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 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

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 has published ‘Sustainable Procurement – a guide to implementing sustainable purchasing practices’.

This guide is 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.

Webinar: How to integrate sustainability into procurement

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

To complete the blog series on sustainable procurement, Greenstone has partnered with procurement consultancy, Grippr, to hold a webinar on Thursday 29 November.

This 30-minute webinar will cover the opportunities for improving efficiency in procurement and provide practical tips on how to introduce sustainability into procurement processes.

Sustainability in procurement – 5 practical steps to more sustainable procurement

In Part 1 of this ‘Sustainability in procurement’ series, we discussed how sustainability is relevant to all aspects of an organisations’ operation, and the resulting need for an integrated approach to embedding this in the supply chain. However, changing the culture of a company is a huge undertaking, and embedding sustainability into everything you do can take time. This article, provides you with 5 practical steps which can help you start the process.

We will discuss this topic further in a webinar hosted jointly with our partners Grippr - a purchasing consultancy specialising in driving purchasing efficiency. More information is available on the webinar at the end of the article.

Greenstone partners with UNGC and Ardea International to host webinar on optimising supply chain data

Greenstone has partnered with UN Global Compact Network UK and specialist consulting firm Ardea International to host a webinar on how to optimise supply chain data on Thursday 6th December at 4pm (GMT).

Companies are now operating in a world where business responsibility extends beyond the environmental or the corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges of its own operations, and into far-reaching global supply chains. An estimated 80% of global trade passes through supply chains, with the associated risk traced back to companies who have no visibility of this area.

Sustainability in procurement – an integrated approach

Procurement is changing, which means the way organisations engage with their suppliers, manage their supplier relationships, and make their purchasing decisions is changing. There are multiple factors that contribute to this, such as more global supply chains, perceived efficiencies through digitisation, and the changing way in which services are delivered.

However, the focus on managing supply chains more responsibly, or sustainably, is something that is relevant to all current and future procurement and supplier management activities. Sustainability is a key part of the evolution of procurement, and therefore needs to be fully understood and implemented.

Webinar: ESOS Phase 2 – how to prepare and optimise your reporting

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

On Tuesday 6th November, Greenstone and Carbon Smart will be holding a joint webinar on ESOS Phase 2. 

Phase 2 of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) makes it mandatory for large UK organisations to measure energy consumption and carry out energy audits. If you operate in other EU Member States, you may also need to comply with local ESOS-equivalents in those territories.

The IPCC SR15 and how companies can respond

This month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released the much anticipated special report, SR15. Drafted in response to an invitation from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) following the Paris Agreement in 2015, the report outlines the real-world impacts of average global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The message was stark and clear – rapidly decarbonise the global economy within the next decade or face far reaching consequences to human welfare.

Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR): what you need to know

The UK Government’s Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework comes into effect from April 2019, and although the final details are yet to be published, the results from the consultation provide some indication of what the scheme will involve. It is estimated that up to 12,000 large UK companies will be required to report under the new framework, aimed at streamlining and reducing the complexity of current energy and carbon reporting requirements.

Greenstone launches SupplierPortal 100 programme to help organisations engage with their suppliers

Greenstone has launched a programme to provide a fully managed assessment of up to 100 suppliers in eight weeks. SupplierPortal 100, designed to provide clients with a simple way to develop confidence in their suppliers, enables organisations to demonstrate a robust approach to supplier risk screening and due diligence.  

There is an ever-increasing focus on supply chains, with organisations themselves needing to take increased responsibility for whom they work with, and for understanding how their suppliers operate. However, a large number of organisations still don’t know the potential risks in their supply chains and lack the internal process and resource to start a supplier assessment programme.  

Webinar: 4 key trends shaping the future of sustainability reporting

This webinar has now passed, please visit the Past Webinars page to access the recording. 

On Wednesday 24 October, Greenstone will be holding the webinar '4 key trends shaping the future of sustainability reporting'. 

The future of sustainability reporting, and what it means for corporate organisations, is a topic featuring high on the agenda for industry leaders. In this webinar Greenstone will cover four key trends that we see as shaping the future of sustainability reporting.

G4S recognised by leading socially responsible investment index FTSE4Good

G4S, the world’s leading global security company, has been independently assessed and included as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series for the second year running.  This inclusion recognises G4S’ strong commitment to social responsibility and to sustainable business practices across the group. 
 
