Sustainability is more than just checking boxes – it is about driving meaningful change. Often we try to effect change without appropriate information, consequently we set ourselves up to fail in achieving our headline objectives. Imagine engaging in financial planning for your business in the absence of accurate accounting data – no financial professional would consider such an absurdity.

Measuring and reporting sustainability outcomes can be complex, requiring new systems and processes. We need to ensure that we are collecting the appropriate data in a timely manner and analysing it in an informed way. Corporations are creating sustainability teams who are charged with monitoring, measuring and managing all aspects of their sustainability challenge, but invariably they don’t have the tools, or the understanding as to how they can achieve the targets being set.

Without a well informed plan that is being verified in close to real time, achieving your goals is at best aspirational. To date the information available to most executives has been sketchy and inaccurate, to say the least. Many annual reports are littered with grandiose statements of intent and commentary about ESG policy, but few have any real substance. Few businesses collect the data required to understand what is happening in their business, let alone provide any real insight into their projections and planning.

Accountants want clear, reliable, reportable and transparent data in order to stand by their reports, those responsible for sustainability have exactly the same requirements. OPNB can support the planning, monitoring and management of sustainability goals and provide the missing link in relation to energy and associated carbon reporting for executive teams and their sustainability professionals.