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Published by the PMI–GPM Sustainability Joint Venture GPM’s sustainability IP and domain expertise · PMI global standards governance, certification infrastructure, and distribution reach |
A major revision. Not an incremental update.
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Fully Rewritten All 52 Elements Rewritten Every element carries updated language, baseline requirements, defined indicators, and explicit GRI, TCFD, ISSB, and SDG mappings. Version 3 had 49 elements. Version 4 has 52 — with three new regeneration elements, one split, and one replacement. |
Framework Integration Aligned with PMBOK® Guide, 8th Edition P5 formally integrates with PMI’s value delivery framework, connecting sustainability to performance domains and governance models. |
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New Framework Five Impact Lenses Two perspectives — Product and Process — examined through five structured lenses: Lifespan, Servicing, Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Fairness. |
New in Governance Double Materiality Formal alignment with EU CSRD double materiality requirements — capturing both how projects affect the world and how sustainability issues affect projects. |
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New in Prosperity Adaptive Governance New Prosperity category: Adaptive Materiality, Design Optionality, and System Resiliency — governing projects in high-uncertainty environments. |
New in People Social Regeneration & Mental Health Two new People elements: Social Regeneration and Work-Life Harmony and Mental Health. |
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New in Ethics Responsible Technology & Green Claims New Ethical Behavior elements address AI in project delivery and regulatory scrutiny of unverified environmental claims and greenwashing. |
Replaces Business Agility Adaptive Governance in Prosperity Version 3 asked whether a project was flexible and could recover — a capability question. Version 4 asks whether governance can recognize change, adjust to it, and stop the project before harm becomes irreversible. That’s an accountability question. |
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New Scoring System Impact Scoring, Aggregation & the No Masking Rule Version 4 introduces a structured 1–5 scoring model with domain aggregation and a critical governance safeguard: a project cannot score “Good” overall if it is causing severe harm in any material area. The No Masking Rule prevents strong scores in one domain from concealing serious violations in another. |
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The Regeneration Continuum — Now Explicit in Version 4 Mitigation → Restoration → Regeneration
Three new elements make the continuum operational: Social Regeneration (People), Ecological Regeneration (Planet), Economic Regeneration (Prosperity). |
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What Adaptive Governance Actually Means Three elements. One accountability shift.
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Every project impact assessed across People, Planet, Prosperity, Process, and Product.
GPM Publication · Free Resource
This is not another sustainability book. It is a line in the sand for business. Most sustainability guidance tells you what to care about. This one tells you what to do — and what to refuse.
Sustainability in Practice is a practitioner’s guide for professionals who work inside real organizations with real constraints, and who need more than aspiration. It defines competent sustainability practice in plain terms: what must be assessed, what must be documented, what interventions require justification, and when a practitioner must push back, escalate, or walk away.
The guide covers the full arc of practice — from impact assessment and materiality analysis through intervention design, implementation governance, performance measurement, and ethical accountability. It is grounded in the P5 Standard for Business Practice and aligned with GRI disclosure standards. Every chapter is built around what practitioners must be able to do, not what organizations should eventually become.
If you have spent time in sustainability roles watching well-resourced commitments dissolve into reporting cycles and maturity roadmaps, this guide was written for you. It does not offer escape routes through incremental progress narratives. It defines the minimum conditions for professional integrity and gives you the tools to hold that line.
Includes decision trees, intervention templates, a P5-aligned KPI library, stakeholder mapping tools, and a materiality assessment framework — designed for professionals who need to act, not just plan.
Download Sustainability in Practice and lead accordingly.
Complete the form below to receive your free download of Sustainability in Practice.
Mapped to every major disclosure framework
GRI
2021
ISSB
IFRS S1/S2
EU CSRD
CSDDD
UN SDGs
17 Goals
KM-GBF
Biodiversity
Organizations don’t have a sustainability problem. They have a project problem. Sustainability strategy is executed through projects. If those projects don’t generate disclosure-ready data, the reports that follow are incomplete at best and unverifiable at worst.