The FTSE4Good index series is a leading socially responsible investment (SRI) indicator developed by FTSE Russell, part of London Stock Exchange Group.  It is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

Greenstone sponsors Responsible Supply Chain and Sustainability Reporting events

Greenstone is pleased to be supporting Ethical Corporation's two co-located events in London, UK on 10th and 11th October. See below for details of the events and the speakers. 

GRI Standards updates – what you need to know

The GRI Standards have recently been revised and updated; specifically, GRI 303: Water and Effluents and GRI 304: Occupational Health and Safety. Here is everything you need to know about these updates.

Businesses commit to science-based targets - The Mahindra Challenge

The Global Climate Action Summit, being held midway between Paris (2015) and 2020, is bringing together leaders, investors, businesses, sub-national government and people from around the world to take ambition to the next level. As part of this Summit, a challenge has been launched encouraging companies to step up and commit to set science-based targets.

Barclays and Greenstone win 2018 Sustainability Product of the Year award

Today, the Business Intelligence Group named Barclays and Greenstone a winner in the 2018 Sustainability Awards. The development of a new software solution to facilitate the monitoring and reporting of initiatives to reduce environmental impacts, has been recognized as the 2018 Sustainability Product of the Year. 

The Sustainability Awards honor those people, teams and organizations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission.

Webinar: 5 inside secrets to successful sustainability data management

This webinar has now passed, please visit the Past Webinars page to access the recording. 

On Wednesday 25 July, Greenstone will be holding the webinar '5 inside secrets to successful sustainability data management'. 

Join Greenstone for this 30 minute webinar to unlock the secrets for embedding a long-term sustainability data management process. With over 10 years’ experience in enabling organisations to gather, manage and leverage their sustainability data, we’ll share five of the most important tips to get your approach set up in a way that’s future-proof.

AB Ports transforms non-financial reporting with Greenstone

Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading ports group, owns and operates 21 ports in England, Scotland, and Wales, and handles approximately a quarter of the country's seaborne trade. ABP, together with its customers, supports 120,000 jobs and handles approximately 89 million tonnes of cargo and contributes £7.5 billion to the UK economy each year.

Measuring up: How the UK is performing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

This article was recently published on the UKSSD website.

UKSSD report ‘Measuring up’ shows how the UK is performing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the first time. And while there’s an enormous amount to celebrate, the most vulnerable people and places in our society are increasingly being left behind.

Measuring up is the most comprehensive review of the current situation in the UK conducted to date. It tells us what is happening in the UK for people, the environment and the economy.

CDP reporting 2018 – 6 weeks to go

With only 6 weeks to go until the first deadline for CDP reporting 2018, now is the time to start preparing your response. The new deadlines have now been confirmed by CDP as the following:

• Climate Change, Forests & Water – August 15, 2018
• Supply Chain – August 29, 2018

As an accredited CDP partner, Greenstone is providing consultancy support to a number of different organisations to guide them through the CDP reporting 2018 process. Please get in touch, if you would like to find out how Greenstone could help your organisation.

Greenstone releases report on social and environmental impact reporting

Earlier this year, Greenstone conducted an extensive piece of research on social and environmental impact reporting. Following on from the blog series, which provided an overview of the key findings of this research, we are pleased to release the full report titled ‘Beyond sustainability reporting - impact measurement, valuation and reporting’.

Greenstone sponsors leading sustainable supply chain and procurement event

Greenstone is sponsoring X Supply Chains in London this Thursday (7th June).

This event, organised by The Crowd, will bring together 120+ supply chain, sustainability, sourcing, procurement and ethical trade professionals to explore how to apply disruptive thinking and solutions to next-generation sustainable supply chains.

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

Greenstone is proud to announce that its software has been named ‘Top Product of the Year 2018’ at the Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards.

Highlighting its position as a global leader in EHS & Sustainability reporting software, the judges of the 2018 Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards noted that Greenstone’s software was “a very robust software solution that is important to the future of integrating environmental performance into corporate strategy”.

Impact reporting: The business response to impact measurement & key conclusions

In the previous two parts of this blog series on social and environmental impact reporting we have provided an overview of the key findings of our research about existing trends and challenges in the impact measurement and reporting space. We have also aimed to provide clarification around terminology and valuation methodologies that currently exist in the field.  

