SERVICES

Sustainability

Achieve your sustainability goals and ESG compliance with Glocert International's comprehensive environmental management, GHG reporting, sustainability reporting, and green certification services.

Why Sustainability is Different

Sustainability and ESG compliance require organizations to measure, manage, and report on environmental impacts across operations, supply chains, and value chains. Organizations face increasing regulatory pressure, stakeholder expectations, and market demands for transparency and accountability. The combination of evolving regulations, complex measurement requirements, and the need for credible third-party assurance creates unique challenges that require specialized expertise and comprehensive solutions.

Regulatory Obligations

Organizations must navigate multiple sustainability and ESG frameworks including mandatory GHG reporting requirements, EU CSRD, SEC climate disclosure rules, and local environmental regulations. Understanding which regulations apply and how they intersect is critical for maintaining compliance, avoiding penalties, and meeting stakeholder expectations across different jurisdictions.

Common Compliance Mistakes

Many organizations make critical mistakes including treating sustainability as a reporting exercise rather than a management system, implementing environmental controls without integrating business operations, ignoring supply chain impacts, and failing to maintain credible data and evidence. Understanding these common pitfalls helps organizations avoid costly compliance failures and build effective sustainability programs.

100+ Sustainability Projects Completed
97% Client Satisfaction Rate
15+ Countries Served
15+ Years of Experience

Regulatory Obligations

Understanding which sustainability and ESG regulations apply to your organization and how they intersect is critical for maintaining compliance and meeting stakeholder expectations.

Mandatory Requirements

GHG Reporting (Multiple Jurisdictions): Many jurisdictions require mandatory GHG reporting for large emitters, including EU ETS, UK ETS, and various national reporting schemes. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and operational restrictions.

EU CSRD: European Union Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires large companies and listed SMEs to report on sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities.

SEC Climate Disclosure (US): Proposed rules requiring public companies to disclose climate-related risks and GHG emissions.

Commonly Required

ISO 14001: Widely adopted environmental management system standard providing framework for managing environmental responsibilities and demonstrating environmental commitment.

ISO 14064: Standard for GHG accounting and verification, providing credible basis for GHG reporting and carbon footprint measurement.

ESG Reporting Frameworks: GRI, SASB, TCFD, and other frameworks provide guidance for comprehensive ESG reporting and stakeholder communication.

Emerging Requirements

Net Zero Commitments: Increasing focus on science-based targets and net zero commitments requiring robust GHG measurement, reduction strategies, and credible reporting.

Supply Chain Sustainability: Growing emphasis on Scope 3 emissions, supply chain due diligence, and supplier sustainability assessments.

Circular Economy: Emerging requirements for waste reduction, resource efficiency, and circular economy principles in operations and product design.

Commonly Adopted Certifications

These certifications help organizations demonstrate environmental commitment, manage sustainability risks, and build stakeholder trust.

ISO 14001

Environmental management system standard providing framework for managing environmental responsibilities, reducing environmental impact, and demonstrating environmental commitment.

Learn More

ISO 14064

GHG accounting and verification standard providing credible basis for measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

Learn More

ISO 50001

Energy management system standard helping organizations improve energy performance, reduce energy costs, and demonstrate energy efficiency commitment.

Learn More

EcoVadis

Sustainability rating platform evaluating environmental, social, and ethical performance across supply chains, widely used for supplier sustainability assessments.

Learn More

Assurance Engagements

Independent verification and validation of sustainability reports, ESG disclosures, and GHG emissions data under AA1000, ISO 14064, GRI, and other recognized standards.

Learn More

ISO 14064 Certification

GHG management system certification for greenhouse gas accounting, verification, and carbon footprint management meeting regulatory and voluntary requirements.

Learn More

Green Certifications

Green building, facility, and operational certifications demonstrating sustainable practices and environmental performance across operations.

Learn More

Impact Assessments

Environmental, social, and sustainability impact assessments evaluating potential impacts of projects, operations, and initiatives on sustainability outcomes.

Learn More

Common Compliance Mistakes

Understanding these common pitfalls helps organizations avoid costly compliance failures and build more effective sustainability and ESG programs.

Treating Sustainability as a Reporting Exercise

Many organizations treat sustainability as a reporting exercise rather than a management system. Effective sustainability requires executive leadership, organizational culture change, and integration with business operations, not just data collection and reporting.

Poor Data Quality and Measurement

Many organizations struggle with data quality, incomplete measurement boundaries, and inconsistent methodologies. Credible sustainability reporting requires robust data collection, validation, and measurement systems aligned with recognized standards.

Ignoring Supply Chain Impacts

Organizations often focus on direct operations while overlooking Scope 3 emissions, supply chain impacts, and upstream/downstream sustainability risks. Comprehensive sustainability requires addressing impacts across the entire value chain.

Lack of Third-Party Assurance

Many organizations report sustainability data without third-party verification or assurance, reducing credibility and stakeholder trust. Independent verification provides credibility and demonstrates commitment to transparency and accountability.

