Three South Florida-based firms recognized as experts in providing authentic sustainability solutions have teamed up to assist your small to mid-size business in becoming certified sustainable.

Why is that important?  Three-quarters of Gen X and Gen Z – that account for 64 percent of the world population – consider a business’ sustainability to be more important than its brand.

That’s why certified sustainable businesses are growing as much as 20 times faster than their non-certified competitors.  These consumers are sophisticated enough to see through greenwashing, and we can help you reach those customers.

The first step is for Sustainable Performance Solutions (www.sustainflorida.com) to provide a basic energy audit.  Next, com-ESCO (www.com-esco.com) can project manage any desired positive-ROI energy conservation improvements.  And, finally, Edenark Group (www.edenark.com) will certify your business as sustainable using an internationally recognized certification, the Edenark Group ISO 14001.

These services are designed and priced for small to mid-sized enterprises.

For more information or to start the process, call David Goodman at 844-722-3937.

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Hinkle, Richter & Rhine, LLP, a full-service accounting firm, has become an Environmentally Certified Sustainable Company, under the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 environmental sustainability certification program is the world’s premier sustainability standard, used by organizations around the world, that care about all current, and future, stakeholders.

The program helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water/materials management and reduction, 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, most importantly,…… doing something good for current and future generations.

“When you have served a community for forty years, you have deep roots and a perspective that only comes from experience.  We want our organization to be the best it can be; and we care about our team, our clients, the community, and future generations,” said Darryl Hinkle, Managing Partner of Hinkle, Richter & Rhine.  “As accountants and business advisors, we are always looking for ways to improve an organization, be it ours or our clients’.  This program is designed to accomplish our financial goals of lower costs, higher revenues and profits, and improved team health and performance.  But, we look beyond that and see this program being consistent with how we choose to lead by example; and how we wish to be viewed, in our community, by our clients and by our peers,” added Hinkle.

“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 not just changing out a few light bulbs and calling it a day.  They are agreeing to adhere to the world’s Gold standard for sustainability certification and are joining an elite fraternity of over 300,000 organizations, in over 150 countries, that have committed to continually improving in every way, for the benefit of all of us today, and all of us tomorrow.”

Anna Chashchyna, host of Sustainability Explored, interviews David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group, on the benefits of sustainability certification for small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-o8Tw4Wb3k

If you are a SME (small to mid-sized enterprise), take note – The US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) has published its proposed rule changes that will require companies to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and reports.

These changes will be reviewed for 60 days before, either in current or modified form, they are implemented.  Once in final form, these rule changes that impact publicly traded companies will impact their stakeholders, including their supply chain.

The proposed rule changes would require a company to disclose information about

• its governance of climate-related risks and relevant risk management processes;
• how any climate-related risks identified by the company have had or are likely to have a material impact on its business and consolidated financial statements, which may manifest over the short, medium or long term;
• how any identified climate-related risks have affected or are likely to affect the company’s strategy, business model, and outlook; and
• the impact of climate-related events(severe weather events and other natural conditions) and transition activities on the line items of a company’s consolidated financial statements, as well as on the financial estimates and assumptions used in the financial statements.

The proposed rules also would require a company to disclose information about its Scope 1 and 2 emissions — as well as Scope 3, if material or if the company has set a GHG emissions target that includes Scope 3 emissions.  This Scope 3 component impacts supply chain.

Here is an article with four key takeaways:

• Disclosure mandates will make CEOs more accountable.
• Measuring and reporting ESG is hotly contested.
• Scope 3 emissions are the areas of biggest political divide.
• Companies and other interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed rules.

Yaakov Heisler invited us to speak on his Track For Property Managers podcast show.

Here is the podcast on how commercial property managers can use the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification program to boost profits by positively differentiating your building from competitive buildings; increasing tenant financial performance, thus positively impacting receivables; and positively influencing tenant renewal decisions.

A study of 1,250 managers of companies with +500 employees in the US, UK, France and Germany, produced these results:

• 83% believe ESG factors directly impact a company’s brand reputation
• 87% will maintain or increase ESG program spending
• Environmental issues are viewed as most important; but focusing on all three is also viewed as important

Clearly, ESG is growing in importance with larger companies.  This will directly impact, and present opportunity, for the smaller companies that serve them; as the large companies with ESG commitments, have Scope 3 requirements, which include selecting certified sustainable / carbon neutral vendors to serve them.

