Sustainable Operations

Business Must Employ Sustainable Operations

As we come under increasing pressure individually to take account of our impact on the environment, in terms of our overall "foot print" and our legacy for future generations, it follows that there is even more pressure on organizations to perform as they go about the business of producing products and services for our needs. Each organization, regardless of its size, must ensure that it understands the concept of sustainable operations and prepare for a very different trading environment.

The term "sustainable operations" refers to the ability of the organization to endure, from an environmental perspective. We know that we have caused considerable damage through unrestricted consumption and a disregard for the environment all around us. There is growing pressure on a daily basis to ensure that we are as self-sufficient as possible and that we do not place too many unreasonable requirements just to maintain life.

A business these days must fully adopt the concept of sustainable operations and the driving force to ensure that this happens must come from the top. This is not a concept that can be delegated to a division or a department. Nor can it be referred to as a public relations exercise. There will be significant repercussions for the enterprise that does not understand its moral obligations.

Around the world, it is estimated that 80% of the largest organizations already fully understand and control sustainable operations within. However, by far the majority of businesses are only waking up to various possibilities and there is considerable progress to be made.

Any Enterprise Can Have Sustainable Operations

As some organizations panic when they realize that they are not maintaining sustainable operations, they rush to try and analyze the position and promote the fact that they are doing so. Without a full understanding of the footprint in relation to their energy use, carbon emissions, water management and waste disposal then any statements they make in due course will be accused of "greenwashing," or mistaking their position.

It takes a full lifecycle analysis of an organization before a true position can be revealed. Every element of the business is responsible in one way or another for its impact on its surroundings and a full interpretation will be necessary before any realistic action may be taken.

Sustainable Operations Require Business Engagement

When it comes to carbon emissions - the single most significant problem ahead for every organization - senior management must ensure that their direct carbon emissions are fully analyzed and reported. These "scope one" and "scope two" emissions refer to the production and subsequent use of energy, but they must also reveal "scope three" emissions related to the supply chain, subsequent product use and disposal.

As a program of sustainable operations is implemented, the organization will find that it will ultimately benefit as it understands the efficiency of each one of its assets. It is to be expected that a finer return on investment will be enjoyed from these assets as they are analyzed and brought up to speed.

About Verisae

Verisae helps measure, manage and reduce equipment and energy costs including the related business and environmental impacts of carbon emissions. The Sustainability Resource Planning (“SRP”) software platform improves operational efficiency, protects brand integrity and helps ensure regulatory compliance for distributed enterprises across many industries. Verisae delivers a broad range of sustainability solutions to dozens of clients globally with thousands of daily users including an extended network of third-party suppliers. Verisae’s integrated sustainability platform actively tracks millions of assets across thousands of sites worldwide.

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