG software

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.

5 things to look for in sustainability reporting software

Sustainability reporting involves data, data and more data. The demand for greater transparency, accurate and reliable information and 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. 

Three stages of corporate Scope 3 reporting & primary data collection

Measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions (GHG emissions associated with the value chain) has become a key area of environmental reporting for most companies. With a surge in the setting of ambitious science-based and net-zero targets, and the increased pressure from investors, regulators and customers, prioritising Scope 3 emissions has never been as important.

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. 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.

Fujitsu releases Global Sustainability Transformation Report 2022

Last week, Fujitsu released its Global Sustainability Transformation Survey Report 2022 – ‘Accelerating sustainability with a digital-first approach’. This survey analyses key challenges and critical success factors of sustainability transformation and makes important recommendations for the future.

Understanding EU's Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

In February 2022, the European Commission issued its proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD), aiming to encourage ethical and sustainable business practices throughout all global value chains. These new regulations will provide companies with legal security and increase transparency for investors and consumers.

Key takeaways on the SEC's new proposal & FAQs

Since the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposal in March 2022, public companies are expecting to begin reporting their carbon emissions and reductions progress alongside their financial results. Greenstone is covering the progress of the proposal and has produced a series of resources on what to look out for ahead of the final vote.

This blog covers the key takeaways on the SEC's new proposal, the answers to some frequently asked questions and how Greenstone’s software can help start preparations.

Greenstone Investor ESG solution wins prestigious private equity award

Greenstone has been announced the winner of the ´Technology: ESG´ award at The Drawdown Awards ceremony. The Drawdown Awards celebrate excellence and innovation within private capital fund operations.

Four tips to Optimise Your CDP Score

At the unprecedented rate at which climate change is happening, more and more companies are starting to act with urgency. CDP disclosure is driving corporate transparency and helping to guide, incentivise and assess climate action. In 2021, a record-breaking 13,000+ companies representing over 64% of global market capitalization disclosed through CDP – 35% more than 2020, and over 141% more than when the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.

US SEC climate rules: where to start and how to future-proof your data

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'US SEC climate rules: where to start and how to future-proof your data' on Thursday 23rd June 9am Los Angeles | 12pm New York | 5pm London.

Understanding the SEC’s new carbon disclosure recommendations

In March 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a new proposal for public companies to begin reporting their carbon emissions and reductions progress alongside their financial results.

These SEC rules aim to make corporate sustainability reporting more common, consistent, and standardised like financial accounting and reporting, similar to the recent EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in Europe.

Greenstone sponsors Responsible Business Europe event

Greenstone is pleased to be sponsoring Responsible Business Europe in London on 8-9 June 2022. This event, running across two days in London, brings together 400+ CEOs and senior-level executives from business, finance and Government to meet, discuss and share best practice on shaping the future of business.

The Scope 3 GHG emissions reporting journey: where to start

Greenstone is holding a webinar on 'The Scope 3 GHG emissions reporting journey: where to start' on Tuesday 14th June 11am New York | 4pm London.

Greenstone’s investor ESG software named as finalist - Drawdown Awards

Greenstone has been shortlisted as a finalist in The Drawdown Awards, in the ‘Technology: ESG’ category. The Drawdown Awards celebrate excellence and innovation within private capital fund operations. With a judging panel made up of leading industry practitioners (both GPs and LPs), the rigorous judging process makes these awards stand out from the crowd in both rigour and prestige.

ESG disclosure and reporting - 4 key impacts on procurement teams

Greenstone recently held a webinar, in partnership with the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), on the ‘Dynamic ESG landscape & its intersections with sustainable procurement’. In this blog, we have summarised one topic that was covered in the webinar – how Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosure impacts procurement teams. Below are 4 key impacts of ESG disclosure and reporting on procurement teams.

Greenstone becomes Tech Zero signatory to confirm net zero commitment

Greenstone has recently become a Tech Zero signatory. Tech Zero is a partner of the UNFCCC ‘Race to Zero’ for tech companies committed to making faster progress towards net zero. With founding partners such as Bulb, Revolut and Starling Bank, Greenstone joins the nearly 300 tech companies globally who have joined the climate-action group so far.

4 things to consider when calculating GHG emissions across a portfolio

Calculating the GHG or carbon emissions of an organisation is a key KPI for businesses to communicate their impact on the environment to stakeholders. Commonly grouped into scopes, reporting on GHG impacts in different categories provides transparency on where the impacts have occurred within a business’s operations.

Greenstone to speak on ESG software and ESG data at CoreNet NYC event

Greenstone's Chief Product Officer, David Wynn, will be speaking at the 'PropTech & Sustainability Committee: How Companies Are Using Technology To Develop Their ESG' on  April 7th in New York, USA.

The CoreNet Global New York City Chapter is holding this event aimed at exploring which platform solutions are available to companies to help streamline ESG data processes. David will be on a panel of industry experts and will joined by speakers from CBRE and PwC. 

SEC proposes new climate disclosure rules for US public companies

Earlier this week the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the release of proposed rule changes that would require US public companies to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports. This includes information about climate-related risks that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on their business, certain climate-related financial statement metrics and disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Greenstone to attend Responsible Business USA event

Greenstone’s North American team will be attending Responsible Business USA in New York on 19- 20 April 2022. This event brings together 400+ CEOs and senior-level executives from business, finance and Government to meet, discuss and share best practice on shaping the future of business.

