Sustainability Strategy

Effectively embedding sustainability within the organisation

A sustainability strategy provides guidance: it highlights which issues are truly relevant, sets priorities and makes progress measurable. SuCo supports companies in embedding sustainability in a well-founded and pragmatic way – from materiality analysis through to the development of targets, key performance indicators and measures.

Why a sustainability strategy is worthwhile for your business

A sustainability strategy combines environmental and social responsibility with economic objectives and forms the basis for effective measures, robust key performance indicators and credible communication. Whether you are adopting a strategic approach to sustainability for the first time, further developing an existing strategy or seeking to address regulatory requirements in a structured manner: a good sustainability strategy helps you to set priorities, deploy resources effectively and make progress measurable.

A sustainability strategy is particularly relevant if you:

  • are introducing sustainability as a new focus within your organisation,
  • wish to consolidate and prioritise existing sustainability activities,
  • want to define sustainability targets and KPIs,
  • are preparing for reporting requirements such as CSRD, ESRS, VSME or GRI,
  • need to meet the requirements of customers, investors or supply chains, or
  • wish to make your sustainability communications more credible.
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How SuCo supports you

We start from where your business currently stands: whether that’s developing a new sustainability strategy, refining existing targets, or acting as a sounding board. As the starting point and ambitions vary from one company to another, we offer flexible modules that can be commissioned individually or in combination.

Our services

We help you to identify and prioritise the relevant sustainability issues for your organisation. Depending on your needs, we carry out either a pragmatic or an in-depth (two-stage) materiality analysis.

Outcome: A documented list of material sustainability issues, including a description of the methodology.

You can find further information about this service on our materiality assessment page.

Based on the key issues, we work with you to develop specific targets, key performance indicators (KPIs) and actions. In doing so, we take into account corporate strategy, the timeframe, regulatory requirements, standards such as GRI or SBTi, and industry benchmarks.

Outcome: A list of targets and KPIs, or an overview of actions, including documentation.

Building on the key issues and aligned with your corporate strategy, we support you in effectively embedding sustainability within your organisation. Together, we develop sustainability targets, measures and processes that pool resources and give sustainability the priority it deserves.

Outcome: Sustainability strategy

Where required, we can assist you with the development or revision of policies, for example on sustainable procurement, human rights, codes of conduct or other ESG issues.

Outcome: Drafting or review of policies and governance structures

A clear sustainability strategy provides a robust foundation for transparent reporting and measurable progress. Sustainability reporting with clear objectives, data and measures builds trust among stakeholders and reduces the risk of greenwashing. We can help you produce a suitable sustainability report.

Outcome: Sustainability report / communication materials, e.g. for the sustainability report, website or ESG ratings

Further information on this service can be found on our pages on sustainability reporting and ESG ratings.

We help you communicate sustainability clearly within your organisation. Depending on your needs, we design and facilitate workshops for management or staff – covering topics such as sustainability strategy, key issues, objectives and measures, or roles and responsibilities.

Outcome: Planning and delivery of workshops and training courses

You can find further information about this service on our Training & Development page.

Our three-step approach

1. Assessment of the current situation & setting objectives:

To begin with, we analyse your current situation. We review existing documents, sustainability initiatives, regulatory and client requirements, as well as relevant market developments. Together, we define a clear project objective and determine the role SuCo will play – from developing a new sustainability strategy and refining existing objectives to providing strategic support.

2. Design & Implementation:

Based on the assessment of your current situation, we develop an approach tailored to your objectives, resources and internal structures. Our support ranges from focused workshops and ad hoc consultation to the full development of a sustainability strategy. In doing so, we ensure that the measures developed are practical, compatible with your existing systems and can be effectively implemented within your organisation.

3. Documentation & Embedding:

We present the findings in such a way that they can be used directly as a basis for internal decision-making, for consultation with management or the board of directors, and for external sustainability reporting. On request, we can also assist you in defining responsibilities, next steps and appropriate structures for long-term implementation.

What you receive from us

Typical project outcomes include:

  • Sustainability strategy
  • Materiality assessment
  • Sustainability targets and KPIs
  • Roadmaps with recommended actions
  • Guidelines (e.g. sustainable procurement)
  • Text modules for sustainability reporting
  • Recommendations on the structure of responsibilities and processes

Project Examples

Conducting a double materiality assessment

Sparring partner for setting targets and KPIs

Development of internal policies

Book a free initial consultation.

We invite you to acquaint yourself with us – with no obligation and tailored to your specific requirements.

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FAQ

A sustainability strategy is a long-term plan through which a company aligns its environmental, social and economic objectives. It helps to set priorities and deploy resources in a targeted and impact-driven manner. A sustainability strategy does not have a fixed format: depending on the company and its objectives, it can vary in level of detail – ranging from a concise strategic framework to a comprehensive strategy setting out targets, KPIs, measures and responsibilities.

A sustainability strategy is useful for companies that are taking a structured approach to sustainability for the first time, wish to consolidate existing activities, or want to further develop their sustainability objectives. It is particularly relevant for companies that are preparing for requirements such as the CSRD, ESRS, VSME, GRI or OR, need to meet the requirements of customers, investors or supply chains, or wish to make their sustainability communication more credible.

The materiality assessment identifies and prioritises a company’s relevant sustainability issues. The sustainability strategy builds on this and translates these issues into objectives, KPIs, measures, responsibilities and implementation structures. In short: the materiality assessment shows what the company should focus on; the sustainability strategy shows how it systematically addresses these issues.

Not every company needs a CSRD-compliant dual materiality analysis. However, we always recommend a structured analysis of material issues, as it highlights where strategy, objectives, actions and reporting should focus. This analysis can be carried out to varying degrees of depth. We offer three options: basic, in-depth and CSRD-compliant.

A dual materiality assessment examines sustainability issues from two perspectives: on the one hand, it analyses the impact the company has on the environment and society; on the other hand, it assesses which sustainability issues present financial opportunities and risks for the company. This perspective is particularly relevant in the context of the CSRD and the ESRS.

The sustainability strategy sets out priorities and objectives. The sustainability report sets out progress, data and results. Ideally, the report builds on the strategy.

Yes. We review existing sustainability strategies, targets, KPIs, measures and guidelines, and provide specific recommendations for further development. In doing so, we take into account, amongst other things, regulatory requirements, relevant standards, market and industry developments, competitors and best practice. This provides you with a well-founded assessment of where your strategy is already well positioned and where it should be specifically refined.

Yes – but ‘only’ as a sparring partner. We do not implement measures ourselves at an operational level, but we do support you in planning measures, developing roadmaps, climate transition plans and implementation structures. We also offer workshops to embed the strategy within your organisation, raise awareness of specific topics and work with you to define the next steps.