2011 SSC Sustainability Report

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is pleased to announce the release of its sixth annual Sustainability Report.  In the report, readers will find information on SSC's economic, environmental, and social performance—all based on the Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

“Our annual sustainability report is probably the best way to see what SSC is about as a company,” said SSC President Jennifer Woofter.  “It’s an opportunity for us to share what we’ve been up to over the last year, and to reflect on whether or not we’re practicing what we preach. It’s incredible to look back and see the changes in our company since 2005. I am so proud of the work that we’ve done, the clients that we’ve served, and our colleagues in the SSC Consultant Network.”

The theme of SSC’s 2011 report is “Thinking about Context”, a reflection about the concept of context and the need for companies to go beyond simply reporting a series of indicators and create meaningful connections concerning impacts. Download the report at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/sustainabilityreport

“This year, we pushed the boundaries of our sustainability reporting, and shared how our activities have rippled out into the world,” said Woofter. “For each of the major reporting sections, we report on the outcomes of our activities. Not just how many clients we served—but what our consulting helped those clients to achieve. Not just how many miles we traveled, but what those miles helped us to do.”

Among the key findings of the report:

• In 2010, SSC set the goal of identifying a better way to measure carbon footprint progress. The company extended its carbon tracking to cover five years, and used additional adjusted carbon footprinting (per $ revenue and per work-hour) to account for growth.
• In 2011, SSC clients were recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), tackled energy efficiency in their Chinese supplier factories, and published their first integrated sustainability report. In one case, a client almost tripled its score on the Walmart Supplier Sustainability Assessment.
• In expanding economic resources and measuring social impacts, one of the most innovative aspects of the SSC business model is the SSC Consultant Network. Rather than employing a small staff of sustainability generalists, the company has created a wide collaboration of sustainability specialists. As of June 2011, SSC had approximately 600 consultants in the network.
• In expanding its labor practices, in 2011 SSC implemented an online Green Auditor certification that makes it more affordable and eliminates the need for participant travel (some more than 1,000 miles).
• SSC’s carbon footprint decreased to its lowest point (in absolute emissions and emissions-per-work-hour) in five years, to just 15.1 tons of carbon. As in previous years, the company has offset 100% of its emissions.

“While this sustainability report is an important way that we communicate with our stakeholders, it is also a great opportunity for SSC to see its impacts at a glance,” said Woofter.  “We use the report to evaluate our progress and plan for the coming years.  As we tell our clients, a sustainability report isn’t just a look backwards; it’s a tool for strategic planning into the future.”

About Strategic Sustainability Consulting
Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire.  Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.

Download the report here: www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/sustainabilityreport

Strategic Sustainability Consulting

Strategic Sustainability Consulting

Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides organizations with the tools and expertise they need to actively manage their social and environmental impacts. We specialize in helping under-resourced organizations implement sustainable solutions usually reserved for large, multinational companies. Visit our website at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information.

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