Greenstone publishes glossary for Sustainability & ESG professionals

Greenstone has published a 'Sustainability & ESG' Glossary. This glossary, providing definitions of the most commonly used terms and concepts in sustainability and ESG reporting, is designed to help sustainability professionals stay up to date with terms, acronyms, frameworks and reporting standards.

How Greenstone's Environment module is enabling responsible business

At Greenstone, we provide a wide range of ESG and sustainability reporting software solutions which have all been developed in response to the evolving reporting ESG and sustainability landscape and our clients’ reporting requirements.

CDP reporting in 2022 – what you need to know

Earlier this month, gold CDP-accredited solution provider Greenstone held a webinar on how to prepare for CDP reporting in 2022. With a guest speaker from CDP, Senior Corporate Engagement Officer Mona Ackholm, this webinar covered an overview of everything you need to know about the CDP reporting timeline, disclosure options for first-time responders and what’s changed in 2022.

In this blog, we provide a summary of what was covered:

Five Tools for Preparing Your CDP Data for Verification

As part of CDP's 'Bitesize Sustainability Webinar Series', gold CDP-accredited solution provider, Greenstone is presenting a 30-minute webinar on 'Five Tools for Preparing Your CDP Data for Verification' on Wednesday 30 March at 11am ET / 4pm GMT. 

Dynamic ESG landscape & its intersections with sustainable procurement

In partnership with Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), Greenstone is presenting a 60-minute webinar on ‘Dynamic ESG landscape and its intersections with sustainable procurement' on Thursday 24 March at 10am ET / 2pm GMT. This expert webinar, hosted by SPLC, will cover in detail how the ESG reporting landscape is fast-evolving and how this impacts the procurement community.

Greenstone to speak at Responsible Investment Forum New York

Greenstone is proud to be speaking at the Responsible Investment Forum: New York 2022 next week. Held in New York on 2^nd and 3^rd March, the Responsible Investment Forum will bring together institutional investors, fund managers and highly recognised associations to discuss why, when, and how firms should be implementing an effective ESG strategy.

Greenstone publishes 2022 UN Global Compact Communication on Progress

Greenstone has published its annual Communication on Progress (COP) to the UN Global Compact. With this Annual Report, Greenstone continues to demonstrate its commitment to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of our company.

How Greenstone’s ESG software can enable Scope 3 reporting

Greenstone’s suite of sustainability, supply chain and investor ESG software solutions provide an integrated approach to addressing the challenge of Scope 3 emissions calculation and reporting. Providing a central hub for the collection and aggregation of Scope 3 data across all 15 Scope 3 categories, Greenstone’s solutions support businesses on their Scope 3 reporting journey, whether they are just starting out or they have been reporting in this area for years.

How to prepare for CDP reporting in 2022

Every year, the CDP reporting cycle seems to come around quickly. The advice for 2022 CDP reporting has already been released, and the response platform will be available in early April. It's best practice for reporting organisations to begin the process of compiling data and supporting material as soon as possible, in order to be prepared for reporting requirements. 

Greenstone sponsor GreenBiz 2022 (February 15-17)

Greenstone is a proud sponsor of GreenBiz 22 in Arizona, USA in February 15-17. This three-day event positioned as the ‘premier annual event for sustainable business leaders’ is much anticipated by the sustainability community in North America.

Larry Fink of BlackRock’s 2022 letter to CEOs – key takeaways

Each year, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, one of the largest asset management companies worldwide, releases a letter to CEOs. In this blog, we summarise some key points of Larry Fink’s 2022 letter to CEOs.

Private Equity Wire Awards shortlisting – Best ESG Solution Provider

We are delighted to announce that Greenstone has been shortlisted in the Private Equity Wire European Awards 2022 in the ‘Best ESG Solution Provider’ category.

Five sustainability, ESG and supply chain trends to watch in 2022

As we welcome in a New Year, the Greenstone team reflects on 2021 and its significance in areas of sustainability, ESG and responsible supply chains. This blog focuses on the top five trends to watch out for in 2022.

What does the Net-Zero Standard mean for science-based targets?

The SBTi recently launched the Net-Zero Standard, the world's first framework for corporate net-zero target formulation based on climate research, which has also introduced two new ways of articulating science-based targets: near-term and long-term.
This blog highlights what these new phrases represent and how they connect to more traditional science-based aims.

CDP reporting 2021 scores released

Last week, CDP released the 2021 scores for its Climate Change disclosures. Over 14,000 organisations around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2021, including more than 13,000 companies worth over 64% of global market capitalisation, and over 1,100 cities, states and regions.

The ESG reporting landscape in North America – insights from the UK

Earlier this year, 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. In this blog, we interview David Wynn Greenstone’s Managing Director North America about his journey from the UK to North America and what he is seeing in the ever-evolving ESG reporting landscape.

How to report GHG emissions from data centres and cloud services guide

Greenstone has published a guide on 'How to report GHG emissions from data centres and cloud services guide' designed to help sustainability and ESG professionals accurately measure and report GHG emissions from data centres and cloud services.

Greenstone sponsors the 2021 Value Reporting Foundation Symposium

Greenstone is proud to be sponsoring the 2021 Value Reporting Foundation Symposium, which will be held virtually on December 6-7, following the success of the long-running IIRC Conference and SASB Symposium.

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. 

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.

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 reporting software and sustainable 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 sustainability reporting frameworks and investor requests increase, we see more and more companies adding to their commitments and establishing long-term global sustainability reporting 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 ESG 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 ESG 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.

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

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.

Enhancing SupplierPortal with supplier risk and action management

Greenstone has recently updated its supply chain sustainability 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 sustainability 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.

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.

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: Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) Compliance

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 reporting 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.