Most sustainability reports describe what an organization intends to do. What they rarely contain is verified evidence of what actually happened — because that evidence lives in projects, and almost no one has built the bridge between project delivery and disclosure.
The mechanism is the Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) — a living document introduced by GPM in 2009 that evolves through every phase of the project lifecycle. By the time a project closes, the SMP contains everything needed for project-level materiality assessment and connects directly to organizational disclosures. This guide shows exactly how to build it, phase by phase.
The SMP is not a report produced at project close. It is a living document that grows through every PRiSM™ phase, with each phase adding a specific output that is both a project management tool and a disclosure-ready artifact.
The guide includes a dedicated Agile add-in. Sustainability impacts from the P5 Impact Analysis become backlog items and acceptance criteria. KPIs update each sprint. The SMP evolves incrementally alongside the deliverables and integrates with standard Agile tooling — Jira, Azure DevOps, Trello — without requiring a separate system.
Sustainability reporting has a data quality problem. Organizational-level reports draw from energy bills, supplier surveys, HR systems, and financial accounts — but rarely from the projects that actually drive environmental and social outcomes. When auditors ask for evidence behind the numbers, organizations struggle to produce it because the evidence was never systematically collected at the point of delivery.
| Auditable evidence at the project level, not organizational averages. |
| Material topics identified, scored, committed to, tracked, verified, and reported through a single living document. |
| Disclosure mapping tables that connect every SMP section to the specific GRI, ISSB, TCFD, and EU framework articles it satisfies. |
| A maturity pathway that meets organizations where they are and provides a clear route toward context-based and regenerative practice. |
The data needed to complete a credible sustainability report is already being generated in your projects. This guide shows you how to capture it systematically and connect it to the disclosures your organization is required to make.
The Project Sustainability Reporting Guide is available as a free PDF. Complete the form below to receive your copy. Pop-ups must be enabled.
GPM Reference · Updated April 2026
Current count: 316 terms • Updated April 2026
A
Accountability
Willingness to accept appropriate scrutiny and a duty to respond to this scrutiny.
Adaptability
Ability to adjust to new conditions or changes in the environment.
Adaptive Capacity
The ability of systems, institutions, and communities to adjust to potential damages or opportunities arising from environmental changes, ensuring resilience and sustainability.
Adaptive Management
A structured, iterative process of decision-making in the face of uncertainty, with an aim to reduce uncertainty over time via system monitoring.
Afforestation
Planting trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover to increase forest cover and biodiversity.
Agile Principles
Set of principles for software development under which requirements and solutions evolve through the collaborative effort of self-organizing and cross-functional teams.
Air Acidification
The acid substances present in the atmosphere are carried by rain. A high level of acidity can cause damage to forests. The contribution of acidification is calculated using the acidification potentials of the substances concerned and expressed in the H+ mode equivalent.
Air and Water Quality
Minimizing the impacts of the project's activities and product on air and water quality.
Alternative Energy
Energy generated from non-traditional sources (e.g., solar, wind) that are renewable and have lower environmental impact than fossil fuels.
Anthropogenic Climate Change
The changes in the Earth's climate caused by human activities, including the release of greenhouse gases through burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other industrial processes.
Anti-Corruption
Rejecting offers of or requests for gifts, payments, or other benefits to influence the project's activities, results, or outcomes.
Asset Life Cycle
The total lifespan of a product from creation to disposal, including design, production, and use phases.
B
B Corp Certification
Certification of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
Backcasting
A planning method that starts with defining a desirable future and then works backward to identify policies and programs that will connect that future to the present.
Baseline Emissions
The initial measurement of emissions before any interventions aimed at reduction.
Behavioral Change
Efforts to alter consumer or organizational behaviors to achieve environmental or social sustainability.
Benefits
Gains or assets realized by the organization and other stakeholders as the result of outcomes delivered. Benefits represent measurable changes resulting from project outputs and are expected to contribute toward one or more organizational objectives. See also: Dis-benefits.
Bioaccumulation
Accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.