To view the first two parts, please click on the links below. In this part, we explore the business response to social and environmental impact measurement and reporting.

Greenstone adds CSR reporting frameworks mapping functionality to its non-financial reporting software

Greenstone has launched a new CSR framework mapping functionality enabling organisations to consolidate reporting frameworks to minimise risk and increase efficiency when reporting against multiple frameworks.

The sustainability and CSR reporting landscape is constantly evolving. Organisations reporting their sustainability and CSR performance can refer to or use a variety of international and national frameworks, such as GRI, TCFD, MSCI, CDP, SASB and DJSI. However, the increasing number of frameworks, and navigating different definitions, deadlines and data requirements, can lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies for reporting organisations.

Greenstone to present at GRI reporting roundtable events in North America

Greenstone is pleased to announce that it will be sponsoring and presenting at a series of roundtable events delivered by GRI in North America. These events are part of a global series of local events, aimed at enhancing sustainability reporting and disclosure by gathering reporting professionals to explore reporting in practice.

The roundtables are designed to help organisations consider how the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards contribute to internal value creation and external transparency and accountability. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss different areas of sustainability reporting with both GRI and peers.

Greenstone and SustainIt to hold webinar on CSR framework mapping

Greenstone has partnered with leading, global sustainability, EHS and risk data consultancy SustainIt to hold a webinar on “Framework mapping: the future of consolidated sustainability reporting” on Wednesday 2nd May at 3 pm BST.

Companies reporting their positions on sustainability can nowadays refer to or use a variety of international and national frameworks. However, the sustainability reporting landscape can be crowded and confusing for organisations that are constantly tasked with navigating different definitions, deadlines and data requirements.

Greenstone and Grippr partner to address supplier risk and compliance in The Netherlands

Greenstone is pleased to announce a new partnership with procurement consultancy Grippr. Based in The Netherlands, Grippr works with organisations to optimise their procurement processes through a blend of expert guidance and the appropriate use of technology and software.

Using Greenstone’s SupplierPortal, Grippr’s clients are now able to manage, report and analyse supplier information through one central online platform. SupplierPortal provides organisations with a single point of transparency across their supplier network, ensuring that compliance, contracts, and risk can be managed seamlessly.

Impact reporting: frameworks, methodologies and approaches for impact measurement and valuation

This is the second part of a 3-part series on an extensive piece of research on social and environmental impact reporting. To view the first part of this series on ‘The state of social and environmental impact measurement and reporting’ please click here.

In this part, we give an overview of the key organisations in the sector and the different frameworks, methodologies and approaches designed to measure and communicate social and environmental impacts.

Greenstone launches GDPR Assessment Service

Greenstone has launched a suite of services to help organisations assess their readiness for the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which comes into force in May 2018. Through Greenstone’s SupplierPortal solution, organisations can now assess both their suppliers’ GDPR compliance, as well as their own organisation’s readiness, for the regulation.

Social and environmental impact measurement and reporting – research insights

Greenstone recently conducted an extensive piece of research on social and environmental impact reporting. Due to an increasing maturity and awareness of sustainability issues and their potential risk to businesses and communities, there is an emerging trend in this area of company reporting.

With so much information available, it is not always clear for businesses that want to provide better sustainability disclosures where to begin, what to consider and what to be prepared for.

In this 3-part blog series, we will provide an overview of the key findings of this research to inform our clients, partners and a wider audience about existing trends and challenges in the impact measurement and reporting space. We also aim to clarify some misconceptions around terminology and valuation methodologies that currently exist in the field.  

Earth Hour 2018 - world action on climate change

Earth Hour 2018 is on Saturday 24 March at 8.30pm local time. This global movement, led by WWF, brings millions together across the world to call for greater action on climate change. Each year, hundreds of millions of people around the world switch off their lights and organise events – at home, in their community or in their towns or cities – to show they care about the future of our planet.

Webinar: Sustainability reporting is evolving - streamline your data for efficiency

Mentis Solutions and Greenstone are hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. We invite you to join us to gain further insight into the sustainability reporting landscape and major trends that could impact the way you report going forward.

Greenstone adds Initiatives Savings Module to its non-financial reporting software

Greenstone has added an Initiatives Savings Module (ISM) to its non-financial reporting software. This new functionality enables Greenstone’s clients to track, monitor and report consumption, carbon and financial savings against environmental initiatives implemented across their organisation.

