The ISO Show

As the sustainability crisis grows more pressing each passing year, companies are increasingly being required to comply with various sustainability regulations and legislation, most of which include the need to monitor and verify your carbon emissions. Calculating these carbon emissions can be tricky, especially if you have a lot of sites or international locations that require conversions. This is where dedicated carbon accounting software can save you a lot of headache! In the second episode of the Platform to Proof mini-series, we invite Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, back onto the podcast to discuss how carbon accounting software can be utilised on your carbon verification journey, and explore the additional benefits provided by this technology. You'll learn · What is the role of carbon accounting platforms and how does carbon accounting software help to overcome the challenges that organisations are facing today? · How does carbon accounting software work? · What additional benefits are there from using carbon accounting software? · Why is carbon verification becoming increasingly important? · How can carbon accounting software encourage a culture shift? Resources · Gravity · Carbonology In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, who will accompany Mel on a 3-part mini-series diving into carbon accounting software and the value it can bring. In this second episode Mel and Jay explore how carbon accounting software and verification work together for carbon compliance, in addition to the other benefits companies can gain from utilising carbon software. [02:30] Catch-up on the first part – If you missed our first episode in the series, go back and listen to that before continuing. It gives a more in-depth introduction to Jay, Gravity and carbon accounting software in general. [04:05] What is the role of carbon accounting platforms and how does carbon accounting software help to overcome the challenges that organisations are facing today?: Jay has had many conversations with those that have had challenges historically with gathering the data needed for carbon calculation and verification. As we see more regulations and legislation, this challenge is passed down to those just starting on their journey. Carbon accounting software can help ease the burden involved with these tasks. This can come in the form of making it easy to aggregate the data and doing the necessary calculations while maintaining a trail of where all that information comes from. There's also an audit trail available for the calculations done, which can be monitored and dug down further into. There's scope in many dedicated carbon accounting platforms for you to be able to dig deeper into your data if needed. Lastly, this level of transparency in the data is often a requirement of going through full carbon verification in alignment with best practice standards (such as ISO 14064). Ultimately, carbon accounting software can make the verification process go a lot more smoothly. [09:05] How does carbon accounting software work? Jay breaks this down to help define the purpose of carbon accounting software, and the additional benefits it can bring, including: A centralised place for carbon data: Often times, businesses need to pull data from a wide variety of places, and collating that data is always a challenge. Dedicated software allows for easier collection and storage of data from all of the necessary sources, such as utilities, logistics and finance. Carbon accounting software will often allow for integrations that allow for existing systems to feed data into the software without any extra burden. With the addition of AI tools, they can even allow for automatic document processing that can interpret the meaning of utility bills, fuel invoices, waste receipts ect to save on manual data entry. Carbon calculation: Another headache associated with carbon reporting is the calculation utilising all that data you've painstakingly collected. There're often additional layers such as conversion or emission factors that need to be considered when making these calculations. Carbon Accounting Software can do all of this for you, saving you the trouble and potential of making mistakes. This in addition to the transparency offered as the software will provide an audit trail to show how it arrived at the final numbers. Carbon Reporting: This isn't a feature in all carbon related software, but it can be another time saver if you find one that does. The raw calculations data will only get you so far, and that alone may not be enough to meet the requirements of whichever framework you need to comply with. Carbon software can assist with putting those calculations into a usable reporting format. This report and data can then be analysed and used for meaningful action, in addition to complying with a number of different frameworks. Carbon reduction: Some carbon accounting software will also have the additional bonus of being able to help you source potential solutions and vendors to help reduce your carbon emissions. This more proactive stance on taking your findings and making improvements is voluntary in a lot of schemes currently, but we are seeing a rise in a mandatory requirements to show evidence of carbon reduction, so it's better to get your head around this sooner rather than later. [15:20] Why is carbon verification becoming increasingly important? Sustainability is no longer isolated to one person or department in an organisation, there's an increasing overlap of sustainability with other functions such as financial reporting. It also coincides with those working towards ESG compliance, as the data collection, calculations and reporting infrastructure for sustainability information can have a very big practical effect. The need for transparency regarding sustainability is also becoming a bigger concern for customers and stakeholders, so naturally, companies are taking it more seriously as more questions are being asked of them in that regard. Having the data and paper trails (or software trails if you prefer) to back up their claims is vital. [19:20] How can carbon accounting software encourage a culture shift? Carbon accounting software is the glue that pulls all the elements of carbon compliance together. It's often the case that the person responsible for the software in a company is crucial for the full verifications process as well. Though the gathering of data is a team process, and if embedded correctly, then it can act as a catalyst for a cultural shift towards sustainability. Not everyone has to have knowledge of all the inner workings of carbon collection, calculation and reporting, but by being involved in the process they can feel a sense of accomplishment when milestones are reached. By spreading the burden companies can also afford to spend a lot more time working on this than they would have otherwise. Carbon accounting software can help this along by ensuring the data gets where it needs to go, and to make the process simpler for all those involved. The use of both a team-based approach in tandem with dedicated software can also help in regard to risk mitigation by removing single points of failure. Carbon reporting and verification is an annual task, so when people come and go from the business, it's key that you have the necessary skills, people and tools to help facilitate that process through those organisational changes. If you'd like to learn more about Gravity and how their energy and carbon accounting software can help you, check out their website. If you'd like to ask Jay any questions directly, feel free to send him an email. If you'd like any assistance with Carbon Verification, get in touch with the Carbonology team, they'd be happy to help! We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

One of the biggest hurdles for businesses when embarking on their journey to net zero is the calculation required for carbon verification. Depending on the nature and size of a business, it can be quite the undertaking! Those looking to tackle this challenge have various options available to them, including the use of dedicated carbon accounting software, which we'll explore in our latest mini-series: From Platform to Proof. In the first episode of this series, we introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, to explore the key drivers behind carbon accounting and reporting and how you can maximise value from going through the process. You'll learn · Who is Jay Ruckelshaus? · Who are Gravity? · Why do businesses measure their carbon footprint? · Why is the language of business value becoming more important for sustainability professionals? · What are the key drivers for carbon accounting? · How has GHG emissions reporting helped to drive business value? · What should businesses be thinking about to maximise business value? · How can businesses keep up with ever changing sustainability legislation? · The importance of data quality · How can carbon accounting software help? Resources · Gravity · Carbonology In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, who will accompany Mel on a 3-part mini-series diving into carbon accounting software and the value it can bring. In this first episode, they explore the key drivers behind carbon accounting and reporting, and how businesses can maximise the value from the process. [03:10] Who is Jay Ruckelshaus? Jay's involvement in sustainability was almost an inevitability, coming from a family of environmental lawyers. Energy, climate and sustainability were topics that often came up at the dinner table, and so it remained a subject near and dear to his heart. Initially, Jay thought he would remain in the academic world, studying polarisation and exploring how energy intensive industries think about sustainability. He found his enthusiasm spiked when working directly with companies and individuals on these topics. As a result, he broke out of the academic world to join forces with a few technology leaders to develop a solution to help businesses measure and reduce their emissions. [04:45] Who are Gravity?: Jay founded Gravity 4 years ago (2021). It provides a carbon and energy management platform, which assists businesses with compliance to the alphabet soup of sustainability legislation currently in effect, such as CSRD and TCFD. This platform also uses the data collected to help businesses find and invest in projects to help reduce their emissions, which ultimately saves on energy, costs and utilities. Their aim was to make it easier for businesses to report their