Strategy
Companies need to have clear objectives and well-defined strategies to make sure that sustainability action is not only effective but fully supports business success.
Developing an effective sustainability strategy
A strategy should be short, easy to understand and provide the direction to achieve clear objectives. We can help you through all stages of strategy development:
- Issues analysis and materiality assessment
We help companies determine the issues that really matter, through consultation with internal and external stakeholders and analysis of global commercial and sustainability trends (see External engagement). - CS strategy and policy development
Strategy needs to be consistent across the business. We work with clients to identify and address areas of alignment and misalignment between business and sustainability objectives, to develop effective strategies and policies to achieve strategic objectives. - Climate strategy
You need to know how climate change – and responses to it – will affect your company, and how you can make the biggest contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. - CS management and governance
A good strategy is one thing, achieving it something else. It needs the right scrutiny and direction, and we advise on appropriate structures and processes. - Identifying performance measures
We help clients establish appropriate performance measures, set targets and track progress.
Case studies
Sustainability at Motorola
Clear leadership supported by the right management structure is essential to achieving sustainability goals.
We helped Motorola develop their sustainability governance structure and strengthen the company’s human rights policy.
This included a benchmarking exercise, comparing Motorola’s approach to other leading companies, as well as interviews with senior sustainability directors. We made recommendations to help the company achieve best practice.
Developing a climate change strategy for WPP
Climate change is no longer an issue solely for big carbon-intensive industries. The marketing services group WPP is responsible for only about 250,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, but it is determined to improve its climate performance.
In 2007, we helped WPP launch its climate change strategy in response to interest from investors, clients and employees. This involved establishing measuring systems, calculating the group’s carbon footprint, setting reduction targets, advising on the purchase of carbon offsets, and communicating WPP’s new strategy to employees across the global company.
All stages of this work needed to take into account WPP’s diverse operating structure: more than 100 operating companies working from over 2,000 offices in 106 countries.
We are now helping WPP implement the strategy and achieve a 20% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2010.
To discuss how Context can help your organisation, contact Simon Propper (Europe) and Peter T. Knight (U.S.).
Find out more in our new publication CS Excellence in Context.