SAS software makes counting carbon emissions much easier

Counting carbon emissions (or carbon footprints) by factories or company executives and employees may be a very complicated way of measuring the environmental impact of businesses. Yet global business intelligence leader SAS has produced a software that will make environmental impact assessments (EIA) a lot easier for most companies.

The software was launched in time for the holding recently of the annual corporate social responsibility conference at the Shangrila Makati hotel, where Thomas Spiller, SAS senior director for international programs, under whom the environmental software falls, lectured to CEOs of Philippine and multinational businesses based in the country on how the SAS software can provide companies with the competitive edge they need in the global market place.

 “Let’s face it. You may be the most competitive business in your country but if you are not compliant with the global reporting initiatives (GRI) on environmental impact then your products or services may not find acceptance in the markets of developed world where environmental sustainability is now a key parameter,” Spiller said.

The League of CSR Foundations, headed by Pacita Juan of Figaro Coffee Co. and Figaro Foundation, held its annual conference with environmental sustainability as its key concern.

Spiller said he is impressed that local companies like Ayala Land and the Manila Water Co. Inc., also of the Ayala Group, have developed environmental sustainability reporting systems  and are very receptive to innovations like the SAS software to improve their operations and provide their companies with the competitive edge in the global market arena.

Spiller joined SAS in early 2007 in charge of global public policy initiatives such as sustainability, solvency II or e-Government. He began his career in 1993 working two years in the communication and information department of French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur.

“Lessening business impact on the environment while maintaining economic growth is now a priority in every organization. With SAS solution, every organization can optimize business strategies for minimizing risks and costs, deploy innovative but sustainable strategies and new lines of business and improve environmental, human and economic resource use,” Spiller said.

A recent survey conducted by the International Data Corp. (IDC) showed that environmental issues including climate change top the agenda in executive suites worldwide. But measuring and managing environmental impact is difficult, intricate work that stretches across an organization’s operations, Spiller said.

 “Causal relationships connecting issues like greenhouse gas emissions, use of scarce resources, ethical sourcing and regulatory compliance make it extremely complex to invest in green technology and expand sales of products and services with measurably better environmental performance,” he noted.

 “Our software is the critical enabler that allows others to meet their environmental objectives. We are the catalyst for our customers to attain their goals. Whether facilitating the efficient generation of power, promoting better utilization of critical resources to minimize waste, assisting environmental protection agencies or improving the production and delivery of goods, we enable our customers to do well and good,” said Sonny Halili, SAS Philippines managing director.