emissions, by streamlining the collection process, and using the data to pre-qualify potential vendors that would fit the businesses needs when it comes to the reduction phase. Jay initially started with emissions heavy industries such as construction, manufacturing logistics, utilities, metals, mining, energy ect. These are industries where data collection can be very challenging, so it provided a very solid base for their software so that it could tackle these challenges first and provide a way for them to work with various e-commerce, software companies and financial institutions, all within one system. [09:05] Why do businesses measure their carbon footprint? Historically, back in the 70's, 80's and 90's, sustainability was often wrapped up in the wider corporate social responsibility movement. We've seen a lot of change in the last decade, where we used to have strictly voluntary schemes such as CSR, that are now transitioning into a requirement. Whether that be by stakeholders or legislation. We've also seen a greater interest in ESG metrics, which require solid figures to back up your claims. This trend follows from the introduction of mandatory legislation from the European Union's CSRD, which is trickling into California law as around 10,000 companies of a certain size that operate in California must now disclose their carbon emissions. [11:40] Why is the language of business value becoming more important for sustainability professionals? It wasn't too long ago that sustainability professionals were lumped in with groups that managed general social responsibility. We're seeing more dedicated and senior roles in relation to sustainability, such as 'Chief Sustainability Officer'. These roles now integrate with most every branch of an organisation, from the financial reporting to the general strategy for the business. It becomes a central part of the business. Its role can reap many benefits for businesses that embed it effectively, including cost cutting, energy reduction, creation or use of innovative products, opening doors to new markets and investment opportunities. [14:15] What are the key business drivers for carbon accounting? There are many benefits for carbon accounting, such as: - Saving energy: Energy prices are volatile, and often on the rise. Carbon accounting allows you to have a full view on what you're consuming and where you can reduce or look to more efficient options. Building in sustainability from the top down: With increasing scrutiny from stakeholder and consumers regarding sustainability, it's in leaderships interest to ensure that sustainability is embedded in your business strategy. This alignment sets you up well for the future, In addition to creating an avenue to reap other benefits from meaningful sustainability action. New opportunities: Embarking on your sustainability journey will open many new doors. Whether this be for innovative new technology, new partners and suppliers that better align with your values, or access to new investment opportunities. [18:05] How has GHG emissions reporting helped to drive business value? Businesses that get their emissions verified against ISO 14064 can benefit from improved insurance rates and access to green finance. It's also a necessary step towards energy and cost savings. You can't reduce what you can't measure. Doing this correctly will require time and resources, thankfully we're at a time where there are a lot of tools to help businesses with data collection for reporting purposes. The key is to understand where you currently stand, and where you can make improvements. From there you can look at vendors to assist and what financing is available to help facilitate the required changes. Jay states an example of where Gravity managed to save a US based aluminum foundry over $400,000 in energy costs from their initial assessment. This was achieved through identifying energy hotspots and finding vendors and initiatives to help reduce the energy use and costs. [21:15] What should businesses be thinking about to maximise business value?: The biggest challenge for carbon accounting is typically gathering the data. There are a lot of things to consider, facility energy usage, travel, home workers ect. To make this easier, you should ideally have a centralised location to report and track your emissions data. You also need to ensure that this is as accurate as possible. In order to make sure this doesn't turn into an annual tick-box exercise, you need to embed proactive processes for monitoring and measuring this data. This way, when you have anomalies in energy usage, you can identify these quickly and put plans in place to address it. [24:25] How can businesses keep up with ever changing sustainability legislation? In recent years, the goal posts for specific sustainability regulation and legislation has changed a lot. This is in part due to convergence that is happening between the frameworks, countries and Governments adopting the best bits out of other requirements to make theirs more robust. So, while a lot of the information they're asking for is largely the same, it can still be very confusing to navigate. Jay advises that businesses focus on getting a core system for reporting, monitoring and measuring energy usage and carbon emissions in place. Depending on the requirements that you need to adhere to, you can slice and dice that data up however it's needed, but setting up a unified approach that's embedded throughout your business to get the data needed is they key. [28:40] The Importance of data quality: Your first attempt at this process will likely be rough and ready. Gathering the basics of what's available such as utility bills and general energy usage. Presenting this estimation can make for a great business case to put in place measures to get more granular data. The more granular the data, the more insightful it can be, offering you more opportunities to save money and implement reduction initiatives. This data will reveal trends, form benchmarks and present opportunities for meaningful action that benefits both the business and the environment, all while satisfying your legal and regulatory requirements. [30:50] How can carbon accounting software help?: Data collection is hard, getting the data where you need it to be can be nightmare, especially when multiple departments are involved. Having a centralised location makes this task a lot easier. Calculating this data into something usable is also tricky, and would likely require a skillset that you won't have readily available. This may also involve knowledge of conversion factors if you have multiple international locations. Having a system that can manage all of this, while using methodologies that are in alignment with best practice standards is crucial. Lastly, technology such as carbon accounting software, can really help with creating a proactive approach to the measurement and reporting process. It can reveal anomalies and trends to be acted on, as it can help source vendors and projects to help with emission reductions. If you'd like to learn more about Gravity and how their energy and carbon accounting software can help you, check out their website. If you'd like any assistance with Carbon Verification, get in touch with the Carbonology team, they'd be happy to help! We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

Minoo Agarwal, a QHSE Consultant at Blackmores and ISO 14001 champion, shares her unique journey into ISO consulting, inspired by her father. She discusses the challenges of implementing ISO standards, the joy of helping clients prepare for audits, and the importance of personal connections in her work. Minoo also reflects on how her family background shaped her career, emphasizing a blend of passion and dedication to quality management that drives her success.

The process of verifying your carbon emissions requires a lot of data gathering, number crunching and in some cases conversion if you're international. It's certainly no small task! However, it's worth the effort. With it completed you will have a much better idea of your current impact and be able to make better informed decisions on how to reduce it. When starting out on your verification journey you'll need to start with calculating your scope 1 & 2 emissions, these are the direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that your business is responsible for. That alone can be quite a mammoth task, especially if you have a lot of locations worldwide, such is the case as today's guest: Culligan. In this episode, Mel is joined by Martin Murden, ESG Manager at Culligan International, to discuss why Culligan started their verification journey, the key insights uncovered, and the challenges involved with calculating emissions for a large international organisation. You'll learn · Who is Martin Murden? · Who are Culligan International? · Why are Culligan seeking third-party verification for scope 1 & 2? · Key insights uncovered as a result of verification · What changes have they made to their data collection processes? · How did internal teams find the experience? · How have Culligan utilised verified data? · What is the biggest misconception about the verification process? Resources · Culligan International · Carbonology · Culligan 2024 ESG Report In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Mel Blackmore is joined by Martin Murden, ESG Manager at Culligan, to discuss their carbon verification journey and explore the challenges associated with calculating scope 1 & 2 emissions for a large international organisation. [03:25] Who is Martin Murden? Martin is an ESG Manager at Culligan, his role focuses more on the environmental aspect of ESG compliance. His main role involves looking after Culligan's carbon emissions, carbon reduction plan, evaluating use of resources and exploring initiatives to reduce their current impact. One fun fact that not many people know about Martin, one of his ancestors was involved in the creation of Turkish delight! [06:25] Who are Culligan International? Culligan International are a global leader in water services. Their solutions provide cleaner, safer, better tasting water. While not a household name here in the UK, chances are if you're refilling a bottle from a cooler, it's likely derived from one of Culligan's brands. They own over 100 businesses in over 40 countries, with more than 600 sites ranging from warehouses and offices to production and water bottling plants. They also manage 7000 vehicles which help with delivering, installing and maintaining their equipment. With