建立值得信赖的可持续性数据

In the previous installment of our Building a sustainable business blog series, we discussed various best practices for gathering data. 

Once the hard work of data collection is done, businesses are eager to put it to use, evaluating organizational sustainability performance and reporting this progress to stakeholders. 

But before that step, assurances are needed that the data that has come from all corners of the organization is sound and trustworthy. In this post, we share data validation approaches. 

确保数据完整性

Any evaluation of an organization’s sustainability performance will depend on the accuracy of the data. Given the rising scrutiny on sustainability reporting, it is important to build trust in this data as any questionable information can draw unwanted scrutiny and reputation loss. Moreover, there is every indication that not far from today, certain governments will mandate publicly traded companies to disclose their sustainability metrics.  

The need for assurance of sustainability data crosses stakeholder groups. Customers need it to validate their supply chains, investors want to make sure there isn’t greenwashing in their portfolios, and reporting bodies are requiring more and more assurance. To address this growing requirement, now is the time to double down on bolstering our systems and mechanisms to validate the accuracy of our sustainability data. There is more than one way to achieve assurance for your organization’s sustainability practices.  

内部审计

在 Flex，我们的数据验证机制涉及多层，我们的第一道准确性检查是通过我们八年前制定的内部审查流程进行的。 

We assign an internal reviewer to each of our three regions: the Americas, Asia, and Europe, Middle East included. Whenever monthly data sets are submitted by our sites, these auditors verify them against their data sources. For instance, some of our sustainability data are derived from invoices; each site sources its water consumption data from its water bill. In turn, our auditors will review the accuracy of this line item based on an invoice copy. As issues come up, each auditor works closely with the collaborators at their assigned sites to resolve them including making necessary adjustments. Beyond reviewing for data entry error, internal auditors also look to uncover inconsistencies and irregularities. If we see unseasonal spikes in electricity consumption, we will investigate and explain the anomaly. 

下一个准确度过滤器出现在每个季度末，届时我们会使用趋势线和图表仪表板分析数据。这些可视化功能可帮助我们发现并解释月度审计中未发现的任何违规行为。 

The next checkpoint is our annual audit performed ahead of the publication of our annual sustainability report. During this final screening, we collate the data in multiple ways and confirm they add up even as they are sliced and diced. For instance, we ask our sites to classify the monthly volume of waste generated as landfill, recyclables, and hazardous waste. During the annual audit, we perform cross-checks by reviewing the breakdown of the annual recycled waste by material, such as glass, cardboard, and aluminum. We expect agreement between the sum of recyclable waste by material and the sum of recyclable waste by volume over the last 12 months. 

Our risk management team, which is part of our finance organization, also runs an analysis of our data through the lens of risk assessment. There is no regularity to how many times this audit occurs – and that is best practice for us as it promotes agility. 

We employ a proactive, continuous process to track key performance indicators which in turn helps us spot anomalies as we monitor progress towards our targets. Additionally, these ongoing checks instill greater confidence in the data as we track our progress. As a result, we avoid resolving unanticipated inconsistencies when we’re up against deadlines or receive audit notices from our CFO office. 

审核我们的供应商

在我们确保供应商的商业行为符合我们的可持续发展目标时，我们还采用了一套流程对其进行审核。 

We require suppliers to complete a Supplier Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and Flex’s requirements, a social and environmental assessment based on principles covered in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct. Part of our vendor assessment process involves auditing the suppliers’ responses to the questionnaire which includes a complementary internal risk assessment. At the conclusion of these steps, we determine whether a further, physical audit is required; if so, we follow up with our suppliers through emails, phone calls and onsite visits, as required. 

第三方审计

与许多公司的做法一样，Flex 聘请了一家外部保证供应商，该供应商有资格验证我们可持续发展报告各个方面的准确性；事实上，有些数据无法轻易或迅速验证，例如参加我们社区计划的志愿者员工人数。 

As seen on the last page of our latest sustainability reports, an auditor provides a stamp of assurance, in the same vein that accounting auditors sign off on published financial results. Our auditor validates certain qualitative and quantitative data by selecting about 30 of our sites, interviewing operations leaders, health and safety staff and other subject matter experts. 

There are many resources for organizations to get started. Organizations such as the Responsible Business Alliance and International Organization for Standardization can help. External audit firms that are used for risk and financial audits such as PwC, EY, Deloitte, and others are a recommended starting point. Communicating with the Enterprise Risk Management team or team members responsible for external reporting in Finance can also be advantageous. Starting small and building assurance programs over time is key. 

Ultimately, stakeholders will appreciate the data collected, and the richer the better. Whether internal or external, audits are critical to instilling confidence in the reliability of sustainability information. 

Explore related posts in our series, Building a sustainable business.