Sustainability is not just a responsibility—it’s a continuous journey that shapes how we operate, collaborate, and create value for society and the planet. Our approach is built on measurable impact, transparency, and a drive for ongoing improvement. We act as both:
Catalyst for change within our own organization
Partner for transformation supporting others to accelerate their sustainability ambitions and actions
Our three service pillars
Our approach is both strategic and operational, guiding companies to future-proof their activities and create measurable impacts across 3 service pillars:
1. Developing Sustainable Organizations
We develop comprehensive sustainability strategies and measurable action plans that integrate sustainability into governance, operations, and decision-making processes. Our Sustainability Growth Model™ helps businesses develop a roadmap for long-term resilience and sustainability, focusing on creating alignment between their societal responsibilities and business goals.
2. Shaping Sustainable Products
As an accredited assessor for the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard, we work with organizations to innovate and transition their products to meet circular economy principles. This process helps businesses develop products that are not only sustainable but also compliant with evolving regulatory standards like the EU Directives. The focus here is on improving both operational and transformational impacts, ensuring that companies deliver products with lasting positive effects.
3. Building Sustainable Brands
We help organizations craft and communicate their sustainability narratives, ensuring alignment between their brand values and sustainability commitments. Our strategies include developing communication roadmaps, stakeholder engagement plans, and transparent sustainability reporting. This pillar strengthens brands on credibility, impact, and trust.
By engaging with these three pillars, Sustenuto empowers organizations to make a tangible difference across their value chains. Our work is transformational, moving beyond isolated actions to fully integrating sustainability into the core of our clients’ business models.
From input to impact
Impact is at the heart of our work. We distinguish between:
Direct impacts: shaped by our own operations, policies, and workplace culture.
Indirect impacts: achieved through our services, partnerships, and the transformation of our clients’ organisations
To understand these impacts, we use the Input–Output–Outcome–Impact framework (WBCSD). This means we look beyond activities and outputs, focusing on real-world outcomes and long-term impact. In 2017, we conducted an SDG materiality assessment to identify where we contribute most, in 2019 we completed our first B Impact Assessment and in 2021 we assessed our inputs-to-impact for every service we provide, directly and indirectly.
In our approaches both internally and externally we apply from ISO 26000, including stakeholder engagement, respect for human and labor rights, and transparency. We still use the SDGs structure as framework to inform our stakeholders about our actions.
To determine our actions and priorities, we use internationally recognized frameworks as inspiration for our actions including the United Nations SDGs, B Corp Certification, ISO 26000 and the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard.
The SDGs remain our framework for informing stakeholders about our actions on our website. But our B Impact Assessment score and performance on various social and environmental metrics are also publicly available on B Lab's website.
Finally, B Corp certification provides us with a rigorous, externally validated framework for continuous improvement. It is not just a label, but an action list that guides our progress and holds us accountable to the highest standards of social and environmental performance.
B Corp Recertification
In May 2025, we successfully recertified as a Certified B Corporation®, achieving an improved B Impact Score of 99.5.
This milestone reflects our commitment to using business as a force for good. Since our first certification in 2022, we have:
Deepened our impact across all areas
Strengthened governance
Set higher goals on HR
Certification is not the finish line it’s a framework for continuous improvement.
Over the next three years, we will keep embedding sustainability into our strategies, services, and operations. Our focus areas, aligned with the SDGs.
Our employees cultivate their purpose
At Sustenuto, our employees find purpose through their commitment to sustainability, supported by a flexible, inclusive work environment. This makes us an comfortable workplace for professionals who are passionate about making a meaningful impact.
Work-Life Balance: Flexibility is a key component of our work culture. We provide adaptable schedules and remote work options, allowing employees to maintain a healthy balance between personal and professional life.
Autonomy and Trust: Our coaching approach gives employees the autonomy to manage their own projects, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
Growth Opportunities: We offer continuous professional development ensuring that our employees can grow with us in an ever-evolving sector.
Collaborative Culture: Sustenuto values diverse perspectives, encouraging collaboration among team members and clients.
Alignment with Values: Our employees are driven by a shared commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, which closely aligns with the core values of Sustenuto.
Recognition and Impact: Our team members take pride in the direct impact their work has on clients and the environment, with opportunities to see their contributions lead to tangible, positive change.
Looking Ahead
From 2026, B Corp certification will raise the bar significantly, introducing stricter requirements and a deeper focus on impact governance and stakeholder engagement. Companies will need to demonstrate progress across seven key impact areas: purpose-driven governance, climate action aligned with 1.5°C targets, human rights due diligence, fair work practices, environmental stewardship and circularity, justice and inclusion, and collective action for systemic change.
At Sustenuto, we welcome these developments because they reflect our own mission: embedding sustainability at the core of organizations. These evolving standards challenge businesses to go beyond compliance and embrace continuous improvement, with milestones after three and five years to ensure lasting impact. We are committed to staying ahead of these expectations—both for our own certification and in guiding clients through this transformation—leveraging recognized frameworks like GRI and SBTi to help them focus on what truly matters: creating value for all stakeholders.