over 15,000 people working at Culligan, it's clear to say that it's a large organisation with a lot of moving parts. They keep sustainability at the heart of their business, working to discourage the use of single use plastic, and looking at other ways to reduce their impact via their supply chain. [08:45] Why did Culligan seek third-party carbon verification? – There were a few reasons, including: - Regulatory requirements: Being a global business, there are a number of mandatory reporting requirements coming down the pipeline in certain countries they operate in, such as Australia and Mexico, Canada, California. Accuracy: Part of these requirements is assuring the transparency and accuracy of the data. Third-party assurance is essential to meet mandatory reporting requirements, in addition to being an added level of assurance for stakeholders. From an internal point of view, it also gives the ESG team more confidence in the gathered data, allowing them to form a more robust baseline for their decarbonisation strategy. [10:15] Culligan's decarbonisation strategy – In 2024, Culligan published a number of commitments, one of those was to reduce its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 40% by 2035. They built a decarbonisation plan based on information that they had available internally. This consisted of looking at vehicle fleet use and facilities use, how large they are and what kind of energy sources they use. They also spoke to individual business units to understand where it may be possible to switch to renewable energy sources, how initial energy use could be reduced and making use of lower carbon vehicles. They were confident in their ability to reduce their impact, but they needed that third-party assurance that their initial baseline was as accurate as possible. [11:35] Is this the first time Culligan has gone through a formal verification process? – While they have measured their carbon emissions since 2022, they have never formally gone through the full verification process before. [11:55] How did they prepare for the formal verification process? – The first step was selecting a reputable carbon verification body to verify their calculations. They opted to go ahead with Carbonology, spending a lot of time with their assigned auditor to: · Understand what the requirements were · Ascertain what the priorities were · Understand what evidence was required They also needed to clearly communicate internally so that all their stakeholders and data owners were aware of what was required from them and when they needed to provide it by. Martin has found that over the past 3 years of collating data required for carbon emission calculations, they have greatly improved their level of accuracy and accountability. With the goal of carbon verification providing a much-needed focus, they've been able to identify potential gaps in their evidence received from local data owners. [14:10] How did Culligan find the experience of working with Carbonology?:- They were pleasantly surprised! ISO Standard audits can be daunting at the best of times as you're not really sure what to expect, however, Carbobology were great at guiding the process so it all ran smoothly. This included a process of daily review meetings and establishing a daily agenda and priorities. Martin found himself looking forward to those meetings as they opened up the opportunity to discuss how to improve the accuracy of data in addition to the collection methods. [16:05] What were the key insights Culligan found when going through the carbon verification process? – They certainly had a few surprises along the way, mostly positive, including: - Exposing inaccuracies: There were cases of inaccuracies in their original data, where data owners accidentally added an extra 0, or accidentally selected gigawatt hours instead of kilowatt hours when uploading submissions. Going through this process allowed them to tidy up their data. Identifying high energy usage: Using this updated accurate data, they could then identify what sites had a higher-than-average rate of energy consumption. Holistic approach: The data provided a fuller picture of where their emissions were over or understated. They could then interrogate any irregularities and look at where improvements could be made, in addition to updating their data collection methods where necessary. [18:35] What changes have Culligan made to their data collection and reporting process as a result of verification? – They're now looking at other options for collecting data. Ideally, they'd like to connect their data to a centralised sources, rather than having to approach each business individually. With over 100 businesses owned, you can appreciate that this is quite a time consuming task! There are other opportunities such as getting API links in place directly with their back office systems and utility providers, so that manual intervention isn't required. Technology related to carbon data collection is advancing each year, there are a number of platforms that can make this process more efficient. For example, Culligan are looking into OCR software that can read PDF supplier invoices so that this no longer has to be a manual activity. Looking forward, they would like to capture evidence needed for the audit process at the point of data entry, rather than having to ask data owners a second time to provide copies of invoices they'd already populated in a different database. [20:55] Were there any unexpected challenges or collaboration as a result of the carbon verification process? – Martin was expecting some pushback, however he was pleasantly surprised with the amount of buy-in they had from local business units. It seemed they really understood the benefits to the business on their level and for Culligan as a whole. As they'd been collating data for a few years now, a process was already in place meaning there was minimal work to do on their end. Many of their local businesses have found it a real benefit to have this information available, as many clients and prospective clients are asking about their sustainability credentials. Also, having credible third-party verification validating their claims gives them a step up from competitors, in addition to providing those clients assurance that Culligan followed due diligence. [23:05] What additional value has third-party verification provided? –The main benefits were strengthening stakeholder trust and improved reporting confidence internally. The initial reactions that Culligan had from colleagues once they'd shared the news that they'd passed the accreditation was an extremely positive one. Shortly after they were inundated with requests from their global business units for copies of the ISO certificate provided by Carbonology, so that they could share it with their clients and customers. It's also provided some much-needed confidence to the ESG team in terms of combatting claims of greenwashing. With verification against the internally recognised standard ISO 14064, they know they won't have anyone challenging the validity of their carbon emission figures. [25:00] How else will the verified data be utilised across Culligan? – Sustainability is a key focus for Culligan, this information provides a starting point for meaning reduction in their impact, in addition to satisfying stakeholder requirements and requests for the data. It short, it benefits everyone. Culligan have recently published their 3rd annual ESG report, and the verification is referred to regularly throughout that report, in addition to their external communications throughout the year. This step has shown that they're not simply jumping on the Net Zero bandwagon, they want to really understand their impact so that they can make meaningful change. In the short-term, they're looking to tackle their scope 3 emissions within the next 12 months, and hopefully get third-party verification for those as well. [27:15] What are Culligan's medium and long terms goals for sustainability? – Scope 3 is the next thing they want to tackle, however, that will not be a small undertaking. They used predominantly purchased goods and services data to estimate their upstream emissions, so they need to hone in on those and ensure that they retain the same level of accuracy and consistency as the process used to calculate the scope 1 and 2 emissions. The ESG journey is not linear, and will constantly adapt and flex as they move forward. Their main goal is simply to reduce emissions, through a reduction in resources used and the promotion of sustainability efforts such as reducing the use of single use plastic. [29:05] What is the biggest misconception about the verification process? – For Martin, this is the fear of the unknown. For a large organisation like Culligan, this was daunting at first. Having to communicate to all their different stakeholders what the requirements are and what data and evidence was needed. For the verification process, it was a worry if they were in for a long and painful process. In actuality, it was 8 days worth of preparation followed by 8 days of reviewing, which was much more painless than anticipated! It's all about establishing effective processes to manage this task on an annual basis. It will soon become business as usual, so the burden will reduce year on year. It can be challenging to start with, which is where third-party expertise can help fill the gaps in your knowledge. [31:35] Martin's book recommendations – The Coming Storm: Why water will write the 21st century by Liam Fox [26:35] Martin's favorite quotes – 'We don't need 100 perfect activists, but millions of imperfect ones' – Clover Hogan founder of Force of Nature. 'Preserve wildlife. Pickle a squirrel.' – Philosophy from a London bathroom stall. If you'd like to learn more about Culligan, check out their Website and Linkedin. If you'd like any assistance with Carbon Verification, feel free to get in touch with Carbonology, they'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

Andrew Barnes, Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia, shares his expertise in navigating the complexities of ISO 55001 certification. He discusses lessons learned during their three years of recertification, focusing on effective asset management strategies that minimize risk and enhance service levels. From humorous anecdotes about his early career to insights on preparing for ISO standards, Barnes emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and innovation in the transportation sector, shedding light on how they keep operations running smoothly.

