Enrica Piscopiello
Carbon and Net-Zero Analyst
Growth and development have consistently been the main focus of both national and international economic strategies. However, seeing the environmental crisis that the current paradigm of development has caused, it is necessary to review the historical approaches that have brought us to the brink of an environmental catastrophe. But is change achievable? And if yes, how?
Working as a Net-Zero and Carbon analyst means that supporting businesses to operate sustainably is an everyday topic of discussion. The more I understand the current challenges that companies are facing, the more I realise the scale of the problem. While policymakers around the globe are setting targets and standards to cut carbon emissions and preserve biodiversity, “real” people out there have to deal with drastic changes in the way they run their businesses. Often, the actual implementation of these measures in everyday proceedings turns out to be less clear cut then expected, with a great deal of unforeseen side effects. And yes, it takes time to “re-learn” what has been considered normal for decades, as well as to keep up with constant updates in local and global agreements. All this, in a world that remains extremely competitive and intensely focused on incremental economic growth.
I find myself thinking about what it truly means to develop sustainably, and despite having a career in sustainability and having spent years reading about it, I still have not found a comprehensive answer. What I do certainly believe is that a new paradigm of sustainable development should be based on downsizing and differentiating the production system. This would require the re-localisation of many productive activities, which does not mean eliminating all forms of international trade, but encouraging a diversified production for domestic needs, shifting the power from transnational corporations to local communities (Norberg-Hodge and Read, 2016). The prioritization of growth needs to be weighted against the implications of processes within their larger context on the long term, and the need for balance to maintain well being.
The transition to a new paradigm of sustainable development cannot be led from above in a purely centralized and top-down manner. It needs to be democratic, based on the active participation and cooperation of intergovernmental organisations, transnational corporations and civil society acting through NGOs or, for example, spiritual communities. The key here is working together towards educating people and re-shape the values embedded in our societies. I cannot lie that when our customers choose “Goal 4 – Quality Education”, as one of their priority goals to embed in their business strategies, I am proud that its importance is recognised.
Education, or more specifically in this case “Eco-literacy”, is needed to encourage this horizontal co-operation between all stakeholders, from local to global actors.
In my opinion, education should be a priority investment on a global scale. And by education, I mean a multilateral approach including insights from academic institutions, activists and practitioners, private companies, and NGOs, as well as the creation of spaces for open debates and exchanges of knowledge, in a continuous effort for collaboration. I think that this cooperation is essential for transitioning to a world where values of simplicity, appreciation of natural resources and solidarity coexist in harmony. This is what Raskin et al (2002) call “The Great Transition”. And as simple as that, this is what sustainable development means to me.
TBL is the perfect example of what a company that develops sustainably is. And I am not talking about the nature of the services we provide, but about the approach that drives every decision within the company. Here, everyone has room to speak up, we learn from each other’s daily. Employees are encouraged to take time for volunteering, to keep developing hobbies and let creativity rise. We are all paid a fair living wage, no matter the age and the experience we have. Our paternal leave policy encourages fathers to have the same rights as mother have, because they need this time to bond with their new-borns. This is key for an equal and healthy society where gender roles are left in the past. The room given to personal growth feeds back into the company as a stream of new knowledge, resulting in creative input and innovation. And let’s be honest, taking care of the environment is, at the moment, a privilege that only who has the capacity, the knowledge and a true passion can fully commit to. That’s why the starting point must be working towards creating a society where are basic needs are met, a society where people have time to connect to nature and appreciate its value, and everyone has the privilege to take the environment into account in each daily decision.
It's going to take a lot of work to make this vision of sustainability become true in the near future. TBL is one positive example between many others, but this critical transition will require time, investments, the replacement of an extraordinary amount of infrastructure as well as a deep economic reorganization (Cook, 2019). Moreover, not all states have the same capacity and motivation to pursue this transition. Building a new sustainable paradigm needs the simultaneous development of international policies and agreements to phase out the previous unsustainable practices. There is still an overwhelming amount of work that needs to be done.
Yet, here I am every day trying to do my best to see this vision of sustainability becoming true, and working to make sure everyone's needs and perspective are taken into account in this transition. Part of my work is to support companies becoming more aware of their impacts and initiate constructive debates on how to overcome them. Each small achievement is a step taken toward Raskins’s “Great Transition”. It can’t be that far!
What is this?
Sharing your sustainability progress isn’t only a way to engage staff, customers and suppliers. It can be a powerful PR tool. It can help you stay one step ahead of your legal requirements. And it can help you with other ESG ratings like CDP, EcoVadis and Support the Goals. We’ll help you spread the word about the good you do.