Biocapacity
The capacity of ecosystems to produce useful biological materials and absorb waste materials generated by humans, under current management schemes and extraction technologies.
Biodiversity
Variety of life in the world or a particular habitat or ecosystem, crucial for ecosystem resilience.
Biodiversity Mainstreaming
The process of integrating biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into policies, strategies, and practices across all sectors of society and the economy.
Biodiversity Offsetting
Compensating for biodiversity losses through equivalent biodiversity gains elsewhere.
Bioeconomy
An economy where the basic building blocks for materials, chemicals, and energy are derived from renewable biological resources.
Biomimicry
The design and production of materials and systems modeled on biological processes.
Blue Hydrogen
Hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions.
C
Capabilities
What an organization can accomplish. New capabilities typically come from combining existing capabilities with the outputs of one or more projects.
Capacity Building
Efforts to enhance the skills, abilities, and resources of organizations and communities to manage biodiversity and environmental challenges effectively.
Carbon Accounting
Measuring the amount of carbon dioxide emissions an entity is responsible for, used for regulatory and voluntary reporting.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
The process of capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.
Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly caused by an individual, organization, event, or product, expressed as a CO2 equivalent.
Carbon Intensity
The amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced per unit of output or activity.
Carbon Literacy
Knowledge and capacity required to create a positive shift in how mankind lives, works, and behaves in response to climate change.
Carbon Neutral Supply Chain
A supply chain that has reduced or offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero carbon output.
Carbon Neutrality
Achieving a balance between emitted carbon and carbon offset by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.
Carbon Offset
Reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
Carbon Sequestering
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in a stable form, typically in natural reservoirs such as forests, soil, oceans, or underground geological formations.
Carrying Capacity
Maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
Change Initiative
An organized effort by an organization to modify its operations, processes, or culture to achieve specific goals or adapt to new challenges, ensuring effective transition with minimal disruption.
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
Corporate executive position responsible for an organization's environmental programs and initiatives.
Circularity
Continuous use of materials in a closed-loop system, ensuring materials are reused, remanufactured, or recycled to reduce waste.
Circular Business Models
Models where products are designed for reuse, recycling, and regeneration, minimizing waste.
Circular Design
Design approach focused on minimizing waste and maximizing the reuse of materials.
Circular Economy
An economic model focused on designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
Circular Procurement
Purchasing processes that prioritize goods and services that minimize resource use, are reusable, and have been produced sustainably, aligning with circular economy principles.
Clean Technology
Products, services, and processes that use renewable materials and energy sources, reduce emissions and wastes, and have a minimal impact on the environment.
Climate Change
The altering of the planet's climate due to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity. See also: Global Warming.
Climate Change Adaptation
Adjustments in human or natural systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or effects.
Climate Change Mitigation
Policies and measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gases from companies and governments to lessen global impacts of climate change.
Climate Change Resilience
The ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate.
Climate Equity
The concept that climate change impacts and responsibilities are unevenly distributed, and actions should ensure fairness, particularly for those most affected but least responsible.
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
The principle that all states share responsibility for environmental degradation, but developed countries bear greater responsibility due to their historical contributions and greater financial and technological resources.
Community Engagement
Practice of treating local residents as relevant stakeholders in the project.
Community Impact Assessment
Evaluating the social and environmental impacts of projects or developments on a local community.
Community of Life
Refers to all living beings on Earth and the ecosystems that sustain them. Emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life forms and the need to care for the entire community.
Configuration Management
A process to ensure the integrity of deliverables by confirming that their description (specification) matches their actual form and function. In project management, configuration management involves identification, control, status accounting, and auditing of configuration items.
Conservation
Sustainable use and management of natural resources including wildlife, water, air, and earth deposits.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The United Nations' initiative to protect and preserve biological diversity on Earth for future generations.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
A business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
Mandates companies to conduct due diligence on their supply chains to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts. Applies to large EU companies and non-EU companies with substantial operations within the EU.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
An EU regulation requiring companies with over 250 employees or significant revenue to disclose their sustainability practices, including environmental impacts, social policies, and governance structures.