Greenstone has developed this functionality as a result of its clients’ increasing requirements to monitor and report environmental projects across energy, water, waste and paper. These initiatives vary from the installation of LED lighting or new servers that reduce energy consumption, to changes in industrial processes that result in significant water savings, to behavioural change initiatives that reduce paper use or increase recycling.

Fujitsu Group Environmental Report 2017 wins prestigious award

Fujitsu today announced that its Fujitsu Group Environmental Report 2017 received the Grand Award of Global Warming Countermeasures Report (Japanese Environment Minister's Award) as part of the 21st Environmental Communication Awards, sponsored by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Global Environmental Forum.

Webinar: CDP Reporting - how to prepare for 2018

Greenstone, in partnership with CDP, is holding a webinar titled 'CDP reporting - how to prepare for 2018'. 

As part of its ‘Reimagining Disclosure’ campaign, CDP has made notable changes to its questionnaires for 2018. Whether you are an experienced CDP reporter, or a first-time responder, you will need to start preparing for these changes and ensuring your data is in order. 

EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive - how to prepare

Back in December 2014, the European Commission introduced new legislation requiring certain companies to disclose relevant non-financial information, aptly titled the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (EU NFRD). Giving member states until the end of 2016 to enshrine the new directive into national law, the time has now come for large companies residing within the EU to report against the new directive, disclosing information relating to their 2017 financial year.

Eurostar to set science-based target and halve use of plastic

This article was originally published on edie.net on 8th February 2018. 

High-speed rail service Eurostar has pledged to halve the amount of plastic it uses over the next two years, with the organisation's energy and environment lead Rebecca Cranshaw revealing that a science-based target to reduce emissions should be in place later this year.

Eurostar announced an update to its Tread Lightly strategy earlier this week, outlining plans to reduce waste, improve the energy efficiency of trains and invest in renewable electricity.

Greenstone sponsors NAEM EHS&S Software and Data Management Conference

Greenstone is pleased to be supporting NAEM’s EHS&S Software and Data Management Conference in Florida, USA on March 5-7, 2018.

Based in the US, NAEM provides valuable resources for corporate EHS & Sustainability leaders and IT professionals who are responsible for selecting, implementing and maintaining software systems, and who are looking to better manage and report their data.

TCFD's recommendations - what you need to know

There is a growing concern within the financial community that climate risks and their associated costs are being overlooked when it comes to the pricing of company assets. A survey carried out by HSBC in September of last year highlighted this growing unease, concluding that half of the institutional investors who intended to increase their climate friendly investments felt they lacked adequate information on climate risk.

Last year, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) established the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to ensure that climate-risks are incorporated into financial disclosures. Chaired by Michael Bloomberg, the TCFD has released a voluntary framework of recommendations that incorporate sustainability considerations into financial disclosures.

Greenstone launches human rights due diligence partnership with Ardea International

Greenstone has partnered with specialist consulting firm Ardea International to further enable its clients to achieve compliant, transparent and responsible supply chains.

There is an ever-increasing focus on global supply chains, with organisations needing to take increased responsibility for whom they work with, and for understanding how their suppliers operate. Human rights is an issue that is very much driving this discussion, with rights and conditions of workers a topic Governments across the world are trying to address, increasingly through new legislation.

CDP reporting - preparing for 2018

For 2018, CDP has made some significant changes to its questionnaires and scoring. This is all part of ‘Reimagining Disclosure’ - an initiative CDP launched last year with the aim of developing and improving its disclosure system.

The changes affect how companies should disclose their GHG emissions and have been made in response to the market need for improved data collection and more sector specific data requests related to climate change. They also encompass the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations related to risk management and the inclusion of more forward looking metrics.

State of Green Business Report 2018

This week GreenBiz published its annual State of Green Business Report. This report assesses how, and how much, companies are integrating sustainability into business strategy and operations.

The coffee cup dilemma and the opportunity for sustainable business

The UK sends an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups to landfill every year¹. This doesn’t include those cups that escape collection and find their way into the surrounding environment along with our other waste products as litter. The detrimental effects, both ecologically and aesthetically of this offshoot of quick consumerism is beginning to grate on the last nerve of our policy makers.