Sustainability reporting
Our standalone Reporting service gives you a comprehensive 20-page (approx.) report to share with staff, customers, investors and the press. Comprising your priority goals, commitments, case studies and more, and designed to match your corporate branding, it’s the simplest way to bring all your sustainability work together.
What is this?
You’ll want to measure the results of your actions to assess progress towards your commitments. But what should you measure and how should you do it? When you don’t have the in-house tools, capabilities or expertise, we do.
Our support package can help
It’s not always easy to measure the impact of sustainability actions. There’s a clear formula for carbon reporting, for example, but how do you assess social impact? Where should the data come from? What are the accepted reporting standards? And how should you display your results to ensure people understand it? We and our partners can help you measure the impact of the actions you take.
What is this?
You take the next steps on your sustainability journey. We’ll provide the guide and the map.
Our support package can help
It’s not easy figuring out where to go next on your sustainability journey, or how to get there.
With a TBL support package, you get the expertise, the tools and the guide, and you follow a road we’ve already travelled – many times. It makes setting a direction easier. You follow established best practice so there are fewer dead ends. And with our tracking tool, you’ll always have a clear view of progress made and next steps.
What is this?
Once you’ve identified the sustainability goals that matter most to you, you’ll want to do something about them.
Commit is about setting measurable targets for meeting your highest priority goals. It’s about making the credible, impactful, achievable commitments everyone can buy into. And it’s about agreeing governance, so the right people are accountable for achieving the commitments you agree.
What might this look like?
For example:
• Gender Equality (Goal 5): 50/50 gender split at board level by 2025
• Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7): Use only clean energy to power offices by 2030
• Climate Action (Goal 13): Net zero across the value chain by 2035
Our support package can help
A TBL support package gives you access to expert advice that can help you set environmental and social commitments including net zero and science based targets.
If we want a more sustainable world, everyone needs to get involved. That includes your employees. Our experts help you do that in a way that builds understanding and encourages involvement.
We will:
What is this?
How do you know which sustainability/ESG issues to target, and which to tackle first? Identify is about exploring the issues that matter most to your organisation and finding where your actions can make the biggest impact.
How we’ll support you
Our lively half-day workshop explores the issues through the lens of the Global Goals. You’ll end the session with a clear, visual presentation of low, medium and high priority sustainability goals, and get clear guidance on what to do next.
If we want a more sustainable world, everyone needs to get involved. That includes your employees. Our experts help you do that in a way that builds understanding and encourages involvement.
We will:
A circular economy model designs out waste from your business, keeping products and materials in use. Operating a circular economy model can cut costs. Many organisations are now using it to create entirely new revenue streams.
Our experts will show you how, by adapting your processes, you can be part of the circular economy – and do it in a way that’s the right ‘fit’ for your organisation.
For compliance. To meet the standards of a ratings agency. Or simply to be a responsible business. When you need the right sustainability policies and standards, we’ll help you develop ones that are engaging, easy to understand and relevant to your business.
If we’re to create a more sustainable world, everyone needs the skills and understanding to be able to play their part.
Every day, our advisers are helping senior teams understand sustainability within their organisation. They’re teaching suppliers to buy more sustainably or building the skills of new in-house sustainability managers. And they’re helping your employees become more carbon literate so they understand what carbon is and the personal difference they can make in work and at home.
Build the skills and understanding of your people.
Reporting the environmental and social impact of your business is an essential part of governance, openness and transparency, but with so many frameworks, it can be difficult to know which should demand your focus.
Our experts will help you meet the mandatory requirements of regulatory frameworks like SECR. They’ll help you prepare for soon-to-be-mandatory frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Finance Disclosure (TCFD).
And when you’re exploring new, voluntary accreditations with ESG, DJSI or Sustainalytics, or want to improve your ranking with a supply chain framework such as EcoVadis or Support the Goals, they’ll help you choose the framework best suited to your business, boost your rating and gain the badges.
Setting science-based emissions reduction targets consistent with Paris agreement-aligned pathways is how your organisation moves closer to net zero. We’ll help you establish your current baseline, then help you set the targets (including Scope 3) that give your actions direction and purpose.
And as always with our experts, we’ll make the journey easy.
For any large organisation, reporting your Scope 1 & 2 emissions is a regulatory requirement. You meet that requirement by making a Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) statement part of your annual report.
Our experts can help you with that – and they can help you go further. Our simple, powerful dashboards will make understanding your carbon footprint easy (whether you’re required to report on it or not). And when you want to take the next step in understanding your indirect (Scope 3) emissions, we’ll help you do that too.
Increasingly, your clients and customers demand sustainability not just from the way you operate but from the materials you use.
Our experts in materials and packaging help you understand how sustainable your existing products are. Then we recommend alternatives that deliver improved sustainability whilst protecting production costs and product quality, and keeping customers happy.
