1.2. Sustainability self-audit
It is now time to put your business under the spotlight by taking the self-audit - the first step to building a better business. This helps establish your current sustainability status and identify gaps in your knowledge.
Getting Ready for the Audit
In a nutshell
This is not a test. There are no trick questions. Just answer honestly – Yes, No, or Don’t Know.
If the answer is Yes, great – move on. If the answer is No or Don’t Know, follow the links to relevant module
Keep the results on hand for developing your action plan which we lay out in section 3.1.
Self-Audit questionnaire
Question
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Are you familiar with what’s been happening in recent years relating to sustainability such as The Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals and COP? ⬜
2.1 Are you familiar with the issues around climate change and the term net zero? ⬜
2.2 / 2.5 Have you ever measured your own personal carbon footprint? ⬜
2.3 Does your business report on environmental and social performance, as well as financial?
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D Has your business conducted a risks and opportunities analysis related to environmental and societal issues? ⬜
C Has your business ever considered what customers/guests expect from the company in terms of environmental and social stewardship? ⬜
E Does the business currently have a policy or strategy relating to CSR, sustainability, ESG or regenerative tourism? ⬜
B
Questions
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Has your business ever calculated any of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or carbon footprint?
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2.4 Does your business currently report on its carbon footprint? ⬜
2.4 Has your business committed to a specific carbon reduction programme? ⬜
2.5 Does your business purchase green/renewable energy? ⬜
2.7 Does your business have energy efficiency policies including lighting and heating/cooling? ⬜
2.7 Does your business have a water efficiency policy? ⬜
2.8 Does your business have a formal supplier code of conduct in place that specifically holds the company’s suppliers accountable for their environmental and social impact?
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2.9 Have you conducted any supplier sustainability audits, or requested specific carbon data relating to their products or services? ⬜
2.9 Does the business have clear waste reduction policies? ⬜
2.10 If you provide catering, does the business have a clear food waste policy?
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2.11 If you provide catering, does the business offer a range of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products? ⬜
2.11 Does the business support any reforestation, rewilding, or biodiversity projects (on- or off-site)? ⬜
2.6 Has the business ever purchased any carbon offsets? ⬜
2.12
Employee Related Questions
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Has the business ever surveyed employees to establish their views and concerns regarding environmental and social issues?
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2.14 Does the business have written policies covering diversity, equity, and inclusion? ⬜
2.14 Does the business pay above the ‘real living wage’? ⬜
2.14 Does the business have an employee health and wellbeing programme in place? ⬜
2.14 Have employees received sustainability training? ⬜
4.3 Customers/Guests Related Questions
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Has the business ever surveyed customers/guests to establish their views and concerns regarding environmental and social issues?
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2.15 Community Related Questions
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Does the business have a set charity giving policy? ⬜
2.16 Does the business give away any product or service for free (to those who cannot afford it)? ⬜
2.16 Does the business support local events? ⬜
2.16 Does the business support local suppliers?
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2.16
Questions
Yes/No/Don’t know
Go to module:
Does the business have all appropriate policies in place regarding corporate governance (GDPR, Modern Slavery, etc)?
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2.19 Is sustainability currently considered a core part of the business?
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4.3 Does the business have a sustainability action plan in place?
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3.1 Is sustainability a fixed item at senior management meetings and/or board level?
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4.3 Is sustainability performance built in to KPIs, incentives or bonuses?
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2.19 Does the business produce an annual sustainability or impact statement or report?
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5.1 Does the business refer to sustainability in its marketing in an honest and transparent way?
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5.2 Does the business have checks in place to avoid greenwashing?
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5.3 Is the business up to date on legal requirements relating to environmental and societal issues?
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2.17 Has the business gained any third-party environmental or sustainability certification?
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2.18
Audit STC
Stop. Think. Challenge
What did you score? If you found a question surprising, or you did not know the answer, dedicate some time to working through the Learn modules in Step 2.