Greenstone partners with UNGC and Ardea International to host webinar on human rights in the supply chain

Greenstone has partnered with specialist consulting firm Ardea International and UN Global Compact Network UK to host a webinar on human rights in the supply chain on Wednesday 31^st January at 3.30pm GMT.

There is an ever-increasing focus on global supply chains, with organisations themselves needing to take increased responsibility for whom they work with, and for understanding how their suppliers operate. Human rights is an issue that is very much driving this discussion, with rights and conditions of workers a topic Governments across the world are trying to address.

Greenstone conducts research on social and environmental impact reporting

Greenstone is conducting research on social and environmental impact reporting.

We would be grateful if you could take 5 - 10 minutes to complete this short survey which aims to investigate the current challenges of non-financial reporting with a focus on emerging reporting techniques linked to measurement and reporting of impacts.

GRI releases publication on the EU NFR Directive

GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) and CSR Europe have released a publication on Directive 2014/95/EU and the future of non-financial reporting in Europe. 

Directive 2014/95/EU, or the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) as it’s more commonly known, is now in force. With member states required to have legislation in place as of December 2016, it is expected the first company reports will be published in 2018 covering financial year 17-18. 

Partner focus: The Climate Group working with businesses to tackle climate change

One of the key conclusions drawn from the 2015 Paris Agreement was the need for businesses to shoulder the collective responsibility of tackling climate change. To keep warming below the 2°C threshold, said to alleviate the more catastrophic impacts of global warming, action needs to extend beyond the reaches of government.

With this in mind, over the past few years the Climate Group have introduced a series of ambitious initiatives, working internationally with forward thinking businesses looking to shape the global response to climate change.  

Webinar: A practical approach to tackling GDPR requirements for your suppliers

Greenstone, in partnership with DCK and Verego, is hosting a webinar titled 'A practical approach to tackling GDPR requirements for suppliers' on Thursday 7th December at 3.30pm GMT. 

The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect on 25th May 2018 and will replace all previous data protection legislation. Due to the expanded territorial reach of the regulation and the additional obligations it places on different actors within the data chain, organisations should already be preparing as the impact on will be immediate.

GDPR - an introduction and 9 things you should be doing to prepare

In the coming months, Greenstone will be providing content and services to help organisations comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that comes into force in May 2018. 

Through Greenstone’s SupplierPortal solution, organisations will soon be able to assess both their suppliers’ GDPR compliance, as well as their own organisation’s readiness, for the regulation. 

As part of this GDPR support, Greenstone held a webinar on 'A practical approach to tackling GDPR requirements for your suppliers'. To view the recording, please click here.

Webinar: GRI Standards - one year on

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

Greenstone is holding a 30-minute webinar titled 'GRI Standards: one year on' on Wednesday 29th November at 3.30pm GMT. 

It’s been a year since Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched the GRI Standards and many organisations have now reported against this recent iteration of the framework. Whether this has been in the form of migration reports from the previous G4 guidelines or from first-time adopters of GRI, the detailed and prescriptive framework has continued to be one of the most widely used globally.

Greenstone to join expert panel at responsible sourcing event in Dublin

Greenstone has been invited to join an expert panel at a responsible sourcing event in Dublin, Ireland on Friday 10^th November. The event, on the topic of 'Responsible Sourcing: Managing Increasing Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Risk in Supply Chains' will include a conversation with Mike Simms, Chief Procurement Officer at Microsoft Corp.

Webinar: Science-based targets: What do they mean for businesses?

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

Greenstone has partnered with leading global sustainability, EHS and risk data consultancy, SustainIt, to hold a webinar on science-based targets on Wednesday 8th November at 3pm (GMT). 

Greenstone and Mentis Solutions to host sustainability breakfast event in Toronto

Greenstone and Mentis Solutions are hosting a breakfast event titled ‘Simplifying Sustainability Reporting: streamlining data for efficient reporting’ on Tuesday November 21 in Toronto.

Greenstone sponsors two Ethical Corporation events in October

Greenstone is pleased to be supporting Ethical Corporation's two co-located events in London on 17th and 18th October. See below for details of the events and the speakers. 

The 11^th Annual Sustainability Reporting & Communications Summit, is the only summit bringing together CSOs, CFOs, and CEOs from the most innovative brands in Europe. They will share their insights so you can go back to the office with practical examples of how to portray your total impact throughout your report.