Critical Thinking
Objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment, crucial for problem-solving in sustainability contexts.
Cruelty-Free
Products that are not tested on animals.
Cultural Awareness
The recognition and understanding of the differences and similarities between cultures.
Customer Privacy and Data Protection
Measures to safeguard customer data such as personal information or financial details.
D
Decarbonization
Process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activity in the atmosphere.
Decentralized Energy
Energy produced close to where it will be used rather than at a large, centralized plant.
Decoupling
Economic growth without corresponding increases in environmental pressure.
Deforestation
The process of harvesting forests for natural resources or to clear land for agriculture or construction.
Demand-Side Management
Programs or strategies designed to control or reduce energy consumption.
Dematerialization
The process of reducing the total material and energy throughput of any production or consumption system.
Digital Communication
Reducing the consumption of nonrenewable resources by using technology for project communications.
Digital Product Passport (DPP)
Tool to create transparency by collecting and sharing product data throughout its entire lifecycle.
Dignity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI)
A set of principles aimed at creating a respectful and inclusive environment where every individual is valued.
Dis-benefits
Measurable adverse changes resulting from project outcomes that may negatively affect organizational objectives or stakeholder interests. Different stakeholders may have different perspectives on whether a change constitutes a benefit or a dis-benefit, depending on how impacts are experienced across People, Planet, and Prosperity domains. See also: Benefits.
Donut Economics
A visual framework for sustainable development shaped like a doughnut, combining the concept of planetary boundaries with social boundaries to define a safe and just space for humanity.
Double Materiality
An approach that recognizes sustainability operates in two directions: outside-in (how environmental and social conditions affect financial performance) and inside-out (how organizational activities affect environmental and social systems). It evaluates both financial materiality and impact materiality simultaneously. Required under the EU's CSRD. See also: Dynamic Materiality, Dual Materiality.
Downcycling
Recycling of a material into a lower quality product.
Dual Materiality
An approach to assessing sustainability issues that considers two dimensions: how ESG factors impact an organization's financial performance (financial materiality) and how the organization's activities impact the environment and society (impact materiality). See also: Double Materiality.
E
E-Waste
Discarded electronic or electrical devices or their parts.
Earned Green Value Management (EGVM)
A project management framework that integrates sustainability metrics into performance tracking to ensure accountability and progress toward environmental and social goals alongside cost, schedule, and scope objectives.
Ecodesign
The integration of environmental considerations into the design of products to minimize their environmental impact throughout the lifecycle.
Eco-Efficiency
Creating more goods and services with fewer resources and generating less waste and pollution.
Eco-Innovation
The development of products and processes that contribute to sustainable development through reducing environmental impacts or achieving more efficient resource use.
Eco-Labeling
Labeling system that identifies products or services proven environmentally preferable.
Ecological Footprint
A measure of human impact on Earth's ecosystems, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.
Ecological Integrity
The ability of ecosystems to maintain their processes, diversity, and resilience in the face of external pressures.
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system.
Ecosystem Restoration
The process of aiding the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
Ecosystem Services
Benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living.
Emissions Trading System (ETS)
Market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions of pollutants.
Energy Efficiency
Using less energy to provide the same service or useful output.
Environmental Footprint
Measure of the environmental impact of an individual, organization, or product.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
A process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, considering inter-related socio-economic, cultural, and human-health impacts.
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
A set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
A set of considerations encompassing environmental issues, social issues, and corporate governance that can be used in investment and organizational decision-making.
Equitable Benefit-Sharing
The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, particularly with indigenous peoples and local communities.
Ethical Behavior
Adhering to ethical principles such as respect for human rights, fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Policy approach that holds producers accountable for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle, including end-of-life management.
F
Fair Competition
Ensuring that all parties wanting to provide products or services to the project have an equal opportunity to compete and win.
Fair Trade
A trade movement aimed at helping producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainable farming.
Food Miles
Distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer.
