NAEM Report Points to Data Management Systems to Improve Environmental Performance

The National Association for Environmental Management has released a new report that highlights the importance of data management systems to improve sustainability communications and drive environmental performance. According to the report, innovative software tools can not only help improve sustainability reporting, but also advance environment, health and safety (EHS) performance.

The report, Approaches to EHS & Sustainability Data Management provides a benchmark for how businesses handle internal data management, how effective are their chosen data systems and how much they are investing in such systems. Carol Singer Neuvelt, the executive director of NAEM, said that the report also reveals the role played by software systems in helping corporations meet the challenges of external reporting.

Neuvelt said: "As companies are asked by customers and stakeholders to disclose a broad range of environmental attributes, they need to invest in internal systems. Data management solutions are what make it possible for companies to identify their impacts, track their performance and report on their progress."

The results of a survey of 116 corporate sustainability and EHS leads revealed that a number of data management tools available in the market are fairly effective at managing core EHS demands. Many software systems are currently evolving to offer new capabilities around sustainability communications. However, it appears that the need for software options is still not fully met, particularly with regard to tools that can support product compliance, material traceability and product footprinting.

Neuvelt said: "The evolution to a more holistic look at a company's impact creates a need for new tools for supply chain transparency. This report shows is that there is still a great deal of growth potential for the software industry to help companies address these emerging issues."

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