ISO certification is more than just earning a certificate, and it requires continuous maintenance to both retain certification and drive effective improvements. Over the course of your 3-year certification cycle, you will need to ensure your Management System is regularly updated and reviewed so that it remains relevant to the way you're currently working. That in addition to annual tasks such as internal auditing and management review, it can be a lot to keep on top of. Which is why some turn to external ISO Support. In this episode, Steph Churchman explains what ISO Support is, the challenges of managing ISO internally and the benefits of external support. You'll learn · What is ISO Support? · What tasks can you outsource · Challenges of managing ISO internally · What are the benefits of ISO Support? Resources · Isologyhub · ISO Support Plan In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Steph explains what is meant by ISO Support, explains the challenges with managing ISO internally and the benefits of engaging in external support. [02:20] What is ISO Support? ISO certification involves a 3-year cycle, where you will be subjected to an annual Surveillance audit by your certification body. On year 3, you will need to undertake a recertification audit, which will determine if you can keep your ISO certification. During that cycle, you will be required to complete annual tasks such as internal auditing, documentation updates and management review to ensure that your management system is effective in driving continual improvement. ISO Support is a service provided by an external party to help facilitate the management of these annual tasks, usually undertaken by a dedicated ISO consultancy. [03:40] What tasks can be outsourced? To learn about what tasks can be outsourced, check out a previous episode. [03:55] ISO Management Challenge #1: Internal auditors not being comfortable about auditing their peers - It may be the case that certain individuals do no get on, however if someone manages a key process or area of the business, they still need to be audited. There's also the chance for auditors to be misunderstood, or have trouble getting the answers they need from auditees. Auditing requires the ability to effectively communicate and make yourself understood. It's quite common for auditees to ask for further clarification on questions asked, so you need to be able to work with them so that they understand what you're really asking. [04:45] ISO Management Challenge #2: Internal auditors not being particularly objective or impartial when auditing leadership – It can be hard to be impartial towards leadership, even if it is ultimately in their best interest! These dynamics can be habitual, but by not pointing out genuine issues or opportunities for improvement, you dimmish the purpose of the exercise. This also involves any leadership being receptive to feedback given. If this hasn't been taken well in the past, it's understandable for individuals to be hesitant doing so again, even if it's a necessary part of the process. [05:35] ISO Management Challenge #3: Fed up with paying for training for a high turnover of internal auditors - Internal Auditing will require a qualification, which will cost money. It's not a tremendous amount for these courses, but it would be an extra thing to budget for, and then there's factoring the time to complete the course which takes away from that individuals other responsibilities. It can also be frustrating when your only Internal Auditor moves on and so you have to train another. Depending on the business, this could happen quite frequently and so ends up being a repetitive expense. You will also need to ensure any current auditors are competent to audit against any new ISO Standards that you may add along the way. [06:35] ISO Management Challenge #4: Managers not having time to update processes - Your Management system is likely owned by either just 1 individual or by a small team within the business. Those involved will already have their plates full with day-to-day operations, and anything ISO related is just another task to add onto that pile. In the eyes of many, they may seem unimportant in comparison, and will continually get shuffled down the priority list until it's time for a Surveillance Audit. There will also be a certain amount of documentation to review and update on a regular basis. Even those with mature systems can experience trouble with duplicated processes, or confusion with old versions, and finding the time to sit and refresh all of that is often hard to accomplish. [07:30] ISO Management Challenge #5: Managers not aware of their legal, regulatory or ISO Standards requirements - As ISO Standards lay out best practice, they do require businesses to be aware of and adhere to relevant legislation and regulations. Managers will likely not be an expert in ISO Standards or legislation, so it can be easy for things to get missed if they've not had sufficient training beforehand. It will take time for relevant individuals within a business to be trained, or complete CPD to be fully competent to ensure full ISO and legal compliance. [08:25] ISO Management Challenge #6: Not updating key information i.e. Risk Register, BCP's, environmental/energy metrics - Monitoring and measuring is a big part of ISO Management. You need to document certain metrics if you want to track them effectively. You will also need to update key documentation, as nothing stays the same forever. Major business changes may prompt updates to key policies and procedures. You may have opportunities to improve that fall out of audits that require certain documentation to be updated. Or correcting things where non-conformities have been raised. These updates are necessary to keep the momentum of a management system going. It needs to grow with you, which it will fail to do if everything documented is only applicable to how your business operated a few years ago. [09:15] ISO Management Challenge #7: Not reviewing key information i.e. Objectives, Environmental/H & S/Data Security trends - Objectives is another key metric that should be reviewed on a regular basis. To not only establish if you are making progress with them, but also to possibly adjust if the original plans were too lofty. They should still be a challenge to obtain, but we're all only human and sometimes our first estimates about what's achievable might be a tad too ambitious. There is also a need to review audit results to see if there's any trends in areas such as info sec, sustainability and risk. This could be opportunities for improvement or some reoccurring issues that need to be addressed. All of this monitoring is going to require dedicated time from relevant personal, including feeding back results and following through with further actions. [10:55] ISO Support Benefit #1: Expertise and Specialisation - Dedicated ISO consultants will keep you up-to-date with the latest standard revisions, interpretations, and best practices. This includes their experience with helping businesses to plan and conduct annual maintenance. They are there as a guiding hand and can be a great sounding board for you if you have questions surrounding ideas or actions that you're unsure about. Their help ensures your system is maintained effectively and most importantly, compliantly. [11:40] ISO Support Benefit #2: Cost Savings - While there's a fee for outsourcing, it's often more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house team or dedicating significant internal resources. As mentioned earlier, you would need qualified internal auditors at the very least, this will require training costs. You also need to consider the time taken out of individual's typical working schedule to be able to conduct annual ISO maintenance, this will take away from their day-to-day tasks. We took this into consideration when creating our ISO Support Plan option, which is a 3-year contract that allows you to stay at a fixed rate for those 3-years. It's a set it and forget it approach to ISO Support, which is flexible on both the number of days required annually in addition to the tasks you'd like support with. [12:35] ISO Support Benefit #3: Reduced Workload for Internal Staff - It's often the case that Individuals, especially in SMEs, often wear many hats. Adding ISO maintenance onto that will impact on their day-to-day activities. Outsourcing frees up their time and resources, allowing them to focus on core business activities rather than the complexities of ISO maintenance. A lot of people don't take training into consideration for people who get handed the task of maintaining a management system. It's a lot of unnecessary stress when they've likely already got enough on their plate. Outsourcing will take a lot of that burden away, and give them a chance to lean on consultant guidance and be able to learn how to manage the tasks without fear of jeopardising the company's certification. [13:30] ISO Support Benefit #4: Impartiality and Objectivity - An external consultant can offer an unbiased perspective on your management system's performance, identifying areas for improvement that might be overlooked by internal staff due to familiarity, bias or ingrained practices. A fresh pair of eyes can provide a lot of valuable insight, in addition to their lessons learned from other clients. It also helps to have another unbiased voice on your side if you have suggestions for improvement that need presenting to leadership. It should also be noted that impartial audits are a requirement of ISO Standards, this is so you're not marking your own homework all the time. It's another level of assurance that you are doing what you say you're doing. [14:20] ISO Support Benefit #5: Continuity and Risk Mitigation - Employee turnover can disrupt internal ISO maintenance. Outsourcing provides continuity, as any external provider will be available for the duration of an agreed contract, there's no ambiguity on how long you have their support for. They will help you plan out what needs to be done, and facilitate this with the relevant individuals within your business. [15:00] ISO Support Benefit #6: Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness - External specialists will have the experience to help streamline processes and tools for maintenance activities. Making the system and it's running more efficient, leaving you with more time to implement worthwhile changes that reap tangible results. Having their guidance from the start means you'll be hitting the ground running. At Blackmores, we ensure that annual activities are planned out in advance so everyone can be prepared and work