Corporate Sustainability Systems: Measuring and Managing the Paradox

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) Chicago, IL - February 16, 2010 - As companies strive to improve financial performance, developing and integrating a coherent sustainability strategy, and a systematic way of managing social and environmental impacts, often becomes the greatest challenge. Admittedly it is not easy to move from developing a partial system that deals with the preliminary Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) problems and performance indicators, to using an integrated program that includes sustainability in day-to-day decision-making. Hence the need for Sustainability trained professionals in-house, trained to the standards of the IEMA Approved workshop hosted by the Centre for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE) in Chicago on March 25-26^th. Day one of CSE's workshop will be followed by a Sustainability Roundtable event titled, "Return on Sustainability (ROS): Gaining Benefits from a Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy."

Since sustainability is fundamentally complex due to its nature (and the unclear direct link to profit), implementing and integrating sustainability strategies thoroughly has proven more difficult and tricky than any other improvements. 

In order to simultaneously achieve excellence in social, environmental and financial performance, an organization not only needs a system that understands the drivers of ESG performance and the impacts of performance on the corporate stakeholders, it also needs to implement this system throughout the organization. Implementing therefore the proper system right and evaluating the impacts of sustainability on financial performance is extremely complicated and can be problematic. Since relationships and trade-offs between financial and ESG performance work and evolve dynamically, decision-making is proving progressively harder. 

It is imperative to thoroughly understand the drivers of social and environmental performance and the impacts of this performance on stakeholders’ permits. Furthermore, it is required to integrate this knowledge into the day-to-day decisions and action plans for the company as a whole. Only through using this knowledge can a company determine whether a system is comprehensive and complete, and therefore appropriate to be implemented. Adding to that, managers are also expected to quantify the link between ESG drivers, actions and financial performance.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) has a global network of partners that have made it Europe’s leading sustainability and strategic consulting organization. Specializing in sustainable development solutions for corporations, CSE is hosting its North American Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certification workshop, a unique two-day intensive program for executives and sustainability professionals to acquire the skills and competencies required to grow and to become qualified CSR practitioners. The workshop will be hosted by world-renowned sustainability pioneers and experts in Chicago, Illinois at the Talbott Hotel, 20 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL 60611, March 25 - 26, 2010

The CSR Practitioner’s workshop is certified by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and is designed for all professionals responsible for the management of CSR, Marketing, and Public Relation activities. General Managers, Public Relations Managers and Sustainability and Environmental Professionals will advance their CSR understanding, acquire the skill and knowledge that will bring added value and authenticity to their company, and also earn an official business qualification.

The ultimate goal of the CSE workshop in North America is to provide the tools and training that will instill the growing importance of corporate social responsibility into company strategy and also help demonstrate ethical business practices. This will in turn build corporate and community recognition in sustainable business through the examination of current best practices. With specialized, detailed and highly focused training, the CSE workshop will cover:

• CSR & Sustainable Development Concepts

• Global Warming & Climate Change Issues

• Future trends & legislation in the U.S. & Worldwide on Corporate Responsibility

• The Stakeholder Approach & CSR

• CSR Communication & Reporting

• Global Standards/Models/Guidelines & Tools for practical CSR integration (GRI, UN Global Compact, BITC, EFQM)

• A CSR Action Plan for your organization (prerequisite for CSR practitioner Qualification)

To request additional information, contact David at info@cse-northamerica.org or visit the CSE website at www.cse-northamerica.org.