Structure your sustainability programme. Clear priorities, credible governance, practical delivery.

A sustainability framework gives an organisation the structure it needs to manage environmental, social and governance performance consistently and credibly. Without one, sustainability activity tends to be reactive, fragmented and difficult to report on. With one, an organisation has a clear set of priorities, commitments and governance arrangements that guide decisions and demonstrate genuine intent.

AES develops sustainability frameworks for organisations, teams and projects across Australia, including local government. We create structures that are practical, aligned to recognised standards, and built to be used by the people responsible for delivering them.

Featured Project

Environmental Management Plans & Inspections

Noosa, Queensland

Applied Environment & Safety provided environmental support to PCA Ground Engineering during road embankment stabilisation works in Noosa, Queensland. These works were important to maintaining the long-term serviceability of the road and drainage infrastructure at this location.

Our role on this project was to provide technical environmental support. This included the development of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, Sediment and Erosion Control Plan, and Rehabilitation Plan. Then we undertook inspections of the works during construction to ensure compliance with the controls for the environmental aspects.

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What is a Sustainability Framework?

A sustainability framework is the overarching structure that defines how an organisation manages its sustainability commitments, priorities and performance. It typically sets out the organisation’s material sustainability issues, its objectives and targets, the governance and accountability arrangements that support delivery, and the way performance will be measured and reported.

A framework brings together the strands of a sustainability programme into a single, coherent structure. It connects an organisation’s material issues to its strategy, its strategy to specific commitments, and those commitments to measurable outcomes and reporting.

Organisations are increasingly expected to demonstrate that their sustainability activity is structured, governed and genuine, not a collection of disconnected initiatives. A sustainability framework provides that structure. It gives an organisation a defensible basis for what it focuses on and why, supports consistent decision-making, and creates the foundation for credible reporting under frameworks such as GRI and the ASRS.

What we include

AES develops complete, practical sustainability frameworks, including:

  • review of your organisation’s context, priorities and material issues
  • development of sustainability objectives, targets and commitments
  • governance and accountability structure design
  • sustainability policy development
  • alignment to recognised standards and reporting frameworks
  • a practical roadmap and implementation plan
  • recommendations for measurement, monitoring and reporting

Industries We Support

Applied Environment & Safety develops sustainability frameworks for organisations, teams and projects across a range of industries.

Why Work With Applied Environment & Safety

We develop sustainability frameworks that are practical, structured and built for use, not for the shelf. Our team understands that a framework only delivers value if it reflects your organisation’s real priorities, fits your governance, and gives your people a clear structure to work within.

We ground every framework in your material issues and current best-practice standards including GRI, ISSB and the ASRS, and we design governance and accountability arrangements that are proportionate to your organisation. We focus on giving you a clear, defensible structure and a practical path to deliver it.

AES is a certified carbon neutral organisation with our own sustainability commitments and reporting in place, so our advice is grounded in first-hand experience of building and running a sustainability programme.

Discuss your sustainability framework requirements

Tell us about your organisation. Our team will come back to you within one business day to discuss how AES can support your sustainability framework.

Contact our team today to discuss your project requirements.

Other Sustainability Services

Carbon Accounting

Measure, verify and report your organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3. AES provides end-to-end carbon accounting services that give you a credible, audit-ready picture of your emissions baseline that is essential for mandatory disclosure, target-setting and abatement planning.
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Sustainability Reporting

Navigate mandatory and voluntary sustainability reporting with confidence. AES prepares sustainability reports aligned to GRI, ASRS (AASB S1/S2), ISSB and other recognised frameworks. Every report is accurate, framework-compliant and ready for publication.
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NGER Reporting

Meet your National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting obligations accurately and on time. AES manages the full NGER data collection, calculation and lodgement process for energy producers, large facilities and controlling corporations.
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Materiality Assessment

Identify the sustainability issues that matter most to your business and your stakeholders. AES conducts robust materiality assessments that form the strategic foundation for your sustainability programme. Each assessment is structured, evidence-based and aligned to GRI, ISSB and ASRS requirements.
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Sustainability Management Plans

Embed sustainability requirements into project delivery with a structured, practical sustainability management plan. AES develops SMPs for infrastructure, construction and development projects of all scales. Each plan is specific to your project, aligned to client requirements and written to be used.
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Decarbonisation Strategy

Chart a credible path to net zero. AES develops decarbonisation strategies that turn your emissions baseline into a practical, staged reduction pathway aligned to your targets, operations and reporting obligations.
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Climate-Related Disclosures

Meet your mandatory climate reporting obligations with confidence. AES prepares ASRS and ISSB-aligned climate-related disclosures that are accurate, defensible and audit-ready.
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Climate Change Risk Assessment

Understand your physical and transition climate risks. AES conducts structured climate change risk assessments and scenario analysis aligned to ASRS and ISSB.
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Infrastructure Sustainability Rating

Deliver and demonstrate sustainability performance on major projects. AES provides practical, credit-focused support through the ISC Rating process, from planning to verification.
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View all Sustainability Services

Resources & Insights

  • Corporate Climate Change & Decarbonisation Planning

    Corporate Climate Change & Decarbonisation Planning

    Turning climate commitments into practical action requires more than setting emissions targets. Organisations need a clear understanding of their emissions profile, realistic reduction opportunities and a plan for putting those opportunities into practice.  Applied Environment & Safety recently supported a major infrastructure and utilities business in developing its 2027–2032 Climate Change and Decarbonisation Plan, building…

  • Environmental Tender Support for a Major Transmission Project

    Environmental Tender Support for a Major Transmission Project

    Applied Environment & Safety supported a design and construct contractor through the tender phase of a major transmission infrastructure project in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

  • What is the Rehabilitation Hierarchy? A Guide to Land Rehabilitation and Environmental Management

    What is the Rehabilitation Hierarchy? A Guide to Land Rehabilitation and Environmental Management

    Rehabilitation is often viewed as the final stage of a project, something that occurs once construction or operations have ceased and equipment has been removed. In reality, effective rehabilitation begins long before the first disturbance occurs. The most successful rehabilitation programs are guided by a rehabilitation hierarchy, a structured framework that prioritises avoiding impacts wherever…

FAQ’s

Common questions from organisations about carbon accounting.

Send Your Question
What is a sustainability framework?

A sustainability framework is the overarching structure that defines how an organisation manages its sustainability commitments, priorities and performance. It sets out material issues, objectives and targets, governance and accountability arrangements, and how performance will be measured and reported.

Why does my organisation need a sustainability framework?

Organisations are increasingly expected to show that their sustainability activity is structured, governed and genuine, not a collection of disconnected initiatives. A framework gives a defensible basis for priorities, supports consistent decision-making, and creates the foundation for credible reporting under frameworks such as GRI and the ASRS.

Who needs a sustainability framework?

Organisations establishing or restructuring their sustainability programme, businesses aligning sustainability activity with strategy and governance, local governments and public sector organisations developing sustainability policy, project teams needing a consistent approach across delivery, and organisations preparing for reporting under GRI or ASRS.

What standards does AES align frameworks to?

We ground every framework in your material issues and current best-practice standards including GRI, ISSB and the ASRS, with governance and accountability arrangements proportionate to your organisation.