on a consistent schedule. [15:40] ISO Support Benefit #7: Enhanced Compliance and Audit Readiness - Outsourced consultants are going to be more adept at ensuring the system remains fully compliant with ISO standards. As they can proactively identify and address non-conformities that could easily be missed by those with significantly less auditing experience. There is a level of experience that is tricky to achieve if you do not regularly conduct internal audits. Consultants know what to look for, and will often have significant industry experience to know what stones to unturn to find issues and opportunities. Afterall, that is the purpose of internal audits, to not only check that process, policies and procedures are being followed, but to seek out where you can be doing better, or fixing issues as your business changes and adapts. [16:40] ISO Support Benefit #8: Focus on Core Business Activities - By offloading the burden of ISO maintenance, you can re-allocate your focus and resources to core business activities and strategic initiatives. ISO Consultants can take a lot of the mental burden of managing ISO systems away. There will still be homework to do on your side, as ultimately, you know how your business works best, but a consultant will guide you through what needs to be done. We know that many of you tasked with ISO compliance in your business have another primary role that requires a lot more of your attention. So make it easier on yourselves with the help of an expert, so you can get on and do what you need to do with minimal interruption. [17:30] ISO Support Benefit #9: Potential for Scalability and Flexibility - Outsourced services can often be scaled up or down based on the business's needs, offering flexibility that an internal team might not be able to provide, especially during periods of growth, crisis or during large projects. ISO Consultants can help either pick up the slack or give you more of the rope to handle annual ISO maintenance depending on what you need or want. At Blackmores, we have an ISO Support Plan that can be tailored to your exact needs, including the options to complete tasks such as:- · Conducting impartial internal audits · Providing surveillance support · Updating legal registers · Documentation updates · Conducting annual management reviews With 3 levels of support available, we have no issue with you increasing or decreasing days required each year, or varying the tasks depending on where you need the most support. If you'd like any assistance with ISO Support, feel free to get in touch with us, we'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

ISO Standards are often a must have due to stakeholder requirements, whether that's from your customers, investors or regulators. The need for multiple ISO certifications is also becoming more common, which can become a tricky task to juggle if you're managing these as separate systems. The solution? An Integrated Management System. In this episode, Steph Churchman explains what an integrated management system is, how the Annex SL format facilitates integration and the benefits and challenges involved with an IMS. You'll learn · What is an Integrated Management System? · Why consider an IMS? · What is the Annex SL format? · What are the benefits of an IMS? · What are the challenges of implementing an IMS? Resources · Isologyhub In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Steph explains what an Integrated Management System is, how the Annex SL format makes this possible and dives into the benefits and challenges associated with an IMS. [02:20] What is an Integrated Management System? Often abbreviated to 'IMS', it simply refers to a management system based off certification to or alignment with multiple ISO Standards. For example, a company may be certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 but will only have 1 Management system rather than 3 sperate systems. [03:30] What is the Annex SL format? The Annex SL format was applied to most ISO Standards back in 2015. This format helped to create a consistent 10 clause structure which makes it simple to integrate multiple ISO Standards. Before this was introduced, not all Standard clauses aligned, making it difficult to audit against and combine with other Standards, even if they had similar requirements. [04:00] The Annex SL 10 Clause Structure explained:– · The first 3 clauses are explanatory clauses. These give you more context for the purpose of the standards, as well as providing a helpful glossary of terms and definitions that you'll come across in the Standard. These clauses aren't audited against · Clause 4 - Context of the Organisation: This is where you'll be establishing your scope, your interested parties and looking at where your risks and opportunities are. It's setting the foundation for your Management system. · Clause 5 Leadership: This is where you'll need commitment from top management. They will need to be involved with tasks such as establishing key policies, assigning roles & responsibilities and communicating the Management System once you're ready to launch it. · Clause 6 Planning: This is where you will look at the risks and opportunities raised during the context phase and plan what actions you'll take to address them. This is in addition to setting your business objectives. · Clause 7 Support: This is where you will establish the resources you have available to create and facilitate the running of the Management system. This clause gives you guidance for considerations such as people, infrastructure, monitoring and measurement needs, competence of staff and key communication requirements. · Clause 8 Operation: This clause is where the main differences can be found between ISO Standards. It provides guidance on considerations for key processes and procedures relating to the Standard focus. ISO 9001 for example contains a rather chunky clause 8 as it details requirements for products and services, including the development and provision of them. While ISO 27001's clause 8 focuses more on information security risk assessments and risk treatment plans. · Clause 9 Performance Evaluation: This is where you establish the who, what and when involved in the monitoring, measurement and evaluation of your management system. This is also where Internal Auditing requirements are detailed. · Clause 10 Continual Improvement: This is the driving force of all ISO Standards. In this last clause you'll find requirements for Management review and non-conformity and corrective action. That's simply about reviewing the effectiveness of the Management system and putting plans in place to correct any non-conformities raised, or act on any of those opportunities for improvement. [08:00] IMS Benefit #1: Cost Saving – ISO Implementation can get costly, especially if you're investing in a consultancy to help you in addition to the certification body costs involved in the actual assessment. You can save money by implementing multiple standards at the same time. At Blackmores, we're happy to help you implement multiple ISO's at the same time. This saves on the time spent if you were to do them separately, as we typically combine elements of the selected standards in project days such as during a Gap analysis, document creation and internal audits. On the certification body side, you can save on assessment days by assessing against an integrated management system, rather than assessing against 2 separate management systems. Many will do their best to accommodate integrated assessment and surveillance audits. [09:05] IMS Benefit #2: Reduced Duplication and Increased Efficiency - There are elements of a Management system that you can combine to not only save money but also reduce document and process duplication, which leads to a more efficient system. We've seen companies trying to manage separate systems over the years, and often times they end up just causing confusion, or only being adhered to by specific departments within a business. This results in duplicated work as shared elements of compliance are being managed in two different ways, often with slightly different styles of documents. Save yourself the trouble and headache by integrating all relevant management system documentation into 1 system. It makes it so much easier to update and keep on top of, and to enable it to act as a real tool for continual improvement rather than being thought of as a chore to upkeep. [10:10] IMS Benefit #3: Improved Communication and Collaboration - An integrated system encourages communication between all elements of your business. This holistic approach is often broken down into silos for select departments to focus on select objectives, which in turn encourages invested teamwork which will contribute to the business's success as a whole. Internal Audits will also allow employees from every level to feedback to the system, highlighting key areas for improvement that could be rolled out. We see a lot of companies leveraging integrated management systems in various ways, often using them as a springboard to launch company wide initiatives that encourage further collaboration. These are then tracked, monitored and reported on in a similar way to other company objectives, all guided by the processes put in place by the Management system. [11:20] IMS Benefit #4: Enhanced Risk Management - Integrating multiple Standards will mean you have greater comprehension and risk assessment of multiple different aspects across your business, such as quality, environmental and Health & Safety. Many start with ISO 9001, as that's a fantastic solid foundation for a Management system, it builds in all the core policies and procedures needed to run a business smoothly, but it doesn't touch on the specifics of environmental management or information security. For that, you'd need to integrate other standards to ensure you have robust measures to tackle those other elements. [12:15] IMS Benefit #5: Streamlined Auditing Processes - Internal Audits act as a good measure of where things are going right and wrong, in addition to being a dummy run for your certification assessment if it's your first time going through the process. Internal Audits are also an element which can be combined, this allows you to save time for the auditees, which reduces the amount of disruption they may cause overall. It also reduces the overall amount of audit reports for review, saving a duplication of effort on auditing similar elements across multiple standards. [13:00] IMS Benefit #6: Better Decision-Making - By having a more unified view of all processes and performance across different management areas, leadership can