Sustainability is a broad concept, but its original purpose is the ability to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This implies the responsible management of natural resources, the promotion of social justice and ethically responsible economic development. Sustainable practices aim to create a balance between environmental protection, social well-being and economic growth. Whether you want to assess how you are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), how you can comply with the CSRD or how you can determine your carbon and water footprints, find out how SIA can support you on the road to sustainability and climate change mitigation.
The right solution for every sector
The path to sustainability for organizations can be carried out in different ways, covering different dimensions, environmental, social, or associated with business conduct, or an integrated approach involving all three. Each organization can adopt specific sustainable practices or a combination of several, depending on its needs, objectives and the triggers that drive this change:
It involves adopting practices to minimize the environmental impact of activities. This can include reducing carbon emissions, efficient waste management and increasing the circularity of resources, the use of renewable energy and natural resource conservation practices.
Actions that benefit workers and the community. This includes practices that guarantee good labor practices, health and safety at work for its workers and in the value chain, respect for human rights and investments to support affected communities.
It refers to corporate governance and its ethical practices. This includes transparency, the fight against corruption, the regulation of lobbying and the adoption of fair and equitable policies within the company.
It combines the three strands in a holistic approach, where sustainability is incorporated into all aspects of the business. This requires a comprehensive management system that integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into all of the organization’s operations and decision-making processes.
Implementing Sustainable Practices
Implementing sustainable practices can vary in complexity and scope. Some organizations may start with simple, specific changes, such as creating codes of conduct or behavioral changes like waste separation. Others may opt for more complex management systems, such as ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, or adopting the rules defined for sustainability reporting based on the standards of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The triggers that motivate organizations to adopt sustainable practices can be diverse:
Growing consumer demand for sustainable products and services can encourage companies to adopt greener and more socially responsible practices. But pressure from customers, and to some extent investors, are the most important factors.
In the EU in particular, there has been an increase in the number of diplomas with sustainability-related obligations. The CSRD plays an important role here, with an impact on companies where it is directly applicable, and indirectly on the value chain.
Access to funding and economic incentives has come to include the need to integrate sustainable practices in order to increase the project’s value. Due to EU regulations, banks and financial institutions are increasingly making access to capital conditional on the adoption of sustainable practices.
Some organizations choose to follow the path to sustainability voluntarily, driven by ethical values, a long-term vision or a commitment to corporate responsibility. The path to sustainability is multifaceted and depends on several factors. Organizations can adopt specific or integrated approaches, depending on the stimulus and ecosystem of their business. SIA provides its services tailored to the needs of each organization.
Find out more about our services
Management System
Implementing sustainable practices can vary in complexity and scope. Some organizations may start with simple, specific changes, such as creating codes of conduct or behavioral changes like waste separation. Others may opt for more complex management systems, such as ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, or adopting the rules defined for sustainability reporting based on the standards of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The triggers that motivate organizations to adopt sustainable practices can be diverse:
The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) introduces a new era of transparency and accountability for organizations, requiring a high level of disclosure of financial and non-financial information. This directive not only increases the amount of information that companies must publish, but also induces the definition and implementation of sustainability practices covering the three ESG strands (environmental, social and governance). The CSRD marks an important step in promoting corporate sustainability, requiring companies to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainability management. By obliging organizations to define policies, establish procedures, set improvement objectives and monitor their progress, the CSRD drives the creation of sustainability management systems that are essential for a more sustainable and responsible future. SIA supports organizations, either in the implementation of the CSRD, including the preparation of the sustainability report, when it is directly applicable, or in cases where it has obligations arising from its value chain, at the request of clients.
The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) are the current standards for sustainability reporting. To meet these requirements, SIA provides specialized support to organizations in preparing their sustainability reports. SIA’s methodology includes:
- Initial Assessment and Diagnosis: Determine the Organization’s current situation in terms of sustainability practices and compliance with CSRD and GRI requirements. This includes identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Dual Materiality Assessment: Definition of a dual materiality assessment and risk assessment methodology to determine the relevant sustainability topics, considering both the company’s impacts and the effects of these factors on the organization itself.
- Development of Policies, Strategy and Sustainability Statement: Supporting the creation of sustainability policies and the sustainability statement, where the respective strategy is defined in accordance with reference standards. This involves defining clear and measurable objectives, as well as integrating these policies into the organization’s activities.
- Data collection and analysis: With the publication of the ESRS standards, in the case of the CSRD, all the information that needs to be made available externally is defined. To do this, organizations have to create internal processes for collecting and analyzing ESG data, including information from the value chain.
