FAQs

The services we provide are unique in the market in that we offer one-on-one consulting business services in sustainability development within professional service business providers. Here are some routinely asked questions in regard to our Net Positive Program, the answers to which should guide your way to being more informed about our service provision.

Why Sustainability?

In 2024 sustainability is a subset of quality assurance for your business – because it connects your business with the realities our society and our economies are facing and that has financial, legal and governance impacts. It is also worth noting that businesses that are not across this, voluntarily accept increasing business risk, and with the pace of change and disruption, this inherent business risk increases, year on year. But the flipside of risk is opportunity. Embedding sustainability as a business strategy opens the door to competitive advantage, in increasing efficiencies and lowering cost, in engaging staff and enhancing workplace culture, in becoming an employer of choice and improving brand appeal in a burgeoning green economy upon us.

Why The Net Positive Program?

The Net Positive Program is a robust sustainability program designed for Australian SMEs and professional services providers that uses industry best practice and international standards to set up a ISO9001 mapped quality sustainability management system in your business to turn sustainability into a process of incremental improvement - a business improvement process. We have benchmarked best practice using the brightest shining stars of sustainability from methodologies of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, being alumni members, from best practice advanced by the literature and from best practice in industry - for example in the Architecture space we look to what is advanced as best practice by both the Australian and American Institute along with exemplars of best-practice from leading firms. Let us be very clear about this, we’re not embedding sustainability just as a matter of philanthropy, not just a good will exercise – we’re using sustainability as a vehicle to drive business improvement and achieve competitive advantage, which is a totally different ball-park.

What does it mean to embed sustainability as a business strategy?

If you want meaningful, lasting change in business, change that is truly transformational then you need to embed or effectively implement business strategy. We uses industry best practice and international standards to set up a ISO9001-mapped quality sustainability management system in your business to turn sustainability into a process of incremental improvement - a business improvement process. We do work in a number of sectors but a Net Positive architect practice will use the ISO9001 Quality framework in addressing the firm’s quality sustainability management system as follows: Context of Company: 'Our architectural practice recognises the importance of integrating sustainability into our operations. We understand the environmental challenges facing the construction industry and are committed to mitigating our impacts through the adoption of robust environmental management methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and Carbon Footprinting. By aligning our objectives with sustainable development goals, we aim to contribute positively to the environment while delivering high-quality architectural solutions.' Leadership: 'Our leadership team champions sustainability as a core value of our practice. They provide direction and support for the implementation of environmental management methodologies, ensuring that sustainability considerations are integrated into all aspects of our operations and project work. Through their guidance and commitment, we foster a culture of environmental responsibility and innovation within the firm.' Planning: 'Sustainability is integrated into our strategic planning processes. We establish clear objectives and targets related to environmental performance, considering factors such as resource efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and biodiversity conservation. Our planning efforts involve comprehensive risk assessments and stakeholder engagement to ensure that sustainability considerations are embedded in our project planning and decision-making processes.' Support: 'We provide our staff with the necessary resources, training, and support to effectively implement environmental management methodologies. Through ongoing education and professional development initiatives, we enhance our team's understanding of sustainability principles and practices, empowering them to incorporate environmental considerations into their daily work activities.' Operations: 'Our operations are guided by systematic approaches to environmental management, including the application of LCA, EIA, and other relevant methodologies. We integrate sustainability criteria into our procurement processes, selecting materials and suppliers based on their environmental performance. Additionally, we monitor and track key environmental indicators to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and performance targets.' Performance Evaluation: 'We conduct regular evaluations of our environmental performance to assess the effectiveness of our sustainability management system. Through the collection and analysis of data related to energy consumption, waste generation, and other environmental metrics, we identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions as necessary. Our performance evaluations are transparent and communicated to stakeholders to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement.' Improvement: 'Continuous improvement is central to our sustainability management approach. We actively seek feedback from stakeholders and monitor emerging trends and best practices in environmental management. Based on this information, we identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency gains, implementing initiatives to further reduce our environmental impacts and enhance our overall sustainability performance. Through a cycle of review, action, and improvement, we strive to be leaders in sustainable architecture and design.’