make more informed decisions. ISO Standards require a Management Review, which is where you can review audit findings and put plans in place to resolve any non-conformities and address any opportunities for improvement. Don't forget to highlight any achievements and lessons learned too! As these can be applied elsewhere in the business. [14:00] IMS Benefit #7: Increased Stakeholder Confidence - ISO Standards are a mark of best practice, they are an internationally recognised seal of approval that proves your commitment to either quality, safety and sustainability. This competitive advantage will also serve you when going for funding or to tender. [14:40] IMS Benefit #8: Improved Organizational Performance and Culture - An integrated Management system ensures that everyone is unified in their way of working. It also fosters a culture of continual improvement, that encourages participation from all levels within the business. Having a central integrated system makes things simple for everyone to understand. No one has to search out different processes for a separate quality and environmental management system, when they could all be combined and stored in 1 location. An integrated management system approach also allows for you to collaborate across multiple different focus areas such as quality, safety and sustainability. Objectives for each can be siloed and focused on by select departments, but can still be contributed to from any part of the business. Be open about the results in different areas of the business and encourage suggestions for improvement, this is how you'll foster a culture of continuous Improvement. [16:05] IMS Challenge #1: Initial set-up and resourcing - Implementing ISO Standards aren't a small task. If you're implementing multiple ISO Standards from the start, you'll need to consider the people, time and expertise needed to complete the task. This may include the assistance of a dedicated ISO consultancy, as they'll have the expertise to guide you through the process smoothly. At Blackmores, we can help you implement an IMS that is bespoke to the way you work. It may be tempting to go with an out of the box solution, but these would need tailoring to be at all effective and likely won't get you past certification with a UKAS accredited Certification Body. Learn about the differences between a UKAS and Non-UKAS accredited Certification Body on one of our previous podcasts. [17:30] IMS Challenge #2: Resistance to change - People will be used to working a certain way, often siloed into systems unique to their departments. Or if you've already held 1 ISO certification, integrating others will mean change to that existing system that others may not be open to at first. It will involve either new or updated policies and procedures that will take some time for everyone to adapt to. The key here is communication. Not only to communicate the change, but allow people to voice any concerns they have about new ways of working. You may also need to issue additional training to help others adapt. [18:20] IMS Challenge #3: Lack of top leadership commitment - If you want people to care about the management system, commitment to it needs to come from the top down. If the leadership doesn't care about it, why should anyone else? Any good leadership should want a holistic approach for monitoring various elements of the business, if only to make more informed decisions. An integrated Management system can provide the base to facilitate this, and it's in leaderships best interest to keep ahead of any emerging challenges or opportunities that can be leveraged. [19:10] IMS Challenge #4: Integration of IT systems and data - Integrating your management system may require the integration of IT systems and existing data. If you have separate management systems currently, they may be operating on different databases or formats that may be difficult to combine. In some cases, an integrated management system is a good opportunity to refresh the way you work, it could be seen as a chance to look at other tech options out there that could be more cost effective or introduce new much needed functionality. [19:50] IMS Challenge #5: Maintaining Scope and Avoiding Over-Complication - There is a risk that you may try to bite off a bit more than you can chew when integrating management systems. We recommend starting with a smaller scope, as this acts as a good test that can be rolled out to the wider business if it's effective. Many may start with just one site and then seek to roll out the changes to the wider business over the course of a few years. This is definitely an approach we encourage, as each location will have its own teething problems to work through, which is much more manageable when tackled in chunks at a time rather than all at once. If you'd like any assistance with Integrated Management System Implementation, feel free to get in touch with us, we'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

The process approach is recommended by all Management System Standards, and effective implementation is key to drive continual improvement. Processes outline the basic steps needed to complete a task or achieve a certain outcome, and serve to keep things running smoothly and consistently. For those new to ISO Standards, it can be quite daunting to understand what this means in practice. In this episode Ian Battersby explains what a process is in the context of Management systems, how to map processes and the different ways you can visualise a process for communications. You'll learn · What is a Process? · Why are processes needed in Management Systems? · Why should you document your processes? · How do you map a process? · How can you display a process? Resources · Isologyhub · ISO 9004 In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Ian explains the importance of processes in Management systems, how you can effectively map processes and how you can visualise them for further communication. [03:00] Why are processes so important for Management Systems? As ISO 9004 (Quality management - Quality of an organization - Guidance to achieve sustained success) states:- "Organisations deliver value through activities connected within a network of processes. Processes often cross boundaries of functions within the organisation. Consistent and predictable results are achieved more effectively and efficiently when the network of It processes functions as a coherent system." It doesn't propose a type of process. All organisations are different. But what it does say is that they should be viewed as a system rather than in isolation. It's a key principle of Quality Management and of business, allowing an organisation to manage and control the way it delivers its activities, with predictable results. [05:30] What is a process? Put simply, a process is a set of activities which achieve a specific outcome. Or, to put it another way, it's a series of detailed steps describing how to do a job. [05:40] We should you document your processes?: · To show how to repeat tasks consistently, getting the same result every time · It guides people in how to do their jobs · To allow you to measure that outcomes are as expected · To provide for a structured approach to improvement · To help mobilise new contracts, products services of a similar type which supports business growth. [08:15] How to map a process – There are many different ways you could do this, but a popular method is with process map or process flow. A process map is a series of boxes on a page or screen. Each box represents an activity. The activities are then linked in a sequential order, using arrows. As an example, let's say you have a process which repeats a task until you get the right outcome. The first box would be 'Start job', this then points to the next box called 'Perform task'. In turn this points to a third box, which is a question, 'Did it achieve the desired outcome?'. This would lead to two options: yes and no. So. there are two arrows out this time. If no, we need to learn from it (another box). When we learn from it, we point back to 'Perform task'. If yes we end the job, which would be another box. Using a diagram such as this, it makes it a lot easier to visualise and follow a process. Many processes will likely be more complicated than this example, but the principle remains the same. [11:40] Keep things simple – Ian's had experiences of companies that insist on bloated process maps that contains hundreds of boxes and arrows that end up making the whole diagram very difficult to follow. This defeats the purpose of process mapping. If you have a lot of complicated processes, it's better to break these down into manageable chunks. [12:30] Process overview: If you're struggling to start, you may want to consider a process overview. This focuses on the main steps on how you run your organisation, so this could be marketing, sales, production and delivery services. From there you can look at each area and focus on the more detailed activities which can be mapped and linked to each other. The ones dealing with the process overview include subject matter experts, departmental heads, functional leads, Senior Management ect… They will help shape the process mapping to ensure the overall delivery is in-line with the organisations' direction. [14:00] A collaborative task: Process mapping shouldn't be done by one person. One person is hardly going to know how each and every aspect of your organisation works. Don't just leave it to your Quality Manager. Leaving this task to someone who's not fully involved in the part of the organisation where the process originates will only end in disaster. They will likely not be aware of small yet vital steps, such as key communication and authorisations. So make sure you involve multiple parties, and key people involved in the areas you're mapping process for. [17:05] Process mapping across departments: Think practically about how you deliver products or services. How people actually do their jobs. This is a very important aspect of processes. Then visualise how each process works: draw it with pencil and paper; throw some Post It notes on a flipchart; put it on a whiteboard and take a photo; even write it out in a Word document. Make it clear. Make it documented: This is essential. This unleashes the power to measure and improve. Documenting something allows you to compare the way things are done to what you expect and to establish whether the outcome is as you expect. [12:30] How processes link with other areas of ISO Standards: Processes are very useful in helping people do their job, but they can also assist with:- Assigning roles and responsibilities. Each box (activity) can be measured for success, performance indicators can be established at individual activity level, or for a process overall. You can see if the process is successful in delivering its intended outcome. The results can then form part of your monitoring and measuring regime as required by Management System standards (clause 9 is all about evaluating performance). You can use them as a basis for audit, which is all about assessing whether you get what you expect. They are also useful in explaining how you deliver to external parties; or demanding how others should do things. Standards also specify that process performance be included in Management Review (9001 9.3.2 c) 3)) – so it really is an unavoidable step towards ISO certification! Lastly, it can also help with clause 10, which is all about improvement. What-if scenarios can be performed by moving activities, lines, adding new ones deleting and predicting the outcome of the overall process. Whichever way you wish to document your processes, by documenting them you have the power to improve them If you'd like any assistance with ISO Implementation, feel free to get in touch with us, we'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