Footprint Assessment
Measuring the impact of a project or activity in terms of land, water, energy, or carbon use.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
International non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world's forests via timber certification.
Fossil Fuel Divestment
The removal of investment assets including stocks, bonds, and investment funds from companies involved in extracting fossil fuels.
Functional Unit
A measure of the function of a product used in life cycle assessment studies to provide a reference for comparison.
G
Geoengineering
Large-scale intervention techniques aimed at affecting the climate, such as solar radiation management or ocean fertilization.
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
Framework aiming to halt and reverse nature loss, safeguarding and sustainably using biodiversity.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
An international independent standards organization that helps businesses understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues.
Global Warming
The increasing of the Earth's average temperature due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity. See also: Climate Change.
Governance
Frameworks, processes, and relationships by which organizations are controlled and directed.
Green Bond
A fixed-income instrument designed specifically to support climate-related or environmental projects.
Green Building
A building that, in its design, construction, or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment.
Green Economy
Economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities and aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.
Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, resulting in zero carbon emissions.
Green Infrastructure
A network of natural and semi-natural areas that provide ecosystem services such as water purification, air quality, and recreation.
Green Project Management®
Training professionals to apply sustainability principles within project governance, planning, and delivery as part of professional development in project management. See also: Sustainable Project Management™.
Green Procurement
Purchasing products and services with a lower environmental impact, considering energy efficiency, recyclability, and minimal toxic substances.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Greenghosting
The practice of producing content that promotes sustainability — such as blogs, books, events, or thought leadership — while failing to demonstrate any substantive internal sustainability practices. Organizations engaging in greenghosting may highlight external narratives about sustainability but lack publicly available policies, reporting, or evidence of sustainable operations.
Greenhushing
Companies deliberately underreporting or downplaying their sustainability efforts to avoid scrutiny or accusations of greenwashing, despite having legitimate initiatives.
Greenwashing
The practice of misleading consumers into believing that a company's products, services, or policies are more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Involves exaggerating claims or making false statements about sustainability efforts.
H
Habitat Fragmentation
The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large, continuous habitats into smaller, more isolated remnants.
Habitat Restoration
Process of aiding the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.
Human Capital
The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by individuals that contribute to their productivity.
Human Rights
Ensuring that basic needs such as food, clean water, housing, education, and healthcare are met equitably.
Human Rights Impact Assessment
A tool for identifying, understanding, assessing, and addressing potential or actual human rights impacts of business activities.
I
IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (S1 & S2)
Standards released by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to harmonize global sustainability reporting. S1 covers general sustainability-related financial disclosures; S2 covers climate-related disclosures.
Impact Investing
Investments made with the intention of generating positive social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.
Impact Lenses
Tools to analyze the impacts of projects and products from different perspectives, including lifespan, servicing, efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness.
Impact Threshold
A predefined boundary that establishes the acceptable limit of impact an organization is willing to tolerate for a specific sustainability element before governance action is required. Impact thresholds are not performance targets — they are decision triggers. When a threshold is crossed, escalation, redesign, or project termination may be required. Thresholds operate at ecological, social, and governance levels and should be defined in the business case before work begins.
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
The legal and human rights of indigenous peoples, especially concerning their knowledge, lands, and biodiversity conservation.
Industrial Ecology
The study of material and energy flows through industrial systems to improve sustainability.
Integrity
The quality of being respectful, honest, fair, and having strong moral principles.
Integrity Threshold
Conditions under which sustainability practitioners must refuse to proceed, escalate concerns, or exit their roles. These are professional requirements, not discretionary decisions. Integrity thresholds are crossed when: claims exceed performance; commitments are decoupled from action; reporting substitutes for impact; the practitioner role is used as cover; interventions perpetuate degenerative systems; or an organization sells sustainability it does not itself practice.
Intergenerational Equity
The concept that the present generation has a responsibility to ensure that future generations inherit a healthy and sustainable world.
