Sustainability Strategy, GHG Inventory and Reporting
Client: Southwest Airlines
Completion Date: Annually since 2009
Burns & McDonnell has worked collectively with Southwest Airlines on sustainability strategy and reporting efforts since 2009. Instead of producing separate annual and corporate sustainability reports, Southwest and Burns & McDonnell partnered to produce an integrated reporting document. The 2009 Southwest Airlines One Report combined content about Southwest's economic, social and environmental impacts while elevating Southwest's triple bottom line. This approach was so novel in the industry that the comprehensive 2009 One Report became the focus of a Harvard Business Review case study in 2010. Due to its efficiency and success, the integrated format also was employed for the 2010 report, which is available at http://www.southwest.com/html/southwest-difference/southwest-citizenship/one-report.html.
- Greenhouse gas inventory
- Sustainability goal tracking
- Global Reporting Initiatiative (GRI) reporting framework
- Third-party verification and external assurance
During the data collection process, Burns & McDonnell received both qualitative and quantitative metrics for analysis. A portion of the data collected was used to calculate Southwest's Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG inventory in accordance with the World Resource Institute.
After the inventory was calculated, data collected, and interviews complete, Burns & McDonnell developed content for the 2009 One Report that complied with a C+ application level through the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Burns & McDonnell also provided third-party verification of the entire report, including information regarding greenhouse gas emissions, environmental programs and fuel consumption. This process provided external assurance that Southwest's report provided a balanced view of their sustainability profile for the reporting period and included accurate data and information in line with the principles outlined in the GRI.
- Robust greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory developed in accordance with World Resource Institute (WRI) protocol
- Comprehensive inventory and business consulting, including tracking progress toward sustainability goals and assistance with the development of key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting framework incorporated to achieve a C+ application level
- Third-party verification and external assurance
