Keeping track of progress is important if your business or organization is trying to be more sustainable or meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. But how do you know if you're making a real difference? This is where Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, come in handy.
KPIs are like signposts — they show you where you are and whether you're heading in the right direction. At https://planet-positive.org/, you can find useful tools and ideas to help start or improve your sustainability path. Let’s look at some KPIs that many people use to measure success in ESG and sustainability.
First, let’s talk about environmental KPIs. A key one is carbon emissions. Tracking how much greenhouse gas your company produces helps you understand your impact on the planet. Another helpful metric is energy use. Are you using less electricity or switching to cleaner energy sources over time? Water consumption and waste production are also good things to track — less is usually better here!
On the social side, it’s important to check how your business is treating people. A common KPI is employee satisfaction. This can be measured through surveys and helps you see whether your team feels supported and valued. You can also track things like diversity and inclusion metrics — for example, what percentage of leadership positions are held by women or people from underrepresented groups?
Governance might sound a bit boring, but it matters a lot. It’s about how fairly and responsibly your company is managed. Some useful KPIs here include how often the board meets, how decisions are made, and whether policies are in place to fight issues like corruption. Another KPI is how transparent your company is — are reports easy to find and understand by the public?
The best part is, you don’t have to track everything at once. Start with a few KPIs that match your most important goals and build from there. Over time, these numbers help you show progress and make better choices.
Remember, the goal is to make real changes, not just get good numbers on a report. KPIs help keep everyone focused on making a positive difference — for the planet, for people, and for a better future.