We're past the point of simply saying you're committed to sustainability, it's time for tangible and verified action. This is what many are calling for in response to the recent rise in Greenwashing and subsequent erosion of trust from consumers and other stakeholders regarding any green claims. As a result, a number of voluntary disclosure schemes have been created to help benchmark and verify organisation's claims, should they choose to participate. One example being the focus of today's episode: EcoVadis. In this episode Mel Blackmore continues with our voluntary disclosure's series, discussing the ESG rating scheme EcoVadis, what is required to earn a Platinum rating and provides some tips on how to get that Platinum rating. You'll learn · What is EcoVadis? · What are the requirements to achieve a Platinum rating? · Top tips for earning an Platinum rating for EcoVadis · What are the advantages of earning a Platinum rating? · What are the disadvantages of getting involved with EcoVadis? Resources · EcoVadis · Carbonology · Contribute to Mel's carbon verification commitment research by taking her Survey In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Mel discusses the voluntary disclosure scheme: EcoVadis, including what's involved with taking part, how to achieve a Platinum rating and the pros and cons of being benchmarked. [03:00] Why is there a need for EcoVadis? An increased number of investors and financial institutions, in addition to clients are demanding more than just financial reports. They want to know what a company's environmental footprint is, and at this point, it's time to move on beyond simply making pledges. This extends to other elements of governance as EcoVadis doubles as a crucial ESG rating scheme. [04:30] What is EcoVadis? EcoVadis is a globally recognised provider of business sustainability ratings. They assess companies' environmental, social, and ethical performance across 21 indicators and four main themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. EcoVadis aims to help organisations manage their supply chain sustainability risks and opportunities. If you're a supplier, you've likely received a request from a customer to complete an EcoVadis assessment. The assessment process involves completing a detailed questionnaire, submitting supporting documentation, and then EcoVadis analysts review your submission and assign a scorecard. This scorecard provides a detailed breakdown of your performance across the four themes and assigns an overall score and a medal status: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. It's this medal status that's crucial, especially those coveted Gold and Platinum badges, which signal to your customers that you are a top-tier performer in sustainability. [05:40] We want to hear from you: Mel is currently running some research around CDP and the key drivers behind carbon emission verification, and would appreciate your feedback if you have a few minutes to spare. The results are completely anonymous, and it should only take 5 – 10 minutes. You can take the survey here. Thank you in advance to any contributors! [06:05] What is required to achieve an Platinum Rating? – While EcoVadis assesses across four themes, the 'Environment' theme often carries significant weight, and within that, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management is paramount for the higher ratings. To earn an EcoVadis Platinum rating, you'll generally need to achieve an overall score between 78-100 out of 100. Key areas that you need to excel in include:- 1) Comprehensive Environmental Management System: This includes policies, actions, and reporting on a wide range of environmental issues. For Platinum, EcoVadis expects to see highly structured and systematic approaches to environmental management. 2) Robust GHG Emissions Management: For this you need to: · Measure your GHG Emissions: Accurately calculate your Scope 1, Scope 2, and significant Scope 3 emissions. EcoVadis places increasing emphasis on Scope 3, as it often represents the largest portion of a company's footprint. · Set Ambitious Targets: Have clear, quantitative targets for GHG emission reduction. Aligning these with a science-based target (SBTi) is highly advantageous and often a de facto requirement for Platinum. · Implement Reduction Initiatives: Demonstrate concrete actions you are taking to reduce emissions, such as investing in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, optimizing logistics, or engaging your supply chain. 3) Independent Verification of GHG Emissions Data: This is a non-negotiable for Platinum and often for Gold. EcoVadis awards significant points for having your Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (and increasingly, relevant Scope 3 categories) independently verified by a third-party accredited body. This provides assurance that your reported data is accurate and reliable. As a CDP accredited verification body, we routinely help companies through this process, and it makes a profound difference in their EcoVadis and overall ESG scores. 4) Strong Policies and Actions Across All Themes: While we're focusing on environment, remember Platinum requires excellence across all four EcoVadis themes: · Labor & Human Rights · Ethics · Sustainable Procurement Implementing Standards such as ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption), ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement) can help put some of these in place. 5) Effective Reporting and Transparency: You need to clearly articulate your policies, actions, and performance data within the EcoVadis questionnaire. This includes providing high-quality, relevant supporting documentation. To get the best result, don't just tick boxes; provide evidence! 6) Continuous Improvement: EcoVadis looks for evidence of ongoing improvement. It's not a one-off assessment; it's about demonstrating a commitment to continually raising your standards. [14:20] How to get an EcoVadis Platinum Rating with verified data? – Here's a few tips: · Start Early and Plan Strategically: Don't wait until the last minute. The EcoVadis assessment requires significant time and effort. Plan your data collection, policy development, and verification process well in advance. · Understand the EcoVadis Methodology: Download the EcoVadis methodology and scoring criteria. These double as guidance documents that explain what they're looking for in each section. Tailor your responses and documentation accordingly. · Invest in carbon accounting software: Accurate and consistent data is paramount. Implement systems (whether software or well-organized spreadsheets) to track your energy consumption, waste, water use, and especially your GHG emissions. · Prioritize GHG Emissions Verification: Engage a reputable, accredited third-party verification body (like Carbonology 😉) to audit your Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions. Ensure the verification covers the reporting period relevant to your EcoVadis assessment. This provides the external assurance EcoVadis demands. · Address All Four Themes: While environmental performance is crucial, don't neglect Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. A weak score in one area can pull down your overall rating. · Leverage External Expertise: If you're new to EcoVadis or aiming for a significant jump in your score, consider consulting with experts. They can help you identify gaps, optimize your strategy, and ensure your documentation meets EcoVadis's requirements. Blackmores consultants are able to provide support if you're seeking an EcoVadis rating. · Continuous Improvement: Use the EcoVadis scorecard feedback to identify areas for improvement. Implement corrective actions and integrate them into your ongoing sustainability strategy. This commitment to continuous improvement is a strong indicator of a Platinum-level company. [16:40] The pros and cons of EcoVadis: Many of these share similarities with the Carbon Disclosure Project, which we covered in a previous episode. To summarise: Pros: · Enhanced Reputation and Brand Value · Risk Management and Resilience · Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency · Competitive Advantage · Innovation and Strategic Planning · Benchmarking and Peer Learning Cons: · Resource Intensive · Potential for Negative Public Scrutiny If you'd like any assistance with carbon verification, get in touch with Carbonology, they'd be happy to help! We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

