INSIGHTS
Strategic priorities in modern sustainability management
The landscape of sustainability management is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements, increasing regulatory pressures and evolving stakeholder expectations. Our research has identified three key themes that are shaping the strategic priorities of sustainability leaders across various industries.
B. Technological enablement of sustainability efforts
1. Using data analysis and visualisation tools for sustainability strategies
The success of today's sustainability strategies hinges on our ability to understand the relationship between business activities and their environmental and social impacts. While organisations have access to abundant data and sophisticated tools, the key challenge lies in identifying which metrics truly matter for evaluating risk, tracking progress, and meeting the needs of stakeholders and regulators.
Practical applications of this approach are evident at Mace Group. "We are increasingly becoming a data-informed company," says Andrew Mitchell. Their use of Power BI to visualise KPIs at the project level not only tracks progress but also encourages healthy competition and team engagement.
This focus on meaningful measurement resonates at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. "Data is absolutely crucial because everything hinges on it," emphasises Philip Tamuno, whose team's carbon dashboard specifically addresses procurement impacts.
We are increasingly becoming a data-informed company.
Andrew Mitchell
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Contextualising numbers through relatable examples makes the impact more tangible and motivating for individuals.
Alistair Blackmore
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, BIDWELLS LLP
Beyond internal tracking, visualisation tools play a vital educational role, according to Chris Mattock from Mace Consult. While these tools might be less important internally, they prove invaluable for external communication, especially when engaging with clients or suggesting future strategies.
The power of combining data with storytelling is highlighted by Alistair Blackmore from Bidwells. "Contextualising numbers through relatable examples makes the impact more tangible and motivating for individuals," he explains, making sustainability data more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
Westminster City Council demonstrates how combining existing technologies in new ways can enhance sustainability outcomes. "We're trialling material passports and digital twins," explains Hrabrina Nikolova, Principal Sustainability Officer. "We're asking contractors to implement more comprehensive mapping approaches, starting with something as simple as photogrammetry to catalogue existing materials in our buildings." This approach enables better-informed decisions about material reuse during redevelopment, supporting the shift toward circular economy principles in construction.
Data plays a central role at East London NHS Foundation Trust. “Without data, we wouldn't know where to direct our efforts or how to measure the success of our initiatives,” notes Adam Toll. “We rely heavily on our energy bureau system, which provides half-hourly data on building energy use. This helps us identify inefficiencies—like when buildings are using energy outside their operating hours—and address them quickly.”
We're trialling material passports and digital twins. We're asking contractors to implement more comprehensive mapping approaches, starting with something as simple as photogrammetry to catalogue existing materials in our buildings.
Hrabrina Nikolova
PRINCIPAL SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
We utilise a carbon dashboard that aggregates data on the carbon emissions of all our global operations, providing a clear and up-to-date picture of our environmental footprint.
Maurizio Abbondanza
SUSTAINABILITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INFINEUM
A comprehensive approach to data management has been adopted by CBRE. Carl Brooks describes their strategy of consolidating all property management activities, which ensures the delivery of consistent, reliable information to clients at various stages of their sustainability journey.
At Infineum, digital tools enable comprehensive monitoring. "We utilise a carbon dashboard that aggregates data on the carbon emissions of all our global operations, providing a clear and up-to-date picture of our environmental footprint," reports Maurizio Abbondanza. This approach allows for tracking progress, making informed decisions, and ensuring adherence to strict sustainability criteria across all business practices.
Anglian Water Group demonstrates how data shapes goal-setting. Andy Brown shares their process: "We underwent a process to identify material topics and set appropriate KPIs to deliver the desired outcomes and impacts."
The experiences shared by these organisations demonstrate how data and visualisation tools serve multiple essential functions beyond basic monitoring. When properly deployed, they help teams understand cause and effect, drive engagement through clear metrics, and translate sustainability concepts into practical business insights. As environmental and social considerations become increasingly central to business decisions, these tools prove vital for both strategic planning and demonstrating real progress to stakeholders.
