Shaw Industries Group has released its second annual corporate sustainability report, atwww.shawgreenedge.com. Titled “Where Sustainability Is Personal,” the report focuses on the company’s sustainability efforts in 2009, including the personal commitment to environmental and social responsibility by Shaw associates. It also discloses key metrics for environment and social responsibility.
“Companies that willingly seek out and adopt new protocols for sustainable business today stand to make a difference now, and for generations to come,” said Shaw CEO Vance Bell. “We certainly believe private enterprise will be the driver of change in addressing the environmental and social challenges faced by today’s world, and our 2009 report demonstrates our commitment to making sure our products and practices meet the highest standards for human and environmental health, safety and responsibility.”
“More than the way we do business, sustainability is also a commitment shared personally by each and every Shaw associate,” Bell said. “Our new report reflects that commitment. It also reflects our desire to be as transparent as possible with our customers and our many stakeholders about the Shaw organization, our operations and our impact.”
Shaw’s 2009 sustainability report includes more disclosures, more metrics and more data than the company’s inaugural 2008 report, according to Jeff West, director of sustainability and environmental affairs for Shaw’s commercial division. “Our annual sustainability reporting process has become a valuable tool for helping us evaluate our progress towards key goals and towards broader sustainability objectives,” West said. “As a result, we have been able to share more data this year than last – including expanded metrics for energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water, and waste.”
“Like our first report, the 2009 report will also serve as a roadmap for the next part of our sustainability journey,” West added.
In addition to an expanded number of key environmental and social metrics, Shaw’s 2009 report also uses the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Guidelines for sustainability reporting. According to David Wilkerson, director of sustainability and environmental affairs for Shaw’s residential division, the company formally adopted the GRI reporting process and framework for its second report to ensure the metrics and content disclosed met globally recognized standards for corporate sustainability reporting.