Our (future) actions for developing sustainability
We are committed to advancing sustainability across our organization and for our clients, guided by the UN SDGs and a clear ambition to improve impact measurement in the future through a robust impact indicator framework. Our approach combines targeted commitments, direct and indirect impacts, and ongoing initiatives. We’ve clustered them across five priority SDGs for easy understanding.
Quality Education (SDG Target 4.7)
Direct Impact:
Through our Sustainability Growth Model™—including training programs, workshops, and SDG integration coaching—we organize learning and networking sessions with knowledge institutions and sector federations. As a partner of B Lab, we deliver B Leader training sessions, equipping professionals to guide companies in their transition to B Corporation status. Internally, we advocate lifelong learning via formal training and learning-on-the-job, supported by a dedicated employee training policy.
Commitment:
We share sustainability knowledge in academic institutions and networks, and develop educative modules to empower employees in client organizations.
Indirect Impact:
Our advisory services strengthen knowledge and competencies across sectors, enabling organizations to embed sustainability strategically. By integrating sustainability into company culture and operations, we help organizations become futureproof and contribute positively to society.
Linked Service:
Sustainability Growth Model™ – Training programs, workshops, SDG integration coaching
Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG Targets 8.4, 8.8)
Direct Impact:
Our HR and well-being approach offers flexibility, autonomy, and growth opportunities. We provide flexible work arrangements, a supportive work-life balance, and allocate training budgets for every employee. Annual consultations and project planning prioritize employee empowerment and participation.
Commitment:
Every Sustenuto employee has access to a training portfolio and annual strategic consultation. All offices are designed as sustainable hubs.
Indirect Impact:
Through services like C2C Certification and the Sustainability Growth Model™, we advise clients on social compliance frameworks, SA8000 integration, and HR policies. We support organizations in integrating circular principles and social responsibility into their business models, improving resource efficiency and protecting labor rights.
Linked Services:
C2C Certification – Circularity principles, product design for reuse and disassembly
Sustainability Growth Model™ – Social compliance frameworks, SA8000 integration, HR policies
Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG Targets 12.2, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7)
Direct Impact:
Sustenuto consciously chooses sustainable office supplies and designs its workplace to be circular, in partnership with C2C Platform. We maximize the use of circular products in our joint office in Brussels, Belgium, and source equipment and supplies sustainably. Our services include developing innovation roadmaps, circular business models, and supporting CSRD compliance and ESG reporting.
Commitment:
We prioritize sustainable purchasing for office supplies, events, and catering, maximize the use of certified or low-footprint materials, and help clients develop circular products.
Indirect Impact:
Through our Circular Products pillar, we guide organizations in transitioning to circular economy models, focusing on product lifecycle management, certifications (e.g., Cradle to Cradle), and material health. We promote design for disassembly, closed-loop systems, and circular procurement strategies, helping organizations achieve regulatory compliance and market advantage.
Linked Services:
C2C Certification – Material Health, renewable resources, closed-loop systems, design for disassembly, circular product strategies
Sustainability Growth Model™ – CSRD compliance, ESG reporting, sustainability KPIs, advisory on circular procurement strategies
Climate Action (SDG Target 13.2)
Direct Impact:
Sustenuto is implementing measures to reduce its own footprint, such as promoting public transport and green mobility (90% of staff use green mobility). We aim to offer climate-neutral services by 2025 and are developing corresponding measures to reduce our footprint accordingly.
Commitment:
We aim to reduce GHG emissions, support climate strategies, and prioritize green mobility. Our goal is to achieve climate neutrality for our own operations by 2030.
Indirect Impact:
Through the Sustainability Growth Model™, we support clients in developing climate strategies and action plans aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), enabling them to structurally reduce emissions and integrate climate change measures into their policies and planning. Our projects frequently focus on climate change, helping clients minimize negative impacts and contribute to a sustainable future.
Linked Service:
Sustainability Growth Model™ – Climate strategy development, carbon footprint reduction aligned with SBTi
Partnerships for the Goals (SDG Targets 17.16, 17.17)
Direct Impact:
Sustenuto is an active member of networks such as The Shift and Fair Trade, collaborates with Antwerp Management School, and supports initiatives like Connect2Change by Bond Beter Leefmilieu. We participate in advocacy actions, including open letters for a net-zero economy, and position ourselves as a true partner for organizations integrating sustainability strategically.
Commitment:
We foster partnerships for sustainable, equitable systems, aiming for at least three active memberships/partnerships by 2030.
Indirect Impact:
We facilitate partnerships for clients, such as circular supply chains and joint sustainability initiatives, enhancing global collaboration for sustainable development. Our services include stakeholder engagement, multi-sector collaboration, and partnerships for circular supply chains and resource cycling.
Linked Services:
Sustainability Growth Model™ – Stakeholder engagement, multi-sector collaboration
C2C Certification – Partnerships for circular supply chains and resource cycling