Intervention
A targeted action — policy, process, behavioral, or product-based — designed to address identified sustainability impacts. Interventions represent the core work of sustainability practice: translating impact assessment into concrete organizational change. Effective interventions are evidence-based, feasible within organizational constraints, and substantive enough to drive meaningful performance improvement. See also: Sustainability Intervention Plan.
Invasive Species
Non-native species that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health by disrupting ecosystems or spreading diseases.
ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board)
An international body established to develop a comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosure standards.
J
Just Transition
Ensuring that as economies shift towards low-carbon and environmentally sustainable practices, the process is fair and inclusive to all, including workers and communities.
K
Kyoto Protocol
An international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and is primarily driven by human activities.
L
Labor Practices and Decent Work
Policies and practices to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for growth.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
A green building certification program used worldwide.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
A method to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through manufacture, distribution, use, and disposal or recycling.
Lifecycle Costing
A process of evaluating the total economic worth of a project by considering all costs of ownership over its lifetime.
Local Procurement
Purchasing products and services from local suppliers.
Low Carbon Economy
An economy based on low carbon power sources that has minimal output of greenhouse gas emissions.
M
Material Circularity Indicator (MCI)
Measure of the extent to which a product or company is circular.
Materiality
Determining the relevance and significance of an issue to an organization and its stakeholders. A material issue is one that will influence the decisions, actions, and performance of an organization or its stakeholders. See also: Double Materiality, Dynamic Materiality.
Microgrid
A localized group of electricity sources and loads that normally operates connected to and synchronous with the traditional centralized grid.
Mitigation Hierarchy
A sequence of actions to reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity: avoid, minimize, restore, and offset.
Montreal Protocol
An international treaty agreed upon in 1987 to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
N
Natural Capital
The world's stocks of natural assets, including geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.
Natural Capital Accounting
A method of calculating the total stocks of natural resources and the flows of ecosystem services they provide, to understand their contribution to the economy and human well-being.
Nature-Based Solutions
Actions that use natural processes and ecosystems to tackle social challenges like climate change, food security, or disaster risk.
Net Positive
An approach to project development that aims to create a positive environmental, social, or economic impact where positive contributions outweigh negative impacts.
Net Zero
A state in which the greenhouse gases emitted by an entity are balanced by the removal or offset of an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.
O
Offsetting
The practice of compensating for emissions by reducing emissions elsewhere.
Operational Boundary
The scope of emissions considered in an organization's carbon footprint, including direct and indirect emissions.
Organizational Culture
The values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape how an organization's employees interact and work together.
Organizational Learning
Process of creating, retaining, and transferring knowledge within an organization to improve its practices and performance.
Outcomes
The results of using capabilities. Outcomes represent what is actually achieved when new capabilities are put to work, distinct from outputs (what is produced) and benefits (the value realized).
Outputs
The product, result, or service generated by a process. In project contexts, outputs are the deliverables produced by project work — tangible products, intangible results, or service capabilities. Outputs may serve as inputs to subsequent processes or programs. See also: Outcomes, Benefits.
P
Paris Agreement
A legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted at COP21 in Paris in 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
P5™ Impact Analysis (P5IA™)
Also known as a Sustainability Impact Analysis™ (SIA™). A structured and comprehensive approach to evaluating an organization's or project's impacts on society, the environment, and the economy. Integrates measurable indicators aligned with strategic sustainability objectives, and identifies, analyzes, and prioritizes impacts to enhance positive outcomes and mitigate risks. Download the template.
P5™ Standard
A GPM® standard that integrates sustainability into project management and business practices, addressing the five Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Process, and Product. Published as the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management, Version 4.0. Download the project management standard. | Download the business standard.
Permaculture
Design philosophy that works with nature to create sustainable systems.
Planetary Boundaries
Limits within which humanity can safely operate to avoid destabilizing the Earth's systems, such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution.
Post-Project Benefits Realization
The sixth phase of the PRiSM™ project lifecycle, occurring after formal project closure. It involves tracking outcomes and demonstrating that the benefits intended at project inception have been delivered over time. In the GPM methodology, this phase is supported by a Benefits Tracker within the Sustainability Management Plan (SMP), which compares baseline, target, and actual outcomes and supports organizational ESG disclosures.