Unrealistic Targets and Commitments

Organizations often set ambitious sustainability targets without clear pathways, adequate resources, or realistic timelines. Effective sustainability requires science-based targets, clear action plans, and achievable milestones.

Failing to Integrate with Business Strategy

Sustainability programs often operate in isolation from core business strategy, leading to missed opportunities and limited impact. Effective sustainability requires integration with business planning, operations, and decision-making processes.

How Glocert Supports Sustainability

Glocert supports organizations through comprehensive sustainability and ESG services including environmental management, GHG reporting, sustainability reporting, and green certifications.

Our sustainability services include ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems, assurance engagements for ESG, sustainability, and GHG report verification under AA1000, ISO 14064, and GRI standards, EcoVadis ratings for supply chain sustainability, green certifications for facilities and operations, and impact assessments for environmental and social impacts.

We understand the unique challenges of sustainability and ESG including evolving regulations, complex measurement requirements, stakeholder expectations, and the need for credible third-party assurance. Our team brings deep sustainability expertise and works with you to build sustainability programs that integrate with business operations, meet regulatory requirements, and demonstrate credible environmental and social performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ISO 14001 and ISO 14064?
ISO 14001 is an environmental management system standard providing a framework for managing environmental responsibilities and improving environmental performance. ISO 14064 is a GHG accounting and verification standard specifically focused on measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Many organizations pursue both - ISO 14001 for comprehensive environmental management and ISO 14064 for credible GHG reporting and carbon footprint measurement.
Do organizations need to report Scope 3 emissions?
Scope 3 reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction and framework. EU CSRD requires Scope 3 reporting for large companies, SEC proposed rules include Scope 3 for material emissions, and many voluntary frameworks like GRI and TCFD recommend Scope 3 reporting. Even when not mandatory, Scope 3 reporting is increasingly expected by stakeholders and investors. Organizations should assess their Scope 3 emissions to understand full value chain impacts and identify reduction opportunities.
What is the difference between ESG reporting and sustainability reporting?
ESG reporting focuses on Environmental, Social, and Governance factors relevant to investors and financial stakeholders, often aligned with frameworks like SASB and TCFD. Sustainability reporting is broader, covering environmental, social, and economic impacts on stakeholders, often aligned with frameworks like GRI. Many organizations use both approaches - ESG reporting for investor communication and sustainability reporting for comprehensive stakeholder engagement. Both require credible data, clear methodologies, and often third-party assurance.
How long does it take to achieve ISO 14001 certification?
ISO 14001 certification timelines vary based on organization size, complexity, current environmental management maturity, and scope. Typical timelines range from 6-12 months for organizations with existing environmental programs to 12-24 months for organizations starting from scratch. The process includes gap assessment, system implementation, documentation development, internal audits, management review, and certification audit. Organizations pursuing certification for the first time may need additional time for training, culture change, and system integration.
What is third-party assurance for sustainability reporting?
Third-party assurance involves independent verification of sustainability data, methodologies, and reporting by qualified assurance providers. Assurance can be limited (checking specific data points) or reasonable (comprehensive verification of reporting systems and data). Assurance provides credibility, reduces stakeholder skepticism, and demonstrates commitment to transparency. Many frameworks like GRI recommend third-party assurance, and regulations like EU CSRD require assurance for sustainability reporting. ISO 14064 provides standards for GHG verification, and ISAE 3000 provides standards for broader sustainability assurance.
Can organizations combine multiple sustainability certifications?
Yes, many organizations combine multiple sustainability certifications and assessments. Common combinations include ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 14064 for GHG reporting, ISO 50001 for energy management, and EcoVadis for supply chain sustainability. Organizations can also combine certifications with ESG reporting aligned to GRI, SASB, or TCFD frameworks. Integrated approaches leverage shared data, common processes, and unified governance while addressing different stakeholder needs and regulatory requirements.
What are science-based targets and how do they relate to net zero?
Science-based targets (SBTs) are emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science to limit global warming, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Net zero commitments aim to balance emissions with removals, typically by 2050, and often require SBTs as interim milestones. Organizations pursuing net zero typically set near-term SBTs (5-10 years) and long-term targets aligned with net zero by 2050. Both require robust GHG measurement, credible reporting, and clear reduction strategies. ISO 14064 provides standards for GHG accounting supporting SBTs and net zero commitments.
How should organizations approach supply chain sustainability?
Supply chain sustainability requires assessing supplier environmental and social performance, setting expectations through codes of conduct and contracts, monitoring compliance, and supporting supplier improvement. Organizations should prioritize high-risk suppliers, require sustainability assessments (like EcoVadis), include sustainability criteria in procurement decisions, and collaborate with suppliers on improvement initiatives. ISO 14001 includes supply chain considerations, and Scope 3 emissions reporting requires understanding supply chain impacts. Effective supply chain sustainability integrates with procurement processes, vendor management, and overall sustainability strategy.

Get started with
Glocert International

Are you ready to achieve your sustainability goals and ESG compliance? Glocert International is ready to assist with environmental management, GHG reporting, sustainability reporting, and green certification solutions tailored to your organization.