Sustainability Services

Services provided:

  • Corporate environmental strategy
  • CSR audits and gap analysis
  • Sustainability auditing and assurance
  • Social auditing
  • Industry benchmarking
  • Programme design & management
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Training and change management
  • Preparation of annual environmental and triple bottom line reports

Corporate Social Responsibility

Many organizations talk about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at a strategic level but have difficulty translating those words into day-to-day operational level actions. As organizations struggle to defines how a “responsible” company acts, pressure from stakeholders continues to mount. Many companies now find themselves pressed to take greater responsibility in all areas in which they exert influence, our ought to exert influence.

Like it or not, for many organizations, CSR is how business must respond to the challenge of sustainable development, and is at the heart of managing business risk. An effectively implemented and sustained commitment to CSR reduces the likelihood of poor investor relations, poor corporate image, legal challenges and financial liability.

Our team of professionals can help you identify and balance a variety of aspects that now fall into the CSR realm.  We can help with strategies that balance long-term commitments with short-term market expectations, financial performance with environmental stewardship as well as sensitivity to cultural values - both at home and abroad. Cirrus can help to fill the vacuum, left by the lack of government direction, with practical, cost-effective solutions.

Cirrus has helped many organizations realize that CSR need not be a new and costly exercise, and that many existing programmes and initiatives fall within the scope of CSR; However, it is important to recognize that a truly effective CSR initiatives must bridge most, if not all, traditional organisational structures and reporting lines – an integrated management framework must be place to ensure consistency and efficiency. CSR can only be effective at all levels of an organization if it is founded on free flowing communication, continual improvement, and a clear corporate vision of 'what is the right thing to do'.

Cirrus can help your organization find balance between operating in a constantly shrinking global environment and having the appropriate level of control to allow for the regional interpretation of CSR priority issues, indicators and targets.

A key element of effective communication is reporting – a commitment to disclosure and transparency underlines an organization’s commitment to a CSR programme. In many cases this means reporting both the good news with the bad.  Instruments, such as the Global Reporting Initiative provide guidance on triple line reporting –Cirrus can then use our experience and technical knowledge to ensures that all relevant information is reported with accuracy and balance.

Environmental

We believe that environmental impacts – be they real or perceived - are among the most outwardly visible and sensitive aspects of a company's operations. At Cirrus, our approach to CSR begins at the ground floor - by evaluating environmental issues and priorities, and then working through related social aspects and financial implications.

Cirrus works with you to identify and then define key environmental metrics by considering risk posed to the organization, the company's level of direct responsibility, and its ability to control that risk. In general, an organization’s environmental performance should be considered from a program level perspective rather than specific compliance targets related to soil, groundwater or air.  Once this has been accomplished it can be scaled for a variety of sites that share a common geographic location, an operating entities, or a particular supply chain. In turn, this improves consistency, unique cultural values, and information management.

Social

Many organizations do not realize the far-reaching social impact that the have on employees and their families, local communities, indigenous peoples, non-government organizations citizens' groups, consumers, shareholders, governments and many others.  In fact, many organizations are often very surprised to discover the many and subtle ways in which they, intentionally or unintentionally, influence social issues.

Identifying the myriad of issues that face both local and transitional organizations can be daunting.  Understanding those issues, then developing and implementing effective polices is even more challenging – especially when dealing with cynical or confrontational stakeholders.

In managing social issues, Cirrus has always promoted a proactive, collaborative approach that strives to balance the needs of all stakeholders, before confrontation develops. We feel that this can be achieved in part by sharing a clear direction on corporate ethics and behaviour, developing stakeholder partnerships, assuring representation of local stakeholder groups, developing effective communication channels and open forums that encourage two way dialogue.

Financial

Our expertise in this area relates to financial risk management, both site-specific and portfolio. We work with our clients' financial managers or auditors to ensure that all “material” issues relating to environmental and social issues are identified and properly reflected in financial statements and reports.

We have assisted a variety of private and public organizations to prepare reports, either as part of their annual reporting requirements or in response to financial reporting obligations. Cirrus has assisted clients in FASB, IAS and EC related evaluations and document preparation.