A circular economy model designs out waste from your business, keeping products and materials in use. Operating a circular economy model can cut costs. Many organisations are now using it to create entirely new revenue streams.
Our experts will show you how, by adapting your processes, you can be part of the circular economy – and do it in a way that’s the right ‘fit’ for your organisation.
Increasingly, your clients and customers demand sustainability not just from the way you operate but from the materials you use.
Our experts in materials and packaging help you understand how sustainable your existing products are. Then we recommend alternatives that deliver improved sustainability whilst protecting production costs and product quality, and keeping customers happy.
Setting science-based emissions reduction targets consistent with Paris agreement-aligned pathways is how your organisation moves closer to net zero. We’ll help you establish your current baseline, then help you set the targets (including Scope 3) that give your actions direction and purpose.
And as always with our experts, we’ll make the journey easy.
For any large organisation, reporting your Scope 1 & 2 emissions is a regulatory requirement. You meet that requirement by making a Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) statement part of your annual report.
Our experts can help you with that – and they can help you go further. Our simple, powerful dashboards will make understanding your carbon footprint easy (whether you’re required to report on it or not). And when you want to take the next step in understanding your indirect (Scope 3) emissions, we’ll help you do that too.
Reporting the environmental and social impact of your business is an essential part of governance, openness and transparency, but with so many frameworks, it can be difficult to know which should demand your focus.
Our experts will help you meet the mandatory requirements of regulatory frameworks like SECR. They’ll help you prepare for soon-to-be-mandatory frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Finance Disclosure (TCFD).
And when you’re exploring new, voluntary accreditations with ESG, DJSI or Sustainalytics, or want to improve your ranking with a supply chain framework such as EcoVadis or Support the Goals, they’ll help you choose the framework best suited to your business, boost your rating and gain the badges.
If we’re to create a more sustainable world, everyone needs the skills and understanding to be able to play their part.
Every day, our advisers are helping senior teams understand sustainability within their organisation. They’re teaching suppliers to buy more sustainably or building the skills of new in-house sustainability managers. And they’re helping your employees become more carbon literate so they understand what carbon is and the personal difference they can make in work and at home.
Build the skills and understanding of your people.
You know you need a sustainability strategy – but what next? What’s right for the size and nature of your business? And how can you ensure it drives the right actions?
We’ll help you set a strategy that’s robust and comprehensive because it uses the Global Goals as a framework. And we’ll ensure it’s a good ‘fit’ for your organisation, helping you align people, planet and profit.
For compliance. To meet the standards of a ratings agency. Or simply to show you’re a responsible business. When you need the right sustainability policies and standards, we’ll help you develop ones that are engaging, easy to understand and relevant to your business.
Your social impact is the effect your organisation has on people and communities as a result of its activities and policies.
You’ll already be doing good things in your community. Measuring the effect of your charitable work, volunteering, community outreach projects and more is important because it’s how you explain the difference you’ve made to your employees, customers and investors.
We help you understand how to measure and improve your social impact.
Almost 90% of your environmental and social impact exists not in your operations, but in the goods and services you buy from your suppliers. So if you want to make a real impact with your sustainability efforts, your supply chain needs to be involved. Our advisers can help. They will:
You’ve done great things. Now you need to share them. Communicating your successes is a powerful PR boost for your brand. It’s often a simple way to improve your ratings framework score. And it can help others to understand the importance of the work you’re doing and inspire them to get involved.
Our brand, marketing and communications specialists will help you spread the word with a standalone sustainability report that brings all your ESG efforts together in one document. In addition, we can help you with:
You know you need a sustainability strategy – but what next? What’s right for the size and nature of your business? And how can you ensure it drives the right actions?
We’ll help you set a strategy that’s robust and comprehensive because it uses the Global Goals as a framework. And we’ll ensure it’s a good ‘fit’ for your organisation, helping you align people, planet and profit.
Your social impact is the effect your organisation has on people and communities as a result of its activities and policies.
You’ll already be doing good things in your community. Measuring the effect of your charitable work, volunteering, community outreach projects and more is important because it’s how you explain the difference you’ve made to your employees, customers and investors.
We help you understand how to measure and improve your social impact.
Almost 90% of your environmental and social impact exists not in your operations, but in the goods and services you buy from your suppliers. So if you want to make a real impact with your sustainability efforts, your supply chain needs to be involved. Our advisers can help. They will:
You’ve done great things. Now you need to share them. Communicating your successes is a powerful PR boost for your brand. It’s often a simple way to improve your ratings framework score. And it can help others to understand the importance of the work you’re doing and inspire them to get involved.
Our brand, marketing and communications specialists will help you spread the word with a standalone sustainability report that brings all your ESG efforts together in one document. In addition, we can help you with: