ACCELERATING
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Corporate Sustainability Reporting or CSR refers to a regulation and management system employed by companies to keep check of their environmental and social impact on the world. It is a yearly report made by companies to self-regulate their brand reputation through charitable, philanthropic and social activities. Although CSR is usually done by companies as an initiative of their own, many nations and organizations have made it mandatory for large scale companies to have a CSR model. It is also a way to make the stakeholders of the company and the general public aware of their yearly working system.

What are the benefits of CSR?

To have a long-term customer or client, a brand doesn’t need just a good product. It needs to show what it stands for, what values it represents. Here are some benefits to incorporating CSR into your company:

It helps the company to be more conscious of its social, economical and moral responsibility It improves a company’s reputation for its employees and potential recruits CSR limits the risk of scandals and mishaps in the environment. It enhances the perception of the general public, as people prefer to use products and services of a company which is environment conscious.

How to write a CSR report?

Without careful efforts, a CSR report can appear extremely dull and difficult to read. A well written CSR attracts investors, customers as well as potential employees. So here’s how to write an attractive CSR report:

• The report will be online, so use a directory or table of contents in the beginning for all subjects mentioned in the report
• Give an overview of your business, its operations and recent dealings
• An optimistic and warm letter from the CEO that adds a human element to the report
• Mention your goals for environmental sustainability
• Mention your progress towards said goals (use measurable numbers and percentages for more clarity)
• Add real life incidents, narratives or interviews to make the report more readable
• Mention what your priorities will be for the next term in regards to corporate social responsibility, how the company will tackle major issues
• Use detailed and easy to understand infographics and charts.
• If the report is large, make sure to add the sources from which the report is compiled.
• Add the contact details of every major person involved in the handling of mentioned issues.
• Have your report audited by a third party for better validation

What are some good examples of CSR?

Writing a CSR report can be daunting and exhausting, especially without inspiration. Here some excellent examples of CSR done flawlessly by corporate companies that we can learn from. (THIS PARANTHESIS IS NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN FINAL BLOG- THE LINKS ARE TO THE RESPECTIVE COMPANIES’ CSR REPORTS)

• Google: https://sustainability.google/in 2019, Google celebrated 13 years of Carbon neutrality. It is also the world’s largest annual corporate purchaser of renewable energy.
• Ford Motor Company: https://www.india.ford.com/about-ford/community/csr/#:~:text=Ford%20India%20lays%20particular%20importance,and%20pollution%20of%20water%20bodies the firm took a Sustainable Workforce initiative under which they improved employees’ health, efficiency and productivity. Its global safety standards have reduced workplace accidents by 90%.
• Bosch: https://www.bosch.in/our-company/our-responsibility/corporate-social-responsibility/during the early Covid-19 outbreak, Bosch India pledged more than 50 crore rupees for pandemic relief efforts. 9 lakh masks were donated to second level Covid-19 warriors.
• Lego: https://www.lego.com/en-us/sustainability the firm has pledged to go completely carbon neutral by 2022. The toy company has also announced that they will replace from plastic packaging their toys to paper packaging.
• Ben & Jerry’s: https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2014/corporate-social-responsibility-history the ice-cream company donates 7.5% of their pretax earnings to social causes since 1985. It has remained one of the few brands that have consistently spoken out and taken action against acts of injustice around the world.

While CSR report can look different for every company, its objective is the same throughout- to be more sustainable, ethical and responsible. To do well not just for the brand, but also the environment. Companies that stick with yearly CSR reports usually tend to see profits in all areas. Socially responsible companies tend to focus on the approach called Triple Bottom Line. Here, three areas are taken into consideration- Profit, People and Planet. ‘Do well by doing good’ is their motto.

So if your company is not legally required to do CSR, it is still wise not to wait. CSR sets a standard for your company among your competitors. Committing to CSR is a step in the right direction, not just for your brand, but for everyone involved.

Creating a climate strategy for your company has to make it to the top 10 list of priorities while devising a cost-revenue model. That’s right; the decision you make regarding your company’s climate strategy may directly affect your cost & revenue model as you might have to pay a surplus amount if the collective damage to the environment goes up the allowed.

The credit is only due if you fall short of the limit & can come up having an actual breathable margin. So, without explaining the obvious; let's dive into how to create a climate strategy for your company.

1. Bring down the carbon emissions

Keep in check the greenhouse gases and bring the carbon emissions of the entire company. This will go a long way in helping you with minimizing the climatic impact your company is making. Usually, the corporates hire professionals on advising them to create a compensation strategy; when all this while their first action should have been to bring down the levels to an optimal minimum and then instate a compensation strategy for the damage done.

2. Bring the Scope Assessments in force

Once you have exhausted the possibility of damage reduction; bring out the big guns! Scope assessments are these big guns which help corporates in digging deep into what is making their count shoot up high. Run your organization through the fine teeth comb with these assessments & then make a decision on what kind of a strategy you need.

