There are a few books that can also help organizations conduct their own self sustainability assessments. Here are the top recommended sustainability assessment books;
Flawless Consulting, Peter Block: This is a classic book on conducting assessments for any topic. It was published more than a decade ago and still highly relevant.
Sustainability Assessment: Criteria and Processes, Robert Gibson: A book specifically on conducting sustainability assessments.
Business Guide to Sustainability, Darcy Hitchcock and Marsh Willard: Winner of Choice Magazine – Outstanding Academic Titles for 2007 in Sustainability category. Both Marsha and Darcy are sustainability consultants and the book discusses each primary of an organization and provides their SCORE assessment tool for each primary department and division.
Some organizations want to conduct their own sustainability assessments. If so, here are some assessment tools and resources;
eco-officiency: Developed in Excel, this sustainability assessment tool has over 360 questions customized for each primary area and department of an organization. Departments include Administration, HR, IT, Facilities and Operations, Marketing and Communications, Purchasing, Finance, Accounting, Product and Research/Development, Events and Conferences. Organizations can have departments answer the questions themselves or it can be conducted at a management meeting. The cost to download this sustainability assessment is $75.
Three Steps to Eco-Efficiency, Canada: This assessment tool was developed by the Ministry of Environment of Canada to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers to develop an eco-efficiency program that is custom tailored to their business needs. The tool is a free download.
Earth Charter: This assessment is a free download available from Earth Charter International. The assessment is designed to improve practices based on the Earth Charter principles.
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Measuring Impact Framework: The WBCSD developed a framework to assess the contribution of business to the economic and broader development goals in the societies where business operates. It is designed to help companies understand their contribution to society and use this understanding to inform their operational and long-term investment decisions, and have better-informed conversations with stakeholders.
Although there are robust and technical environmental audits, often small companies don’t necessarily need such detail to understand their environmental impacts. Smaller companies can conduct sustainability assessments that are more geared to their business. Assessments not only review the footprint of organization operations but will also identify opportunities to improve environmental stewardship, save money, improve productivity and increase customer and employee loyalty.
To conduct your own sustainability assessment, reach out to each department or division of a company and hold informational interviews. Although more information can be gathered through in-person meetings, an organization can also conduct an assessment via an online survey. Develop a series of questions that ask specifically what each area is doing to reduce resource use and minimize environmental impact. Some organizations also like to assess the social side of business and determine how employees are engaged in the community and the non-profit organizations they support.
Here are is a list of some sample questions to ask by each sustainability topic area:
Waste Management: Is recycling provided as an option? If so, what percentage of the employees participates in office recycling?
Suppliers and Purchasing: Are office supplies purchased made from post-consumer recycled material? How many of your vendors are local suppliers? Has your purchasing department developed in guidelines that take into account green businesses practices?
Paper Reduction: What paper reduction policies and/or practices has the company done? Is the company’s marketing giveaways made from recycled material and/or recyclable?
Energy Conservation: How has your company tried to reduce energy? Do you own any energy star equipment? Does staff turn off equipment in the evenings?
Water Conservation: How has your company tried to reduce water? What water saving devices are installed in your facilities?
Toxins and Chemicals: What types of cleaning chemicals are used in your office? Is there any toxic or hazardous material located at the facilities?
Transportation: If you have a transportation fleet, what measures have you taken to reduce driving?
Employees: Does the company have any communications educating employees about conservation of resources?
Philanthropy: How does your company contribute to the community? Donations? Volunteer programs?
December usually is the time for giving donations to the community and other non-profit organizations around the world. Philanthropic gestures are considered one important aspect in supporting the social side of corporate sustainability. A company can donate directly or take part in match programs with employees’ favorite non-profits. Here are a few programs to consider;
Colorado Gives Day is December 6, 2011. It is a local movement to help raise funds for al Colorado based community non-profits. All donations can be made through Colorado Gives website. Last year over $8.7 million dollars was donated to local Colorado charities.