Precautionary Principle
The concept that precautionary measures should be taken to prevent environmental harm even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
PRiSM™ (PRojects integrating Sustainable Methods)
A project delivery methodology designed by GPM to ensure that projects are sustainable. PRiSM structures project work through six lifecycle phases: Pre-Project, Discovery, Design, Delivery, Closure, and Post-Project Benefits Realization. It utilizes tools such as the P5 Impact Analysis and Sustainability Management Plan to guide decision-making and align projects with organizational sustainability goals. PRiSM is the delivery methodology underpinning the PMI-GPM Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management, 4th Edition (2026).
Product Stewardship
Approach to managing the environmental impacts of products throughout their life cycle.
Program
A set of interrelated projects and activities designed to achieve specific goals and objectives.
Project
A temporary initiative in a unique context designed to create a unique product, service, or result. It is characterized by specific objectives, defined scope, and finite duration.
Project Portfolio
A collection of projects and programs that an organization has undertaken or plans to undertake, representing the overall investment of time, resources, and money in various initiatives.
Project Sustainability Management (PSM)
The application of sustainable practices in project management to enhance environmental, social, and economic performance.
Q
Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL)
An extension of the Triple Bottom Line that includes cultural aspects in addition to social, environmental, and economic factors.
R
Reductionist Thinking
In sustainability, an approach that simplifies complex systems by isolating components for analysis, often overlooking the interconnectedness essential for addressing systemic challenges.
Regenerative Agriculture
Approach to farming that works to regenerate topsoil and enhance biodiversity.
Regenerative Design
A design approach in the service of life. A forward-thinking approach that minimizes negative impacts and actively seeks to enhance and regenerate social, ecological, and economic systems.
Regenerative Development
Development in support of life. An approach that restores, renews, or revitalizes sources of energy and materials.
Regenerative Sustainability
The practice of restoring, renewing, and revitalizing natural, social, and economic systems to create conditions where life can thrive indefinitely. It goes beyond minimizing harm by actively replenishing resources, strengthening ecosystems, and enhancing the well-being of communities. Whereas sustainability aims to maintain balance, regenerative sustainability recognizes that true sustainability can only be achieved once we have repaired the damage done.
Renewable Energy
Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited; virtually inexhaustible in duration but limited in the amount of energy available per unit of time.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Tradable certificates that prove that one megawatt-hour of electricity was generated from a renewable energy source.
Resilience
The capacity of a system, community, or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure.
Resource Efficiency
Using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimizing environmental impact.
Responsible Investment
Investing in companies or projects that meet certain standards of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
Rio Declaration
Adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the Rio Declaration consists of 27 principles that guide sustainable development around the world.
S
SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)
A global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.
Science-Based Targets
Emission reduction targets set in line with the latest climate science to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organization. Scope 2 are indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Scope 3 are all other indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain, including both upstream and downstream activities.
Social License to Operate
The ongoing approval and acceptance granted by a community or stakeholders to a business, project, or organization, based on trust, transparency, and the perception that the entity operates responsibly, ethically, and with respect for social and environmental values.
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
A method for measuring and accounting for the value created for society by a project or activity.
Sustainability
The practice of meeting current needs while enhancing the ability of future generations to meet their own. It involves improving environmental, social, and economic dimensions to create regenerative outcomes, ensuring long-term health and resilience of both human and natural systems.
Sustainability Impact
The effect that an organization, project, or activity has on environmental, social, and economic systems, both positive and negative.
Sustainability Impact Analysis (SIA)
See: P5™ Impact Analysis.
Sustainability Intervention Plan (SIP)
A strategic approach used to incorporate sustainable practices into projects or organizational operations. It outlines the specific actions, resources, timelines, and responsible parties for implementing sustainability interventions, including monitoring progress and adjusting strategies to achieve targeted sustainability outcomes. Core to the P5 Standard for Business Practice.
