As a society, we are currently faced with the challenges of climate change, depletion of natural resources, mitigation of our past, present and potential future impacts to the environment and social inequity. Businesses are responding to these challenges by embracing the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable business practices. CSR is closely associated with the concept of a triple bottom line that addresses environment, social and economic issues. By embracing CSR, businesses not only benefit society but they realize a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Our strategic technical consulting enables corporations to minimize future risk, increase market value and improve image. Our methodology begins with a baseline assessment of a company’s existing policies and practices. We then identify areas for improvement, develop sustainable business practice initiatives and oversee their implementation.
Johnson Wright provides the following sustainability consulting services:
- Roadmap to Sustainability Report – As a first step in sustainability process, Johnson Wright develops a company-specific sustainability work plan that serves as a resource and decision making tool to help your business become environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
- Policy Development – Johnson Wright supports companies in the development and improvement of environmental management and climate change policies. These policies provide environmental objectives, goals, best management practices and methods for monitoring performance.
- Greenhouse Gas Inventories – Johnson Wright conducts GHG emissions assessments using protocols from World Resource Institute / World Business Council for Sustainable Development, USEPA and other regional initiatives. Company-wide inventories of GHG emissions can be used to assess climate change risks and seek out opportunities for improvement. We assist companies in joining voluntary federal, state and regional GHG emissions reduction initiatives.
- GHG Emission Reduction Strategy Development – Johnson Wright assists companies in developing strategies to reduce GHG emissions. Depending on the nature of a company’s operations, Johnson Wright may propose an emission reduction pilot study for a particular facility, office or business area. Other steps in this process can include energy auditing and product life cycle analysis.
- Preparation of a Sustainability Report – True benefits of sustainability emerge when businesses report to the public on their initiatives to be good corporate citizens. Johnson Wright prepares annual sustainability reports for companies in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The GRI provides a credible framework for reporting on an organization’s economic, environmental, and social performance, which can be used by organizations of any size, sector, or location. Transparency about the sustainability of organizational activities is of interest to a diverse range of stakeholders, including business, labor, non-governmental organizations, investors, accountancy and others.
- Corporate Social Responsibility Consulting – Johnson Wright supports companies in developing social responsibility initiatives and social performance policies; social accountability auditing; and, ethical supply chain implementation.
- Statement of Impartiality – Johnson Wright, Inc. (JWI) understands the importance of impartiality in audit activities. JWI has a multi step process to ensure the objectivity of the audit activities. This process includes: a review for impartiality by senior management prior to the start of an audit, a system requiring employees (through the employee handbook) and contractors (through the contract agreement) to disclose conflicts of interest to senior management prior to working on an audit project, and a request to the client to provide a list of parties for which it desires a review of potential conflicts (through the client contract). This management system is designed to ensure that a statement of impartiality can be made prior to the start of the audit.