What are some of the benefits of embedding sustainability?

We’ve seen architects that have strengthened their tender applications by being able to speak to their ESG impacts and mitigation measures. And this has happened after just a few months into the program. We’ve seen an IT firm’s carbon neutrality opening doors to corporate contracts – corporate clients are increasingly interested in dealing with sustainable suppliers. We’ve seen a law firm provide a testimonial that embedding sustainability and implementing a philanthropic poverty program as being one of the most inspirational things they had done to impact corporate culture. In fact, what the literature is suggesting is that when leaders commit to their organisation becoming a part of the solution in real terms, not just ad hoc measures like buying biodegradable coffee cups for staff, but introducing sustainability as a value that the firm will propagate in all it does, when leaders do that, staff rally behind perhaps the greatest cause of our generation, and engagement drives improved innovation, brand loyalty and even profitability. And this is not just theoretical research, we’re seen this in our client’s staff bodies, as we survey staff in terms of their engagement as they go through the program. It’s a kin to the rallying against a common enemy - think the US or Britain in World War 2 - comradery goes up, people give more than a damn and that is percentage points in engagement (and in small firms it is not just a few percentage points). That is a noticeable impact and noticeable improvements in engagement and productivity, esp if there is that shift across your entire staff body.

Why shouldn't I just wait for government regulation to come in?

Yes, you absolutely can. And in that event, you are a laggard. But there is a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity to take a first mover advantage in a burgeoning green consumer economy, to transform your business into a sustainability leader, authentically and holistically. There is a low-carbon economy taking shape around us as we speak, and you can not only snap into this regime with minimal disruption over time but at the same time join the movement to enable climate resilient development. Why move now? Because sustainability is no longer just a matter of reputation and trust, but an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. And put simply, businesses that move now get incremental improvements in competitive advantage month on month, over time. So, when the laggards begin to move on the back of government regulation in a few years, they will be competing against vastly more competitive players who have taken that first mover advantage, now.

Can I do this with the resources I have?

We provide one-on-one support throughout the journey. The Net Positive Program is delivered in 9 touchpoints tracking over 4 to 6 months with work being done behind the scenes, which may involve 2-3 hours a week for smaller firms. All materials and learning resources are provided. We suggest a process of delegation by setting up a steering committee which involves your staff and gets buy-in. Ultimately the workflow culminates in a KPI dashboard by which you will navigate the success of your sustainability journey into the future, and manage for incremental improvement by dealing with gaps and celebrating milestones met.

What certifications are available?

In regard to claiming carbon neutrality we use section 2 of the Australian (Climate Active) Carbon Neutral Standard for Organisations to self-certify as is completely valid using the Australian standard. Clients completing the Net Positive Program and meeting all the requirements will be certified Net Positive, at no extra cost. We can also register your carbon neutral claim under section 3 of the Australian (Climate Active) Carbon Neutral Standard for Organisations, which will allow you to use the Climate Active logo under license for your marketing purposes. This comes at an additional cost. There is also the new ISO14068, which is particularly relevant if you are an international business. Built upon and replacing PAS 2060 (carbon neutrality), ISO 14068-1 specifies principles, requirements and guidance for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality through quantifying, reducing and offsetting your carbon footprint. We can also arrange for ISO14068 certification at an additional cost.

How much will this cost?

The cost involved depends on your needs, the size of the firm and the amount of work required. Prices also fluctuate from time to time so please contact us for a quoted rate. But to put some perspective on the Net Positive Program cost, it would be less than a tenth of the cost to hire someone to try to do this for you who most usually will have a tenth of the expertise. It is also useful to consider the Cost of Inaction, the lost opportunity of incremental improvement to your business and the competitive advantage it brings month on month, over time.

Let's Work Together

We are a boutique consultancy with limited capacity - please contact us to plan towards the fulfilment of your sustainability development needs.