- Report preparation: Writing and configuration of the sustainability report in accordance with the CSRD and GRI definitions.
- Verification and Audit: Carry out verifications and audits to confirm that the reports have been drawn up in accordance with the CSRD or GRI, in order to confirm the accuracy and credibility of the report.
- Competence and Training: Providing training for the organization’s people, ensuring that everyone involved knows the requirements and how to comply with the established rules.
- Communication and Dissemination: Support in communicating and disseminating the sustainability report to stakeholders. This includes the creation of summary reports, presentations and support materials for different audiences.
Sustainability reporting in accordance with the CSRD and GRI is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and a systematic approach. SIA’s services are essential to ensure that organizations adapt and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.
SIA offers specialized consultancy services to support organizations in the implementation of Management Systems, covering various regulatory benchmarks, as well as preparing for the certification of these systems. Our aim is to ensure that companies achieve operational excellence, compliance with legislation and continuous improvement in their activities. Objectives
- Implementing Management Systems: Supporting organizations in implementing Management Systems in line with the applicable standards.
- Preparing for Certification: Preparing the company for certification of its Management Systems, ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met.
- Management Systems Audits: Carrying out internal and compliance audits to ensure the effectiveness of the Management Systems implemented.
Normative references covered: – Environment (ISO 14001 and EMAS Regulation): Development of Environmental Management Systems to minimize environmental impacts and promote sustainability. – Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001): Creation of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems to reduce the risks of accidents or occupational diseases, and improve workplaces. – Social Responsibility (SA 8000 or NP 4469): Implementing Social Responsibility Management Systems to promote ethical and sustainable working practices. – Energy (ISO 50001): Setting up Energy Management Systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. – Sustainable Events (ISO 20121): Implementation of Sustainable Event Management Systems. – Anti-corruption (ISO 37001): Development of Anti-Corruption Management Systems. SIA’s consultancy service for implementing Management Systems and carrying out audits guarantees a complete, personalized and integrated approach to helping companies achieve compliance with regulatory benchmarks.
SIA carries out internal audits of management systems in order to assess and guarantee compliance with regulatory benchmarks and the continuous improvement of activities and processes.
SIA has a pool of auditors with competence and experience in various standards and benchmarks, to ensure that the audit process is carried out in a detailed and objective manner, and that it provides the relevant insights for the continuous improvement of the organization’s management systems.
SIA has auditors and/or verifiers with competence in the following standards: – Environment (ISO 14001 and EMAS Regulation).
– Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001).
– Social Responsibility (SA 8000 or NP 4469).
– Energy (ISO 50001).
– Sustainable Events (ISO 20121).
– Anti-corruption (ISO 37001): Development of anti-corruption management systems. Sometimes organizations need, at a preliminary stage or not, to determine the state of the organization’s compliance in the light of a particular benchmark. This diagnostic assessment, called a Gap Analysis, makes it possible to take a snapshot of an organization’s current state, identifying the gaps for the benchmark or benchmarks diagnosed and developing a roadmap, with actions and investments, to adjust the management system to comply with the benchmark under analysis. Given that most of these areas of knowledge are regulated, SIA carries out legal compliance assessments. You can see these services in detail in our Compliance area of expertise.
STUDIES AND EXPERT ADVICE
Studies and expert advice play a crucial role in developing innovative and efficient solutions for companies and organizations.
Through detailed and personalized analysis, these services offer valuable insights that help with strategic decision-making.
Experts in various areas, such as finance, marketing, technology and management, use advanced methodologies and analytical tools to identify growth opportunities, optimize processes and mitigate risks.
SIA supports organizations in developing the methodology for dual materiality assessment and risk analysis, which are essential for determining which sustainability issues or topics are material or relevant as required by the CSRD Directive. The dual materiality assessment covers two main aspects: impact and financial materiality. Impact: This refers to information about the significant impacts of the company’s activities on people or the environment. This includes direct and indirect impacts related to sustainability issues. Financial Materiality: This refers to information about risks and opportunities related to sustainability issues that could have significant financial effects on the company. This includes impacts on financial results, financial position, cash flows, access to financing and cost of capital. The output of this assessment is decisive for starting on the road to sustainability by addressing the really relevant issues.
The carbon footprint is determined so that companies can measure, manage and reduce their greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol and ISO methodologies.