3. Choose power over the volume

While causing the strategy to change the face of desired results altogether: try taking powerful actions which can trigger big changes. Choosing from the heap of moves, that one which can drastically bring down the carbon footprint of your company should be your first effective power move.

Choosing a power move over a handful of small changes can really cut through the mountain of damage that your company causes to the environment. At this point, you have to drive the analysis forward with the graphical presentation & make use of past present and future timelines to extract trends & build your strategy.

4. Quantify the goals

In search of the pain points don’t get lost in the details to completely lose the grip over what’s necessary & required of you. Keep your goals quantified & let them be the flag bearer of your research & strategy building. Make the best of everything else to achieve those goals because the number will always show you the mirror against your efforts.

5. Make it large

It’s not something you should do in a private safe space & don’t let anyone know. Go all out with it & make it an initiative of the masses. Not literally, but the idea is to involve as many entities which are directly and indirectly related to the company as you can; i.e. all kinds of stakeholders. Make them an important part of your initiative as you move forward to make an impact. When they can be the part of the problems the organization causes; they will happily be the part of the solution as the organization goes on to make a huge impact through heavy CSR activities & Strategic Corporate Climatic Strategies.

We have seen a structured approach towards how to approach the agenda of making a climate strategy for an organization all the way to making it a motive to do good involving everyone directly or indirectly in question. These steps; when followed in this exact same order, will show you the ripple impact of a structured approach towards an initiative this sensitive. Apply these in order and consult us if you get stuck while dealing with it.

All the best!

In the relentless struggle against climate change, two unsung heroes have emerged from the Earth's embrace - land and forests. While these resources may seem unassuming, they wield unparalleled influence in mitigating the colossal challenge posed by rising global temperatures. Let's delve into the intricate ways in which land and forests play a pivotal role in combating climate change.

The Carbon Dilemma: A Tale of Sinks and Sources

At the heart of the matter lies carbon dioxide (CO2), the notorious greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat in our atmosphere. Forests, trees, and grasses collectively act as nature's "sinks" for CO2, heroically absorbing a significant portion of this harmful gas emitted through human activities. This process, known as carbon sequestration, is akin to Earth's own carbon capture and storage technology.

Yet, like a multifaceted puzzle, this story isn't solely one of absorption. The land also serves as a source of CO2 emissions, a consequence of activities such as deforestation and land degradation. These actions release stored carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to the alarming rise in CO2 levels. Thus, understanding the delicate balance between land as a sink and a source is crucial in comprehending its role in the climate equation.

The Dance of Estimation and Uncertainty

Scientists shoulder the responsibility of deciphering the intricate dance between land, forests, and carbon. They endeavor to estimate the net impact of these natural systems on carbon emissions. This intricate task is no easy feat, considering the myriad variables at play - from diverse forest ecosystems to ever-changing human interventions

Enter climate change, a disruptor that further complicates this intricate ballet. Escalating temperatures place stress on forests, rendering them susceptible to devastating wildfires. As landscapes transform, their ability to sequester carbon is jeopardized. In essence, forests, once reliable carbon sinks, are challenged by the very crisis they seek to alleviate.

Peering Through the Numbers: Insights from Research

Research, as a beacon of understanding, illuminates the intricate nuances of this relationship. A study published in Nature Climate Change (2021) unveiled a striking revelation. Over the span of two decades, global forests sequestered twice as much carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) as they emitted. This delicate balancing act, led by Nancy Harris and her team at the World Resources Institute, demonstrated that forests annually absorbed approximately 15.6 billion tons of CO2e, overshadowing emissions from disturbances.

In parallel, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Land 2019 corroborated this narrative. Land use, it indicated, contributed to 13% of human-induced CO2 emissions while concurrently acting as a net sink of around 11.2 billion tons CO2 per year. This net carbon absorption equated to a staggering 29% of total CO2 emissions during the same period.

The Green Road Ahead: Reforestation and Beyond

With our planet at a precipice, the preservation and expansion of forests are thrust into the global spotlight. As nations grapple with the inadequacy of emission reductions, reforestation emerges as a beacon of hope. The idea is simple yet profound: by nurturing existing forests and strategically planting new trees, we amplify nature's ability to counteract our carbon emissions.

However, this endeavor poses multifaceted challenges. Land ownership, equitable distribution of benefits, and the true cost of preserving these ecosystems become focal points. It is imperative that the noble cause of reforestation does not inadvertently perpetuate social or economic inequities.

In a world where climate solutions are paramount, the significance of land and forests as allies cannot be overstated. They stand as testament to nature's resilience and offer tangible pathways to confront climate change head-on. As we navigate the path to a sustainable future, the role of land and forests serves as a compelling reminder of the interconnectedness that binds humanity to the environment.