In recent years there has been a growing need for transparency within sustainable action taken by businesses. This is due to the rampant increase in greenwashing, which only serves to diminish the focus on genuine efforts, in addition to creating a culture of mistrust within stakeholders and consumers. To combat this, certain organisations have taken on the task of encouraging and supporting the accurate public disclosure of environmental data. Such is the case with today's focus, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). In this episode Mel Blackmore discusses what the Carbon Disclosure Project is, what is required to earn an A rating, provides some tips on how to get that A rating and explains the pros and cons with getting involved with the project. You'll learn · What is the Carbon Disclosure Project? · What are the requirements to achieve an A rating? · Top tips for earning an A rating in the CDP · What are the advantages of earning a CDP rating? · What are the disadvantages of getting involved with the CDP? Resources · Carbon Disclosure Project · Carbonology · Contribute to Mel's carbon verification commitment research by taking her Survey In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Mel discusses the Carbon Disclosure project, including what's involved with taking part, how to achieve an A rating and the pros and cons of the project. [03:00] Why is there a need for the CDP? An increased number of investors and financial institutions, in addition to clients are demanding more than just financial reports. They want to know what a company's environmental footprint is, and at this point, it's time to move on beyond simply making pledges. Ultimately, key stakeholders are looking for a commitment to sustainability and for accessible information to help them understand how an organisation is managing its climate risks and opportunities. This is where CDP comes in. A key component of getting the coveted A rating within CDP involves independent verification of greenhouse gas emissions. [04:45] What is the Carbon Disclosure Project? CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world's leading environmental disclosure system. For over two decades, it has revolutionized how companies, cities, states, and regions report their environmental impacts. They ask thousands of organizations to disclose data on climate change, water security, and deforestation. This data is then used by investors, purchasers, and policymakers to make informed decisions. The CDP questionnaire covers a wide range of topics, from governance and strategy to risk management, targets, and of course, greenhouse gas emissions. Companies receive a score from D- to A based on the completeness of their reporting, their level of awareness of environmental issues, their management of those issues, and ultimately, their leadership in addressing them. [05:40] We want to hear from you: Mel is currently running some research around CDP and the key drivers behind carbon emission verification, and would appreciate your feedback if you have a few minutes to spare. The results are completely anonymous, and it should only take 5 – 10 minutes. You can take the survey here. Thank you in advance to any contributors! [09:10] What is required to achieve an A Rating? – There are a number of key requirements, including:- 1. Comprehensive Disclosure and Data Quality: This is foundational. You need to provide accurate and complete data across all relevant sections of the CDP questionnaire. This includes detailed information on your Scope 1, Scope 2, and increasingly, your Scope 3 GHG emissions. 2. Strong Governance and Strategy: CDP looks for clear evidence that environmental issues are integrated into your company's core business strategy and that there's robust board and management oversight of climate-related matters. This means having a defined climate strategy, understanding your climate-related risks and opportunities, and demonstrating how you're incorporating these into your financial planning. 3. Verified Data: To truly hit that "A" list, your Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, and a significant portion of your Scope 3, must be independently verified. This isn't just a suggestion; it's an essential criterion for the leadership level. Independent verification provides crucial assurance to stakeholders that your reported emissions data is accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. It also minimises the risk of "Greenwashing". 4. Science-Based Targets and a Robust Climate Transition Plan: CDP is increasingly emphasizing the need for companies to set ambitious, science-based targets for emissions reductions, aligned with a 1.5°C global warming scenario. In addition, having a publicly available, credible climate transition plan that outlines how you will achieve these targets, including specific actions, metrics, and progress tracking mechanisms, is now a must for "A" list companies. 5. Value Chain Engagement: For many companies, the most significant emissions lie within their supply chain. To achieve an "A" rating, you'll need to demonstrate robust engagement with your suppliers to measure and reduce their emissions, and address environmental impacts across your entire value chain. 6. Continuous Improvement and Transparency: The "A" rating isn't a one-off achievement. It reflects a commitment to continuous improvement in your environmental performance and a willingness to be transparent about your journey, including challenges and successes. [15:05] Top tips for achieving a CDP A Rating:- Tip 1: Plan Ahead and Start Early. CDP reporting is an annual cycle, and it's complex. Don't wait until the last minute! Start gathering your data, assessing your internal processes, and identifying any gaps well in advance. This includes planning for your verification process. Tip 2: Invest in Robust Data Management Systems. Accurate and comprehensive data collection is paramount. Consider leveraging sustainability software that can help you track, calculate, and manage your GHG emissions data efficiently. This reduces manual errors and streamlines the reporting process. Tip 3: Understand the Verification Process. This is where an accredited verification body, like Carbonology, becomes invaluable. Verification Bodies work to an internationally recognized standard, typically ISO 14064-3, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your GHG emissions data. The process involves: · Defining the scope: What emissions are being verified? · Data review: Examining your underlying data, methodologies, and calculations. · Site visits (where applicable): Physically verifying operational data. · Report generation: Providing an assurance statement on the accuracy of your emissions. Tip 4: Engage with a CDP-Accredited Verification Body. CDP specifically requires third-party verification from an independent external organization that is accredited and competent. Look for bodies with proven experience and accreditation to international standards like ISO 14064. They can guide you through the process, identify areas for improvement, and ensure your data meets the stringent requirements for leadership points. Tip 5: Conduct a Gap Analysis. Before you even begin your disclosure, perform a thorough gap assessment against the latest CDP questionnaire and essential criteria. This will highlight areas where your current disclosures fall short and allow you to address them proactively. Tip 6: Focus on Quality over Quantity. While comprehensive disclosure is important, ensure the quality and accuracy of your data. It's better to provide high-quality, verified data for a focused set of emissions than to report broadly with unverified or unreliable numbers. Tip 7: Train Your Team. Ensure your internal team understands the CDP requirements and best practices for sustainability reporting and data collection. Building internal capacity is essential for maintaining high-quality disclosures year after year. [20:35] The pros of voluntary disclosures: Enhanced Reputation and Brand Value: Disclosing and performing well on platforms like CDP showcases your commitment to environmental responsibility. This can significantly boost your reputation among customers, employees, and the wider public, attracting conscious consumers and talent. Risk Management and Resilience: The disclosure process forces companies to identify and assess their environmental risks – from climate change impacts to resource scarcity. This proactive approach allows for better risk mitigation strategies, building greater business resilience. Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency: The process of measuring and managing environmental impacts often reveals opportunities for greater efficiency, such as reduced energy consumption, waste reduction, and optimized resource use, leading to tangible cost savings. Competitive Advantage: Being a leader in environmental transparency can differentiate your company in the marketplace, especially as sustainability becomes a key consideration for clients and supply chain partners. Competitive Advantage: Being a leader in environmental transparency can differentiate your company in the marketplace, especially as sustainability becomes a key consideration for clients and supply chain partners. Preparation for Future Regulation: Voluntary disclosure puts you ahead of the curve. As environmental regulations become increasingly stringent globally, companies with established reporting mechanisms will be better prepared to meet mandatory requirements. Innovation and Strategic Planning: The disclosure process encourages long-term strategic planning around environmental impact, driving innovation in products, services, and processes. Benchmarking and Peer Learning: CDP provides a framework for measuring and tracking your performance over time and allows you to benchmark yourself against industry peers, identifying areas for improvement and learning from best practices. [14:15] The cons of voluntary disclosures?: Resource Intensive: Comprehensive ESG reporting, especially to the level required for an "A" rating, can be costly and time-consuming, particularly for smaller companies with limited resources. It requires dedicated personnel, data collection, and often external consulting or verification services. Risk of Greenwashing: If disclosure isn't backed by genuine action and verified data, there's a significant risk of "greenwashing" – providing a misleading impression of your sustainability efforts. This can lead to reputational damage, loss of trust, and even legal scrutiny if claims are found to be unsubstantiated. This is precisely why independent verification is so crucial. Lack of Accountability (without verification): Without external verification or assurance, the reliability and accuracy of self-reported data can be questioned, diminishing the value and trustworthiness of the disclosure. This is a major concern for investors who demand the same robustness for non-financial data as they do for financial data. Potential for Negative Public Scrutiny: Once you disclose, your data is public. This means your environmental performance, or lack thereof, can be scrutinized by activists, media, and the public. Companies must be prepared to address any critical feedback. If you'd like any assistance with carbon verification, get in touch with Carbonology, they'd be happy to help! We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ● Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ● Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List