"I am losing my company $425,000.00 annually ..."

This week’s reading time: 5 minutes

Welcome to the 1st edition of The Green Executive Briefing. In under 10 minutes, you’ll be fully updated on the latest happenings in Sustainability and ESG every Tuesday at 8am EST. 🌎

We sift through a vast array of articles and data from trusted sources, distill the information, and present it to you in simple, bite-sized pieces every week. 🌍

In this edition, we’ll cover:

• Quantifying ESG Software ROI: Learn how sustainability tools cut audit costs by 50% and save your team up to 80% of time on emissions reporting tasks. 📊

• Aligning Sustainability with Business Goals: Discover actionable strategies to tie ESG initiatives to increased revenue, reduced risk, and stronger reputations. 💼

• Overcoming Budget Challenges: Tips to engage stakeholders early and make a data-driven case for sustainability software investments. 🤝

• And more industry updates from across the globe. 🌍
  

TOGETHER WITH REUTERS EVENTS: All Sponsors & Inquires - E: [email protected]

Reuters Webinar: Optimizing governance towards transparency with Microsoft UK & others

With CSRD regulations approaching, accurate sustainability reporting is essential. However, many companies struggle to establish the internal governance structures needed for efficient data collection and reporting. This is where the Breaking down barriers: Optimizing governance towards transparency webinar comes in. Join us on Tuesday, February 4th at 9 am GMT/10 am CET to learn how you can streamline your data governance process for sustainability reporting.

Register today and discover how to:

• Define clear data responsibilities within your organization to ensure accuracy and reliability.

• Equip your teams with the right tools and support to effectively manage sustainability data without overburdening existing workflows.

• Optimize your data governance structure for seamless access and eliminate internal data silos.

Gain valuable insights from our expert panel:

• Lewis Richards, Chief Sustainability Officer, Microsoft UK

• Jenn-Hui Tann, Chief Sustainability Officer, Fidelity Investments

• Moderator: Hannah Pathak, Chief Executive Officer, Forum for the Future

Can't attend live?  Register now to receive the full post-webinar recording.

🌍The start of 2025 brings new ESG reporting requirements, and many of you have asked about practical ways to automate data collection without breaking the bank.

Today, we're sharing how three large to mid-market companies secured executive buy-in for sustainability software – complete with ROI calculations you can adapt for your organization.

🌍The True Cost of Manual ESG Reporting

A recent survey of 200 sustainability leaders revealed a striking pattern: companies spending 15+ hours per week on manual data collection are leaving an average of $425,000 in efficiency gains on the table. The hidden costs include:

"We were spending nearly $200,000 annually on external consultants just to verify our emissions data. Implementing the right software cut that cost by 80% in the first year alone," - Midwest Manufacturing Company.

🌍Success Story: From Spreadsheets to Systems

(Hypothetical) When Sarah Martinez joined ValueTech ($750M revenue) as their new Sustainability Director, she inherited a maze of spreadsheets and conflicting data sources. Here's how she transformed their approach:

First Quarter:

• Documented time spent on manual reporting: 25 hours/week

• Calculated error rate in manual data: 23%

• Quantified cost of consultant reviews: $175,000/year

The Turning Point: Martinez presented a business case showing how sustainability software would:

1. Reduce manual reporting time by 80%

2. Improve data accuracy to 99.9%

3. Pay for itself within 9 months

"The key was speaking the CFO's language," Martinez explains. "Instead of leading with environmental impact, I led with efficiency gains and risk mitigation. The ROI was undeniable."

🌍Expert Corner: Making the Business Case

This week's guest expert, Chad Syverson, distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, on innovation and sustainability:

“I think the only way we’re going to achieve climate goals that have been set is through innovation. I mean, that’s the only way forward. We have to innovate our way out of it.”

When sustainability leaders approach me about technology investments, I look for three things: clear baseline costs, measurable efficiency gains, and risk mitigation metrics. The most compelling proposals quantify the cost of inaction – what happens if we don't modernize our ESG reporting infrastructure?

⭐Your Action Plan This Week

1. Download our Dashboard GHG Accounting Scope 1, 2 & 3 : Customize it with your organization's numbers to build a compelling business case.

2. Refer 1 other sustainability leader: Keep Scrolling Down.

3. Book a Consultation: Starting at $100/hour — Click HERE

   1. GHG Accounting Strategies (Scope 1, 2 & 3) 

   2.  ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
      

⭐Coming Next Week

Leadership in Sustainability: How ESG Leaders Influence Organizational Culture —