During the Strategize phase, we work with our clients to address the following key questions:

• Which initiatives should the company undertake to address gaps and capitalize on opportunities?
• How should the company reduce risks and cut costs—both across its value chain and related to its carbon emissions?
• How can the company use sustainability to drive growth and differentiate itself?

Our Strategize phase services include:

Developing an Eco-advantage strategy that addresses risks and opportunities

Creating eco-advantage requires companies to conduct a systematic analysis of defensive and offensive strategies. Such strategies are drawn from underlying data and careful analysis of multiple factors, including corporate environmental impacts, management, and competitive positioning to date. Defensive strategies include finding ways to minimize environmental risks and associated costs, and identifying cost-saving eco-efficiencies. Offensive strategies include innovation and market expansion opportunities, increasing employee loyalty, and enhancing brand and corporate reputation. The goal is to create net value for the company. Esty Environmental Partners helps clients sort and refine their opportunities and capture the “eco-premium”.

Developing a climate change strategy

Given the environmental implications of climate change, intensifying stakeholder scrutiny, rising energy costs, and impending carbon regulation, Esty Environmental Partners advises companies to develop a climate change strategy. We can help companies measure their carbon footprint, set realistic reduction goals, develop a reduction plan, and track and report on performance.

• Measuring a company’s carbon footprint. While we encourage most clients to conduct a thorough greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, we offer a “strategic scale” GHG inventory service that gives a company a quick estimate of its carbon footprint and puts it into a manageable context. Once the company is ready to pursue a thorough GHG inventory, we can recommend vendors and help manage the process.
• Setting goals and reducing a company’s footprint. Once a client has measured its carbon footprint, it is in a position to set goals and develop a reduction plan. Esty Environmental Partners works closely with clients to develop a reduction strategy that includes conservation, renewable energy, and (potentially) offsets. We can also help clients sort through the implications of potential carbon regulations and analyze the potential business impacts.
• Reporting results. After a company has measured its carbon footprint and set reduction goals, the next step is communicating the initiative to interested stakeholders. Esty Environmental Partners can help develop a set of carbon metrics and a reporting structure to demonstrate responsible management.

Building an Organizational Transformation Plan

Gaining business benefit from your sustainability program usually depends on some level of organizational transformation. Sustainability is inherently cross-functional, involving product, marketing, operations and supply chain, communications and public affairs, and potentially other functions. In our strategy work with clients, we help the organization define the new roles and behaviors, changed performance expectations, and supporting systems and processes to ensure sustainability success.

Analyze
Strategize
Mobilize
Optimize