The goal of “[build a sustainability plan 101](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-introduction/)” is to provide the steps and resources to get started on a sustainability journey. The approach and tools are captured in seven essential steps. As part of each step there are tools that help guide action. The plan is loosely based on a [guide](https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-comprehensive-business-case-for-sustainability) about a comprehensive business case for sustainability published at Harvard Business Review.
# [**Step 1: assess impact** ](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-assess-impact/)
## 1. Assessing impact
- Benchmark to peer companies
- Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Identify an issue that is important to your company and manage that first.
- Conduct a risk assessment to identify the issues/regions/products that matter most to your company.
- Reach out to an NGO for guidance
## 2. Life cycle assessment
## 3. Materiality assessment
TOOL: opportunity assessment matrix
![[Pasted image 20240222151418.png]]
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# [**Step 2: ID stakeholders** ](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-id-key-stakeholders/)
## 1. Identifying your "Decider" and "Do-er" stakeholders
TOOL: High level internal stakeholder chart
![[Pasted image 20240222152429.png]]
TOOL: High level supply chain stakeholder chart
![[Pasted image 20240222165055.png]]
## 2. Understanding your "do-er" stakeholders
## 3. Activating your “do-er” stakeholders
TOOL: Sustainability plan do-er stakeholders
![[Pasted image 20240222152605.png]]
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# [**Step 3: set goals** ](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-set-meaningful-goals/)
## 1. Making your goals ambitious
## 2. Making your goals scientific
## 3. Making your goals align with your core business
- Step 1: focus on environmental goals
- Step 2: match environmental goals to business values
TOOL: chart your company’s existing language
![[Pasted image 20240222152828.png]]
TOOL: aligning environmental and business divisions
![[Pasted image 20240222152842.png]]
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# [**Step 4: objectives**](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-establish-objectives-and-metrics/)
## 1. Setting specific, measurable objectives
## 2. Identifying key performance indicators, metrics and baselines
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# [**Step 5: ID pilot projects**](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-identify-pilot-projects/)
## 1. Identifying pilot site(s), existing initiatives or projects
## 2. Identifying stakeholders
## 3. Reviewing goals, metrics, KPIs, timelines; are they relevant here?
## 4. Engaging stakeholders and incorporate feedback
## 5. Presenting amended pilot plan to stakeholders to gain buy-in
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# [**Step 6: the business case**](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-make-the-business-case/)
## [1. Understanding how your sustainability plan and your company align](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-business-plan-101-biz-enviro-alignment/)
![[Pasted image 20240222162430.png]]
## [2. Understanding potential drivers of change](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-business-plan-101-understand-drivers-of-change/)
- ## Answer key stakeholder questions
- ## Identify and rank drivers of change
TOOL: ID and rank financial drivers of change
![[Pasted image 20240222162548.png]]
TOOL: ID and rank non-financial drivers of change
![[Pasted image 20240222162601.png]]
## [3. Identifying what motivates your decider stakeholders](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-business-plan-101-understand-stakeholder-motivation/)
- ## Understand motivation: both a science and an art
TOOL: Assign drivers of change to your key stakeholders
![[Pasted image 20240222162818.png]]
## [4. Activating your decider stakeholders](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-business-plan-101-activating-stakeholders/)
- ## Understand allies ... and how to target those who aren't
TOOL: Activating your decider stakeholders
![[Pasted image 20240222163006.png]]
## [5. Identifying the data to be collected](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-business-plan-101-identify-data/)
- ## Identify the data to be collected
1. Financial data (revenues and expenses).
2. Environmental impact data.
TOOL: identifying financial and environmental data and owners
![[Pasted image 20240222163112.png]]
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- ## Assign financial and environmental impact to drivers
TOOL: Estimate benefits
![[Pasted image 20240222163423.png]]
TOOL: Estimate revenue increase from new market opportunities
![[Pasted image 20240222163449.png]]
![[Pasted image 20240222163512.png]]
TOOL: Estimate revenue increase or cost savings from enhanced brand reputation
![[Pasted image 20240222163537.png]]
- ## Perform a cost-benefit analysis
TOOL: Cost-benefit analysis template
![[Pasted image 20240222163548.png]]
- ## Calculate the return on investment
- ## Communicate the intangible benefits and risks
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# [**Step 7: pitch & launch**](https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/build-a-sustainability-plan-101-pitch-and-launch/)
- ## Know how to tell the story