An often-asked question is – how do we measure the impact of sustainability? What are the metrics to be considered for environmental protection, social equity, and economic benefit? Given all the dynamics of a constantly shifting market, how do we know for sure that a sustainability-driven strategy is directly responsible for specific business outcomes?

There are endless metrics. And just like the purpose element and the ensuing sustainability approach is uniquely tailored for each organization, so are the metrics. No one size fits all. Trying to squeeze and force and fit into some standardized ratings matrix will be a frustrating and futile exercise. In fact, it will derail strategy and affect performance.

Anyway, what’s the obsession with standardization in our world? Is it not just a system of normalized averages? Per Vusi Thembekwayo. For a business striving for world class, a clamor for such ratings is nothing short of subscribing to mediocrity. It will boil down to greenwashing. To be seen To Be, while not Being at all. Further, existing ratings matrices are hardly designed with the various dynamics of Africa’s business topography in mind.

The point is to design organisation-specific metrics for measuring sustainability impact in alignment with the chosen business strategy. The resultant dashboard must be richly designed from a potpourri of science, common sense logic and lots of smart but grounded creativity.

Because the awesome fact about sustainability is that we are treading mostly new ground. No blue prints…but definitely blue ocean. And this salient property of sustainability puts the ‘o’ in the wow. It is mind blowing. Indeed sustainability is a synonym for beauty, per Herringer.

CCA provides businesses in Corporate Africa with the tools, technology and methodologies to effectively gauge, measure and evaluate business value, stakeholder and environmental impact.