You are a certified sustainable organization and many of you have developed your ESG program.

As part of your mandate, it is your responsibility to demand your vendors also become certified sustainable, right?

But what happens? Either via your own procurement department or directly from the vendor, you hear – “We would LOVE to, but we are an SME (small to mid-sized enterprise with under 500 employees) and there are NO certification programs designed/priced for us. All the good programs are built for big companies and are too expensive and/or time-consuming for us.”

What do you do? Even though you know this is what your consumers want, and you have mandated, you shrug and accept it…..because you think it is correct.

Sustainability Magazine asked our CEO, David Goodman, to write this article explaining that you don’t need to blink.  You can satisfy your clients and your mandate.  There are global, audited, environmental sustainability programs designed and priced specifically for the needs of SMEs.

This article also explains what your SME vendors should look for in a program that will meet their needs; allowing you to meet your needs.

Per this article in Bizcommunity, many job seekers, particularly the 23-38 age group) pro-actively seek employment in eco-friendly companies.

The key points:

• Sustainability and recruitment go hand in hand – Per Deloitte, with talent hard to find, not focusing on sustainability can lead to a company losing out to competitors who are.

• Sustainability creates a sweet spot for employees – When a company shows it cares for the environment and the world we live in, it shows employees it cares for them, too.

• Company reputation – The attraction of the best talent is heavily dependent on reputation and sustainability has a massively positive impact on reputation.

• The future is green – Companies that develop and maintain sustainable practices will be more resilient in the future. They will be able to recruit and hire from a larger pool than their non-certified peers.

SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) account for at least 90% of all businesses on the planet and employ at least 67% of all of us.

If you are running a SME, per many prior posts from us, and per this article from the World Economic Forum, change is coming to your business, whether you like it or not.

• Sustainability / ESG reporting standards and regulations are evolving fast

• These regulations directly impact larger companies…..but require them to seek data from their suppliers and the suppliers to their suppliers (which include SMEs)

• SMEs that fall behind risk losing valuable opportunities with big clients/prospects

• SMEs that fall behind risk losing the availability of capital (debt and equity)

If you want to remain competitive but don’t want to be ‘killed by the cure’ take a few moments to read this PPP. 

If it makes sense, reach out to us here.

Edenark Group, which provides the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program for small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), is pleased to announce that Dave McColl, who provides energy and technology consulting, will help bring the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program to the U.K. SME community.

“As I started interacting with Edenark Group CEO, David Goodman, and understanding the value of the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program, my thought was, ‘There is no reason for a business not to do this.’  It’s a ‘no brainer’ as your company improves while you are also helping the planet,” said Dave McColl.  “I look forward to helping introduce Edenark Group to the SME sector here in the U.K., which will help the SMEs and help Edenark Group.”

“97% of larger companies have sustainability programs because it adds value.  But this is a new to many SME leaders.  In fact, regardless of the environmental need, less than 1% of SMEs have sustainability programs.  Government regulations will soon obligate all companies to have a legitimate (ie, under a 3^rd party certification or verification) sustainability program.  However, consumer demand is moving faster than government regulations and requiring, via their purchasing loyalty, that companies become legitimately sustainable.  This presents an opportunity for those SMEs who care for the environment and also want to differentiate from their competitive peers.  We are thrilled that Dave, with his SME business connections, will help us present the benefits of our program to the business community,” said David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.

Dave McColl can be reached at +443330 067337 or +447748 188878 or dave@astuteassets.co.uk.

Edenark Group can be reached at https://edenark.com/contact-us/

Per this IDC article, sustainability is accelerating at a rapid pace in Asia/Pacific.  Here are ten predictions for this year, and the next four.  Each of them, on their own, would suggest how fast sustainability and ESG are advancing.  But, together, the story is quite amazing.  If you are in this market or serving this market, even as a SME, and are not certified sustainable, you are at a disadvantage.

#1: Third Party Risk Management & ESG: By the end of this year, ESG performance will become a standard component for third-party risk assessment with 20% of A2000 companies placing greater weight on these risks than security, financial, or operational risks.

#2: Reporting Enterprise-wide Carbon Footprint: By end of next year, 50% of A2000 companies will capture their carbon data and report their enterprise-wide carbon footprint using quantifiable metrics compared with 30% today.

#3: ESG Data Management Platforms: Also, by the end of next year, 30% of A2000 companies will leverage ESG data management platforms to steer ESG KPIs via a centralized system of record for reporting purposes and real-time operational decision-making support.

#4: Datacenter ESG Disclosure: By 2025, more than 50% of A2000 organizations will require datacenter providers to disclose to them their energy usage, use of renewable energy sources, and recyclable IT equipment.

#5: ESG aaS: Also, by 2025, 30% of ESG services engagements will require a managed services component to better address the long-term nature and intense data needs of sustainable transformation and ESG reporting.

#6: Changing RFP Requirements: By 2026, ESG performance will be viewed as a top 3 decision factor for IT equipment purchases and over 50% of RFPs will include metrics regarding carbon emissions, material use, and labor conditions.

#7 Circularity Requirements: Also, by 2026, circularity will become a key component of product lifecycle management (PLM), and 60% of APJ organizations will require their IT equipment vendors and partners to provide end-to-end visibility of their sustainability process.

#8: Chief Sustainability Officer Assignments: Also, by 2026, 50% of A2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions.

#9: Experiencing Improved ROI: As the final one in 2026, 70% of organizations with integrated planning and execution will achieve improved operational efficiencies leading to distinctive business benefit of improved ESG and financial performance.

#10: Rise of Social Sustainability: By 2027, 40% of use cases for sustainability/ESG software in APeJ will have a strong focus on social sustainability topics due to organizations’ more integrated approaches to ESG.

