C10.11 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
A KPI is a quantitative measure of an aspect of an organisation that drives performance.
Examples of KPI topics include:
Raw Material Use
- Water consumption.
- Use of recycled Aggregates.
- Use of sustainably sourced materials.
- This may be for specific materials, such as wood or palm oil.
Energy Consumption
- Gas consumption.
- Oil consumption.
- Coal consumption.
Emissions Generated
- Carbon.
- Emissions to water.
- This may be for specific discharges, such as acids or cooling water.
- Emissions to land.
- This may be for specific emissions, such as hydrocarbons or organic pollutants.
- Emissions to air.
- This may be for specific emissions, such as dust and particles, greenhouse gases or VOCs.
- Waste production.
- This may be for specific waste types.
Product Specific
- Content of toxic substances in a product.
- This may be for specific substances, such as PCBs or lead.
- Content of recycled materials in a product.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development states that when selecting indicators, you should ensure that they:
- Are relevant and meaningful.
- Inform decision making to improve the performance of the organisation.
- Recognise the inherent diversity of business.
- Support benchmarking and monitoring over time.
- Are clearly defined, measureable, transparent and verifiable.
- Are understandable and meaningful to identified stakeholders.
- Focus on areas under direct management control.
- Recognise upstream and downstream aspects of a company’s activities.