Sustainability Metrics – Metrics have been used with varying success in EHS. As the profession has matured, there have been over 25 voluntary standards put into practice relating to sustainable performance with varying levels of measurement from extremely precise to more holistic. A good metric is both quantifiable and has a direction regarding the quality of the outcome (good or bad). Most of the current systems of evaluating sustainability aren’t truly metrics but rather a listing of activities and do not provide useful evaluations of the impacts and therefore are inadequate for meaningful assessment.
Questions we need to ask and answer here include:
What are appropriate metrics to measure sustainable performance?
How should those metrics translate into more quantifiable targets and goals so we can understand the impacts of these efforts?
July 29, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Sustainability Metrics [4] | No Comments »
Please follow the link below to view a powerpoint presentation on “Sustainability Metrics”, moderated by Dr. Jennifer Schneider.
May 20, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Sustainability Metrics [4] | No Comments »
Dr Schneider presented on Sustainability Metrics, during this presentation Dr Schneider described the process of defining sustainability and how it is measured using metrics. In order to effectively identify how a business is to attain sustainability, a baseline must be established. The top management must be a stakeholder and establish the policies used by the organization to achieve its goal which in this case is a sustainable business model. Once this is done, metrics can be established. This model must be developed using consistent values which when realized there can be global impacts with tangible results.
Also, please follow the link below to view a powerpoint presentation highlighting the workshop findings.
May 7, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Sustainability Metrics [4] | No Comments »
Please follow the link below to use the GRI’s searchable performance indicators.
May 7, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Sustainability Metrics [4] | No Comments »
Vesela Veleva and Michael Ellenbecker. “Indicators of sustainable production: framework and methodology”. Journal of Cleaner Production 9 (2001) 519–549.
This paper presents a new tool for promoting business sustainability — indicators of sustainable production. It first introduces the concept of sustainable production as defined by the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Indicators of sustainable production are discussed next, including their dimensions and desirable qualities. Based on the Lowell Center Indicator Framework, the authors suggest a new methodology of core and supplemental indicators for raising companies’ awareness and measuring their progress toward sustainable production systems. Twenty-two core indicators are proposed and a detailed guidance for their application is included. An eight-step model provides a context for indicator implementation. The paper concludes with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology as well as recommendations for testing the
indicators. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
March 16, 2009 by Brian Butler , , John Morelli , and | Filed under: Sustainability Metrics [4] | 3 Comments »
Sustainability Metrics – Metrics have been used with varying success in EHS. As the profession has matured, there have been over 25 voluntary standards put into practice relating to sustainable performance with varying levels of measurement from extremely precise to more holistic. This workshop will explore what the current metrics are related to sustainable performance measurement and surmise what they should be related to determining appropriate targets and goals.
Moderator: Dr. Jennifer L. Schneider