In addition, SIA supports the definition of emission reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). How we do it:
- Initial diagnosis:
– Alignment with the organization’s activities, identification of emission sources and definition of the scope of the GHG inventory; – Preliminary data collection and review of internal documents and previous reports, if available.
- GHG Emissions Inventory:
– Scope 1: Direct emissions from emission sources controlled by the company (e.g. combustion equipment, company vehicles). – Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy purchased and consumed by the company (e.g. electricity, heat, steam). – Scope 3: Other indirect emissions that occur in the Organization’s value chain (e.g. business travel, transport and distribution, use of products sold).
- Carbon Footprint Methodology and Report
– Use of ISO 14064 and ISO 14069 standards to ensure accuracy, transparency and consistency in the quantification and reporting of GHG emissions. – Verification and validation of the information collected to ensure compliance and reduced materiality. – Preparation of a comprehensive report with the carbon footprint of the Organization, or of the products, as defined.
- Setting Emissions Reduction Targets
– Support in identifying emission reduction opportunities and developing mitigation strategies. – Setting science-based emission reduction targets in line with SBTi guidelines. – Preparing the necessary documentation for the submission and validation of the objectives by the SBTi.
SIA offers a specialized service for determining the water footprint of organizations, using methodologies based on international benchmarks. Our aim is to help companies understand, measure and manage their water use, promoting sustainability and water efficiency. SIA bases this service on international standards: – ISO 14046, which provides the principles, requirements and guidelines for assessing the water footprint of products, processes and organizations based on life cycle assessment (LCA); – The Water Footprint Network (WFN) standard, whose widely recognized methodology makes it possible to assess water use and its environmental impact. How we do it:
- Water Use Inventory
– Mapping the company’s activities that consume water directly or indirectly; – Collecting quantitative and qualitative data on water consumption at the various stages of the production process and in the value chain, as applicable.
- Water Footprint Analysis
– Application of the ISO 14046 methodology to assess the water footprint, considering the complete life cycle of products and processes, according to the defined scope. – Calculation of the blue water footprint (consumption of surface and groundwater), green water footprint (consumption of stored rainwater) and gray water footprint (discharged wastewater needed to dilute pollutants).
- Water Footprint Report
– Preparation of a detailed report with the results of the water footprint assessment. – Presentation of recommendations for reducing the water footprint and improving the management of water resources.
SIA offers assessment and implementation services for circular economy strategies. What are the objectives of the service?
- Circularity Assessment: Analyzing the flow of materials and resources in the organization to identify opportunities for circularity;
- Developing a Circularity Strategy: Defining adapted guidelines for implementing circular economy practices.
- Implementing Solutions: Supporting organizations in adopting practical solutions that promote the reuse, recycling and reduction of waste.
How we do it:
- Initial Diagnosis
– Alignment to understand the activities, scope of the service and specific objectives. – Assessment of processes, practices and procedures associated with resource and waste management and identification of potential areas for the application of circular economy principles.
- Resource Flow Analysis
– Detailed mapping of material and waste flows in the organization. – Identification of critical points where resources are wasted or underused.
- Developing Circularity Strategies
– Proposing actions to increase the efficiency of resource use, including material substitution, waste reuse and product design for recyclability. – Creation of an action plan with specific targets and performance indicators for ongoing monitoring.
- Implementing Practical Solutions
– Support in implementing the actions defined, including the integration of new technologies and operational practices. – Development of training programs to enable the team to apply circular economy principles.
- Partnerships and Collaboration
– Identifying opportunities for collaboration with other companies, research institutions and recipients of waste for reuse and/or recycling to promote circularity throughout the value chain.
- Reporting and Communication
– Drawing up detailed reports on the results achieved with the implementation of the circular economy strategy. – Developing communication materials to disseminate sustainability efforts and achievements to stakeholders.
TRAINING
Environmental and energy legislation and ISO 14001, ISO 50001 standards
Environmental and energy legislation establishes guidelines to protect the environment and promote energy efficiency. ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 are international standards that help organizations manage environmental impacts and improve energy performance, respectively. ISO 14001 focuses on the implementation of environmental management systems, while ISO 50001 deals with the creation of energy management systems. Both standards encourage sustainable practices, legal compliance and continuous improvement, contributing to companies’ environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.
Talk to the expert!
Sónia Cardoso
Sustainability Specialist
sonia.cardoso@sia.pt
Tel: +351 229 383 535
Talk to the expert!
Ana Viras
Sustainability Specialist
ana.viras@sia.pt
Tel: +351 229 383 535