1% for the planet is another non-profit organization that supports corporate philanthropy. America averages about 1% of sales to nonprofit organizations. 1% for the plant is helping environmental groups around the world; this was started by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia. This organization now has 1393 companies committed to giving 1% of their sales to over 2500 environmental organizations worldwide. All companies can become a member and take the pledge to give 1% of their sales to non-profit organizations.
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)is a government run donation program where donation pledges are made by government personnel. Each U.S. government agency has a CFC contact and there is an extensive catalog available for employees to make pledges to various non-profits.
A report published by multiple entities offers insight into how small businesses can profit from sustainability. Sustainability initiatives can be challenging when most small businesses don’t own their building or facilities nor manufacture their products. This report focuses on case studies from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. It offers some best practices on sustainability that small businesses can employ immediately with little cost and high return.
A new web resource was launched to assist the hospitality and hotel industry in becoming more sustainable. The National Sustainable Lodging Network, is providing a framework of sharing resources and information within the hotel and lodging industry. You need to sign up to the network, which is free, in order to gain access to the information.
Another great resource is Green Lodging News which provides information on green products and services for the hotel industry along with general information on sustainability.
The Sustainability Facilities Tool is a free tool developed by GSA to provide guidance for more green office buildings. The tool helps commercial facilities managers, architects, designers or construction managers learn about office spaces and integrating sustainability in various locations within an office environment. The tool can be downloaded to a smartphone device. The tool is an interactive experience that provides information on how to;
This newly released book, A Simple Path to Sustainability, was built around case histories showcasing 12 Colorado small to medium sized organizations that have outstanding records of sustainability. The book was designed specifically to help smaller enterprises gain knowledge on best practices as well as inspire owners and management to undertake sustainable strategies. K.J. McCorry, owner of eco-officiency and sustainability consultant is a contributing author of one of these chapters on New Belgium Brewery.
The case studies collected detail on each company’s journey from initial sustainability idea through building a comprehensive plan, establishing a new company culture, engaging stakeholders and planning for the future. Each chapter also provides the challenges encountered along with lessons learned. Here are a few of the companies that are discussed in the book; Eco-Products, Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder Outlook Hotel, Boulder Valley Credit Union, First Affirmative Financial Network and Guaranteed Recycling Xperts.
The book is now available for purchase from e-retailers such as Amazon.com and Google.com.
A Simple Path to Sustainability: Green Business Strategies for Small and Medium Sized Businesses (ISBN: 0-3133-8269-7). Edited by Fred Andreas, Elizabeth Cooperman, Blair Gifford and Graham Russell.
LEAD International is a non-profit organization based in Europe whose mission is to inspire leaders for a sustainable world.
LEAD was originally funded in the early 1990’s by the Rockefeller Foundation to help develop and foster executives, government officials, academics, NGO directors, activists and other professionals to focus on sustainable development activities in their businesses and communities.
The organization and its programs are largely unknown in the U.S. partially because a U.S. chapter was never formed. However, there are over 12 chapters worldwide, including Mexico and Canada in North America.
Their flagship program, the Fellows Training, is an excellent 12-18 month program that is an interactive training for mid-career professionals, who are working in sustainability and/or would like to do more in sustainability. Each chapter has two week long trainings in their host county. Then the third session all of the chapters meet in one location to discuss more global and international sustainability issues.
This is an excellent organization and training program for those American leaders who would like to learn more outside our borders.
Mitch Jackson, Vice President of Environmental affairs and sustainability at FedEx, wrote a good and distinct article on how businesses can start sustainability within their organizations. This was published by GreenBiz.com July 6, 2010. Click here to see the full article.
To learn more about FedEx corporate sustainability program, click here.
Sustainability Assessment: Criteria and Processes, Robert Gibson: A book specifically on conducting sustainability assessments.
Organizational Assessment, Donald Fisher: This manual is designed to serve as a guide for an organization s self-assessment on its corporate sustainability efforts.
Business Guide to Sustainability, Darcy Hitchcock and Marsh Willard: Winner of Choice Magazine – Outstanding Academic Titles for 2007 in Sustainability category. Both Marsha and Darcy are sustainability consultants and the book discusses each primary of an organization and provides their SCORE assessment tool for each primary department and division.
Assessment Tools | eco-officiency February 21, 2012 | 
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