Sustainability Research

Climate change, renewable energy, economic and social transformation – the United Nations has set 17 Sustainable Development Goals on its 2030 Agenda. However, for many organizations implementing sustainability is a complex task. Our sustainabiltiy research provides scientific analysis which enables sustainable development and solutions to global challenges.

WifOR’s sustainability research supports organizations (companies, government ministries, associations, NGOs) and industries to make evidence-based decisions. With the help of our sustainability research, organizations and industries can actively manage their impact on society, the environment, and the economy.

What is Sustainability Research?

Over the years, WifOR Institute’s sustainability research has been used to analyze the impact of organizations and industries. By analyzing impact, organizations are empowered to meet global challenges through managing the sustainabiltiy of the footprint left on society, the environment, and the economy.

WifOR’s sustainability research has developed common standards for measuring sustainability, which we aim to implement in global practice. Through integrating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals into our approach, WifOR’s sustainability research bridges the gap between business and politics – supporting dynamic cooperation at an international scale.

What are the dimensions of Sustainability Research?

Sustainability research at WifOR is categorized into three dimensions: social impact, environmental impact, and economic impact. This approach offers an holistic overview of the impact organizations and industries have while also delivering actionable insights for addressing sustainability issues.

Research projects adopt either a focus on a specific dimension of impact (e.g. Environmental Footprint) or follow a multidimensional approach (e.g. Sustainability Monitoring). Alternaitvely, our SEE Impact Valuation model takes a deep dive across the sustainability dimesions (social, environmental, economic) and provides in-depth impact analysis as the foundation for sustainability management.

WifOR Institute’s Sustainability Research

How is sustainability measured?

Sustainability extends throughout the value chain. Managing sustainability requires organizations and industries to go beyond the remit of direct practices and to understand the impact their activities have across global, interconnected supply chains. Sustainability research uses extended input-output analyses to calculate impact – from own operations, throughout the value chain.

How does WifOR’s Sustainability Research support organizations and industries?

From the extraction of raw materials to finished products, organizations and industries have the power to shape society, the environment, and the economy. As legal obligations and stakeholder expectations shift the paradigms in global business and politics, managing sustainability has become an intrinsic component of strategic decision-making and long-term growth.

WifOR’s sustainability research provides the foundation to effectively manage sustainable development and simultaneously address global challenges. Our research projects enable organizations and industries to focus on long-term targets, report non-financial performance based on valid data, and communicate sustainability progress with stakeholders throughout society.

Jari Kinaret

Director of the Graphene Flagship Project

WifOR’s study on the Graphene Flagship’s Economic and R&D Footprint provides evidence, first and foremost, that the EU’s investments in the program are paying off in multiple ways – in Europe and worldwide.

Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll

CEO BVMed

On behalf of the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed), WifOR Institute has produced a assessment of the social, economic, and environmental footprint of an industry – the first of its kind worldwide. The SEE Impact Study from Autumn 2022 creates the basis for comprehensive sustainability measurement of the industry, and its supply chain, based on key indicators and industry comparisons.

Dr. Tobias Hackmann

Excellence Lead Industrial Health Economy Roche

WifOR has been supporting Roche with macroeconomic analyses for many years – most recently with an impact valuation using the VBA method. The results are very valuable for us; they create transparency about the Social Impact of our activities along global supply chains – for our internal as well as our external stakeholders.

Latest articles from WifOR’s Sustainability Research

Case Study: Graphene Flagship Project

Measure economic impact using the Economic Footprint
Best Practice SAP

How to measure sustainability
SEE Impact Study

In interview with BVMed CEO, Dr. Möll: “Sustainability starts with the supply chain”