There’s no time to waste in understanding your organization’s impacts on both society and our planet.
A sustainability report can help you to build trust with partners and clients. It can help you to gain more business, more capital, and lower your exposure to risks. Most importantly, it can help you identify your positive and negative impacts so that you can make strategic improvements. For example, tracking your greenhouse gas emissions sources can help you find specific ways to become more energy-efficient.
But it can seem overwhelming to get started. Most of the resources and tools on the market are for large corporations. Small businesses need a simplified process and tools, especially since you may not have experts on staff or a large reporting budget.
Example of a company’s greenhouse gas emissions target and progress toward net zero
I’m Jennifer K. Duffy and I’m a GRI-certified Sustainability Professional. The GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards is the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting system.
I started PilotSong Sustainability in 2024 to help small businesses become more skilled at tracking and reporting their sustainability-related data, especially greenhouse gas emissions.
Excessive greenhouse gas emissions lead to global warming which causes catastrophic weather events and other woes. In fact, according to scientists, including those who created the Climate Clock, we have less than 4 years to severely limit global warming. After that, we may pass a threshold that will be next to impossible to recover from.
While developed countries and large corporations should take the largest share of responsibility for reducing greenhouse gases, small businesses have an important role to play.
According to the World Bank Group, around 90% of businesses in the world are considered small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). So, together, SMEs have an enormous impact on the environment and society.
I fell into working with data in 2015 when I worked in the development department of an environmental non-profit in Baltimore City called Blue Water Baltimore. When I started, they were in the middle of transitioning to a new CRM (customer management software system) called Salesforce. They didn’t have an IT person or database specialist on staff, so I became the de facto “database person.” I helped to set up the Salesforce database and to manage it. That’s where I learned how vital data analysis is for everything from setting strategy to understanding trends.
I decided to go back to school and earn a certificate in data analytics from a Johns Hopkins University intense 20-week bootcamp. We learned programming languages such as JavaScript and Python. We were introduced to machine learning processes such as large language models. They gave us a foundation so that we could become more proficient at extracting, analyzing, and visualizing datasets. The bootcamp was challenging and intense, but I loved it.
I then worked at an economic development agency where they were creating Baltimore Together, “a new blueprint for Baltimore’s economy.” While there, I learned more about ESG (environmental, social, and governmental topics related to businesses) and decided that that was where I wanted to focus.
I then took courses with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and became a GRI certified sustainability professional. The GRI Standards “reflect best practices for sustainability reporting, helping thousands of organizations around the world respond to emerging information demands from stakeholders and regulators.”
As the saying goes, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” That’s why it’s so important for small businesses to track and measure their sustainability data. The goal is to then refine your business processes and policies so that you can be seen as a leader rather than a laggard in your industry.
⇒ Our system is geared towards beginners.
The Sustainability Report Starter Pack includes beginner-friendly templates paired with instructions that walk you through what data to collect and how to turn it into a clear, credible sustainability report.
⇒ You can use our plug-and-play templates without having to learn a new software program.
Your team members just need a basic understanding of MS Excel to use the templates.
⇒ You don’t need to commit to a contract or hire an expensive consultant.
You can begin using our templates immediately upon purchase. Just download the files and start creating your report within minutes.
⇒ Our Starter Pack is designed for small businesses.
The Sustainability Report Starter Pack is intended for U.S. businesses with less than 1,000 employees. The requirements for small businesses are much less onerous than those for large companies. You will save time by only focusing on what is relevant to you.
Start with a single template or purchase the entire Sustainability Report Starter Pack that includes templates for ESG topics that are typical for small businesses to report on.
o Complete your report more quickly by using our tools geared towards small businesses.
o Complete your report more affordably by using software that you already have, MS Excel. No need to purchase extra software or sign a contract.
o Complete your report more accurately by following a framework used by thousands of other companies worldwide.
o Keep full control over your data. You do not need to upload anything or share any of your sustainability data with us.
o Be confident in what and how you are reporting by following accepted standards.
Pilot verses or “pilot songs” were directions that were sung in tune to favorite songs, as a memorable way to help sailors navigate unknown waters.*
PilotSong Sustainability is located near the Baltimore, MD port and here as elsewhere, boats are guided through local waterways by Bay Pilots. In fact, Maryland is home to the oldest state-codified organization of Pilots in the country!
While not as difficult as treacherous seaways, finding your way through the complications of sustainability data can be daunting as well! We are here to help guide you through.
If you have any questions, go to the FAQ page or the Contact page.
We are a woman-owned business located in Baltimore, MD USA. Jennifer K. Duffy is a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional and a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals.
We help folks at small businesses to complete their first sustainability report, including greenhouse gas inventories, by providing step-by-step guides and templates.