Per this article, in slightly more than two months, on 31 October 2022, the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will commence, mandating sustainability reporting for EU data center investors, owners, operators and users.  However, this is not just for data centers.  It is for all businesses.

Being headquartered outside the EU does not offer an exemption.  If an organization has an EU subsidiary that meets the requirements, reporting needs to occur.

Given that reporting will commence in January 2024 (for the 2023 financial year), companies will need to determine their sustainability programs over the next four months (by the end of 2022).

For many, the time to act is now.  For some, you still have time to plan.  Regardless, we strongly recommend reviewing this PPP as you decide your next steps.

Summary of the benefits of the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program:

End Game – Value to You, the Business Owner/Manager

• Doing the right thing for all current and future stakeholders
• Joining the world’s premier environmental sustainability fraternity of organizations
• Alignment with UN / SDGs / COP / Global Community
• International recognition / Being part of the solution
• Differentiation from competition, positively impacting sales
• Introduction to millions of consumers, seeking certified sustainable businesses
• Improved employee health, wellness, attitude and performance
• Improved financial performance (lower costs / higher revenues)
• Improved valuation / brand image / public image / market influence
• Attract/retain staff
• Foundation to build carbon neutrality, ESG and Net Zero programs, if you wish

Summary of What Makes Us Unique

• We took the world’s Gold Standard for sustainability certification – the ISO 14001:2015
• Uniquely customized it for SMEs (small to mid-sized businesses), to dramatically lower the cost
• Uniquely added promotion of the certification, to drive sales/revenues/image
• Uniquely added employee performance/wellness to help staff be happier, healthier and more productive
• Uniquely added design/3^rd party valuation of carbon neutrality and ESG
• No other program offers this combination of features

Summary of Financial Benefits of Sustainability Certification

• Research (not performed or contracted by us) shows the following reported benefits –
  • SMEs certified/promoting our standard are growing 20x faster versus non-certified competitors
  • Overall, +67% investor ROI for certified sustainable companies versus non-certified competitors
  • Overall, enjoy +24.6% Net Income and +11% EBITDA versus non-certified competitors
  • Overall, 10 – 15% market sales performance increase versus non-certified competitors
  • Overall, +4.8% annual stock premium versus non-certified competitors
  • 99% reported net (inclusive of all improved costs) cost reductions
  • 95% reported improved employee wellness and interpersonal interaction
  • 90% reported reduced capital costs (average of 136 basis points on debt and 1.8% on equity)
  • 88% reported improved operational performance / cash flow
  • 81% reported positive impact on consumer decisions, impacting sales/revenues
  • 75% reported improved competitive advantage
  • 75% reported attracting new customers
  • 75% reported improved financial performance
  • 65% reported improved company image
  • 60% reported improved employee engagement
  • 60% reported improved management commitment
  • 55% reported new market penetration

Tess Omo Technologies, Ltd excited to work with Edenark Group on Sustainability Certification, Carbon Neutrality and ESG Planning Process

 Tess Omo Technologies, Ltd, an Ireland-based waste technology company that is building out its service platform, is excited to be under contract with Edenark Group on the Edenark Group ISO 14001 environmental sustainability certification program.

“Our business is designed to reduce waste in an environmental way and recycle client waste back into energy,” says Eugene Ugiagbe, CEO of Tess Omo Technologies, Ltd.  “Our mission is to help organizations repurpose their waste while also reducing their carbon footprint.  Full transparency is critical to our mission.  So, partnering with Edenark Group, which, from our research, offers the top sustainability certification, carbon neutrality and ESG planning process on the planet, was a perfect fit”

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows small to mid-sized enterprises the ability to attain the world’s most popular environmental certification standard via a program designed and priced specifically for them. Edenark Group also helps clients pursue carbon neutrality and start their ESG planning process, using the Edenark Group ISO 14001 as a foundation for long term compliance.

The program 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.

“Tess Omo Technologies, Ltd is the kind of organization we love to work with – committed to sustainability and evolving as an organization.  We are excited to be able to provide advice as they continue to grow and develop,” said David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.

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