Webinar: Reporting Scope 2 market-based emissions

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

Greenstone is holding a webinar on Wednesday 11th October at 3.30pm BST on reporting Scope 2 emissions using the market-based methodology.

Since the introduction of the GHG Protocol’s new guidance on Scope 2 emissions in 2015, companies have had the opportunity to report the emissions associated with their electricity consumption in a way that more accurately reflects their purchasing choices; the market-based approach.

Greenstone partners with The Climate Group to measure Climate Week NYC 2017 footprint

Greenstone has partnered with The Climate Group as the Event Footprint Partner for Climate Week NYC 2017. Taking place between September 18^th and 24th in New York City, Climate Week NYC is one of the key summits in the international calendar and has been driving climate action forward since it was first launched by The Climate Group in 2009.

Defra 2017 conversion factors: what’s changed?

It’s that time of year again when Defra releases new UK Government conversion factors for company GHG reporting. We’ve looked into what’s new and have listed below the most notable changes in this year’s release.

Updates generally consist of modifications to existing methodologies, although this year also includes the addition of entirely new factors to account for overnight hotel stays, and to meet the rising use of electric vehicles.

Sustainability reporting: the missing piece in the efficiency puzzle

The following article was recently published by Greenstone's client Sustainable Homes. 

In a world awash with data, choosing the appropriate indicators to measure and monitor makes all the difference in improving business performance. Traditionally, financial metrics have been the single most important tool in measuring an organisation’s and even a country’s success. This has started to change in the last few decades due to growing concerns around environmental and social impacts of businesses. An increasing number of investors now demand data on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance just as they would request key financial information. [1, 2]

Greenstone releases guide on reporting Scope 2 market-based emissions

Since the introduction of the GHG Protocol’s new guidance on Scope 2 emissions in 2015, companies have had the opportunity to report the emissions associated with their electricity consumption in a way that more accurately reflects their purchasing choices; the market-based approach.

This means electricity obtained from a low-carbon supplier can now be reflected in your Scope 2 reporting. However, there has been a lot of confusion on how to calculate and report market-based emissions, particularly when it comes to purchased renewable electricity.

Sector survey: Future innovations in non-financial reporting 2017

Greenstone is conducting a sector survey on future innovations in non-financial reporting. As companies begin to look at how AI and future technologies will impact their business, what are the opportunities for innovation to shape how they report their non-financial impacts?

Greenstone has been providing non-financial reporting software and services to organisations for over 10 years, and through our clients we have witnessed the ever changing reporting landscape first hand.

CDP and beyond - Close Brothers' environmental reporting journey

An interview with Close Brothers’ Head of Health & Safety & Environment, Sally Griffin

What has Close Brothers’ environmental reporting journey looked like to date?

Here at Close Brothers we care about the environment we operate in and are aware of our responsibility to protect natural resources and to behave sustainably. We believe, that as a financial services company, our environmental impact is limited and mostly driven by staff travel, our supply chain and our office network.

6 steps to take towards successful supplier management

For many organisations the supply chain is becoming an increasing area of focus, and this is not just because of the increasing risks posed by more global and complex supply chains, but also due to the opportunities presented.

In recent years there has been increased scrutiny placed upon those organisations whose supply chains contain sub-standard suppliers, producers or factories. Whereas previously issues with working conditions, for example, may have been directed at employers or owners, the new norm is that those at the top of the supply chain should be exerting a more positive influence.

New SupplierPortal release - contract management

Greenstone is updating its SupplierPortal software to make it even easier for clients to manage and monitor all of their suppliers. We have listened to client feedback and seen the increasing need for more standardised supplier management processes and software.

SupplierPortal is designed to help your organisation manage all of your suppliers in one place. For many of our clients, sending out supplier assessment questionnaires through SupplierPortal means engaging with only a proportion of their overall supplier network, and while this can be sufficient often the remaining suppliers still need to be understood and managed. The SupplierPortal solution, particularly with the addition of new contract management functionality, ensures greater transparency across your entire supplier network.

EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive - what it means for UK companies

The European Union (EU) Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) came into force in December 2014, with the deadline for member states to introduce the provisions passing late last year. Despite the vote for Brexit, the UK remains a full EU member until negotiations are concluded, meaning companies will have to comply with the new reporting requirements of the UK’s implementation. Here is everything you need to know and what you need to do.