*This data on Asia/Pacific companies does not include Japan

Com-ESCO™ (http://www.com-esco.com/ ), a South Florida-based, licensed and insured general contractor and commercial Energy Services Company, and parent of Sustainable Performance Solutions (https://www.susperfsol.com/)  and Sea Coast Professional Window & Door (https://prowinfl.com/),  has continued its environmental sustainability commitment by renewing and extending its Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification through 2023.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) a program designed and priced specifically for them.

The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water, employee health and performance enhancement, community involvement, procurement and suppliers, compliance and regulations, emergency/security, and stakeholder engagement.  Benefits include creating a culture of continual improvement, stakeholder engagement, lower costs, higher revenues and profits, improved employee performance, and…… doing the right thing for the environment and current and future generations.

“We provide a full range of general contracting and ESCO services and are a leader in energy efficient construction”, said Mike Modica, principal in com-ESCO.  “We intimately know the sustainability space and via our various companies, provide products, services, auditing and credentialing, to a large number of clients, domestically and internationally.  We have worked with Edenark Group for years and our views, expectations and standards align with their views, expectations and standards,” added Modica.

“When an organization pursues, and attains, the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification, they are not just doing it to see their costs go down and revenues and profits go up.  They are setting a higher bar for their organization and sending a signal to all those around them,” says David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.  “They are agreeing to adhere to the world’s Gold standard for sustainability certification; are choosing to be a leader and part of the solution, not the problem; and are joining an elite fraternity of over 300,000 organizations, in over 150 countries, that have committed to continually improving in every way.”

com-ESCO (http://www.com-esco.com/ ) can be reached at 888-344-ESCO (3726)

Edenark Group can be reached at +1 561.512.2257

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This article talks about the following five trends to follow this year in the ESG space:

• The Regulatory Tsunami Looks to Hit Shore – As we have reported, the increase in government regulations will start to have a bigger impact on the business community in 2023. Key point – This is just ESG.  This is not all-inclusive.  This does not include carbon emissions or sustainability.  As reported, these laws can domino, with one influencing another.

• U.S. Politics Heat Up – As we have reported, there a huge gap between the operational benefit of ESG at the company level; versus the financial investment market’s attempt to use ESG as a new shinny toy for investors without fully understanding how to define and verify ESG in the companies they include in their ESG funds. Key point – ESG standards and reporting will improve at the operational level; while, short term, given the anti-ESG political movement, most companies will down-play their ESG programs until the smoke clears.

• ESG Data Evolves – The combination of the above two trends leads to this point, which is that stronger ESG-evaluating tools are emerging, to improve accuracy. Key point – The need for accurate ESG data will increase and tools to provide said accuracy will also continue to evolve.

• Growing ESG-Related Allegations and Claims – There will be more claims of misrepresentation and wrongdoing, and more litigation on same. Key point – The easy days of Greenwashing are nearing an end as the need to support your claims with a globally-accepted 3^rd party certification/validation/oversight are upon us.

• Proxy Season Brings Issues into Focus – Many of the shareholder proxy votes focus on ESG topics. Large investors use proxy votes to impact corporate direction on environment and social efforts.  Key point – Environmental and social issues will be subjected to greater scrutiny and will receive stricter and more specific voting to hold companies accountable.

In recent weeks we have shared some scary climate reports; so it is wonderful to share this report.

Per this article, a two-decade-long negotiation between nearly 200 countries has concluded in a treaty to protect marine life in international waters!

• The treaty creates marine protected areas
• It will help us protect 30% of global oceans by 2030 (No, it’s not 100%, but it’s better than 0%)

Now, each country must formally adopt the treaty, so the work is not done.  But, it is a great start!

• Climate feedback loops and thawing ice could be a problem for us and future generations
• Consumers and Employees want your company to have a sustainability strategy
• SMEs that improve their sustainability/ESG plan, stand to gain
• We help our clients that pursue sustainability certification get good press
• Those that become certified sustainable also renew, so something must be working
• Maybe it is because sustainability / climate change is a +$100 Trillion opportunity 

Sustainable Performance Solutions( https://www.susperfsol.com/ ), a Florida-based engineering firm whose practice is limited to energy and sustainability consulting, has continued its environmental sustainability commitment by renewing and extending its Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification through 2023.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) a program designed and priced specifically for them.

The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water, employee health and performance enhancement, community involvement, procurement and suppliers, compliance and regulations, emergency/security, and stakeholder engagement.  Benefits include creating a culture of continual improvement, stakeholder engagement, lower costs, higher revenues and profits, improved employee performance, and…… doing the right thing for the environment and current and future generations.

“We provide all levels of energy audits, general energy efficiency and sustainability studies, energy modeling, various certifications, commissioning, metering and sub-metering, and advanced ventilation strategies”, said Larry Clark, principal in Sustainable Performance Solutions.  “We are a leading sustainability voice, advisor and provider in Florida and the Caribbean.  We have worked with Edenark Group for years and our views, expectations and standards align with their views, expectations and standards,” added Clark.

“When an organization pursues, and attains, the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification, they are not just doing it to see their costs go down and revenues and profits go up.  They are setting a higher bar for their organization and sending a signal to all those around them,” says David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.  “They are agreeing to adhere to the world’s Gold standard for sustainability certification; are choosing to be a leader and part of the solution, not the problem; and are joining an elite fraternity of over 300,000 organizations, in over 150 countries, that have committed to continually improving in every way.”

Sustainable Performance Solutions (  https://www.susperfsol.com/contact-us ) can be reached at 570-854-1199

Edenark Group (https://edenark.com ) can be reached at +1 561.512.2257

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