Common Areas of Measurement in Sustainability Initiatives

The demand for sustainable building practices is growing in the events and venue space. Incorporating green practices into venue design and operations is becoming a pivotal part of venue management in the modern era. 

As such, measuring your sustainability performance is not just beneficial — it is essential. Proper measurement allows you to understand your impact, identify areas for improvement and implement effective reduction practices.  

By aligning with common reporting frameworks and initiatives, you can ensure that your sustainability efforts are both credible and comprehensive. 

Key Measurement Areas 

Accurate measurement of sustainability performance is key to driving continuous improvement and demonstrating commitment to sustainable practices.  

For venues, this involves assessing various aspects of your operations, from energy consumption and waste management to social responsibility and governance practices. Without precise metrics, it is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of your initiatives or to make informed decisions about where to focus your efforts.  

Here are some key areas of measurement to focus on: 

Environmental Metrics 

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions (tCO2e):  

• • Scope 1 emissions: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources; this is everything you burn. 

• • Scope 2 emissions: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling; these are utilities you buy. 

• • Scope 3 emissions: All other indirect emissions in your value chain both upstream and downstream; this is everything else beyond. 

• Energy Usage (kWh): Total energy consumed, reduction of energy use and energy source. 

• Water Usage (L): Total water consumed, water source and treatment of grey/wastewater. 

• Waste Management (kg): Total waste generated (general waste, recycling, food and other segregated waste types) and waste diverted from landfill. 

• Biodiversity Impact: Risk assessment and mitigation of impact on local ecosystems and biodiversity conservation efforts. 

Social Metrics 

• Employee Conditions: Diversity equity and inclusion, health & safety, labor rights, staff well-being and employee turnover rates. 

• Human Rights: Policies and practices regarding child labor, forced labor, fair wages and compliance with the Modern Slavery Act. 

• Community Engagement: Contributions to local communities, stakeholder engagement and volunteering opportunities/work placements/apprenticeships. 

• Responsible Procurement: Ethical and environmentally sustainable sourcing, product safety and customer satisfaction. 

Governance Metrics 

• Board Structure: Composition and diversity of your company board. 

• Executive Accountability and Compensation: Alignment with performance and sustainability goals. 

• Risk Management: Process for identifying and managing ESG-related risks. 

• Ethics and Compliance: Codes of conduct and anti-corruption/anti-bribery measures. 

Economic Metrics 

• Generated Value: Revenue, profit and economic impact on local communities. 

• Investment in Sustainability: Capital expenditure on sustainability projects, dedicated resources and innovative sustainability technology and products. 

• Cost Savings: Efficiency gains from sustainability initiatives and reduced operational costs. 

Conclusion: Aligning with Reporting Frameworks 

WeTrack's sustainability tracking features support customers in measuring their progress on all the above and more. By aligning your reporting with globally recognized frameworks, as well as your own strategy and goals, you can ensure your business is future-proofing while preparing for forthcoming legislation and contributing to a more sustainable future. 

Contact us to find out more about how we can support you with aligning to the best-fit framework, what to measure and how to report your performance to celebrate your successes and identify areas for improvement.