Document Management News

Firms will not be able to reduce their carbon footprints until they see the environmental challenge as a business transformation opportunity rather than a corporate responsibility issue, says analyst Verdantix.

According to a report from Verdantix, carbon management requires the appointment of a chief sustainability officer, a cross-functional strategy for reductions with a 2020 target, co-ordinated business process changes, and an integrated carbon management technology platform.     

“Dumping carbon management responsibility on corporate social responsibility directors (CSR) without providing them with the authority or budget dooms many carbon reduction plans,” said Verdantix analyst Peter Charville-Mort.

He said, “Our research [with 33 industry experts] shows that underneath the green-wash, most firms flounder with weak carbon management initiatives." Charville-Mort said evidence of failure includes CSR and energy managers who don’t get the opportunity to explain carbon issues to senior execs, decision-makers who struggle with terrible energy data, unachievable CO2 reduction goals, and initiatives that progress at a snail’s pace due to insufficient staff and funds.

The Verdantix report, "Best Practices for Carbon Management", provides detailed advice on the development and implementation of a carbon business transformation plan.

To achieve absolute CO2 reductions year-on-year, the report says firms need to:

• Strengthen governance to deliver transformational change
• Create a 2020 strategy for carbon management
• Design cross-functional process changes across energy, operations and finance
• Implement integrated carbon management systems technology