Sustainability Management Plan (SMP)
A GPM construct and living document introduced in 2009 that outlines how sustainability will be managed throughout a project. The SMP includes components such as the P5 Impact Analysis, roles and responsibilities, performance indicators, and mitigation strategies. It evolves across all six PRiSM lifecycle phases and serves as the primary source of evidence for project-level ESG disclosures. Download the template.
Sustainability Reporting
Practice of measuring, disclosing, and being accountable to internal and external stakeholders for organizational performance toward the goal of sustainable development.
Sustainable Development
Defined by the Brundtland Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It emphasizes a balanced approach integrating environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic growth.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030, intended as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Sustainable Project
A temporary endeavor designed to create a unique product or service, characterized by its ability to create long-term value for all stakeholders while minimizing negative impacts on the environment and society.
Sustainable Project Management™
A registered trademark of GPM Global (U.S. Serial No. 98663585, Class 041, first use July 12, 2011). Training professionals to apply sustainability principles within project governance, planning, and delivery as part of professional development in project management. See also: Green Project Management®.
Sustainable Supply Chain
A supply chain that integrates environmental and social considerations in all aspects of product procurement, production, and delivery.
Systems Thinking
A holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system's constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems. A framework for seeing interrelationships rather than isolated things.
T
Take-Back Programs
Programs in which manufacturers or retailers take back used products for recycling or proper disposal.
Territorial Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions that are produced within a country's borders.
Time Value of Carbon
The principle that reducing emissions sooner is more beneficial for the climate than the same reduction achieved later.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
An analysis of the complete cost of acquiring and operating an asset over its life cycle.
Transition Risk
The financial risk that results from the shift towards a low-carbon economy, including policy changes, technology developments, and market shifts.
Transparency
The willingness to disclose in a clear, accurate, and complete manner the policies, decisions, and activities for which one is responsible, including their known and likely impacts.
Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
An accounting framework that evaluates a company's performance on three pillars: social (people), environmental (planet), and financial (profit).
True Cost Accounting
An approach that incorporates environmental and social costs into the pricing of goods and services.
U
UN Global Compact
Non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation.
Universal Responsibility
The ethical principle that all individuals, organizations, and nations share responsibility for the well-being of humanity and the larger community of life on Earth.
Upcycling
The process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of higher quality.
Urban Heat Island Effect
The phenomenon where urban or metropolitan areas become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities.
V
Value Chain
The full range of activities involved in the production, marketing, and delivery of a product, including the social and environmental impacts of each stage.
Values
Principles or standards of behavior that are considered important in a particular society or organization.
Voluntary Carbon Market
A market where companies and individuals can buy carbon credits to offset their greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily, rather than as required by regulation.
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Waste Hierarchy
The prioritization of waste management activities: prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and dispose in a way that minimizes environmental impact.
Water Footprint
The total volume of freshwater used to produce the goods and services consumed by an individual or community.
Water Neutrality
Balancing water use by reducing consumption and replenishing water sources to offset usage.
Water Stewardship
The responsible management of water resources, focusing on sustainable use and reducing environmental impact.
Wildlife Corridor
An area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures.
X
Xeriscaping
A form of landscaping that reduces the need for irrigation by using drought-resistant plants.
Y
Yield Gap
The difference between the actual agricultural production and the potential maximum production based on optimal management practices.
Z
Zero Emissions
No release of pollutants into the environment.
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)
A vehicle that emits no exhaust gas or other pollutants from the onboard source of power.
Zero Waste
A philosophy and design principle that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused or recycled, and no trash is sent to landfills or incinerators.
Other
1.5 Degrees Celsius
The target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement as the global average temperature compared with pre-industrial history. Scientists generally agree that global temperatures must be kept well below 2 degrees — ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius — to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Principles matter. They are the compass guiding us through the complexities of modern business, especially when it comes to sustainability. At GPM®, we don’t believe in writing lofty manifestos that collect dust on a shelf. Instead, we champion principles because they provide a foundation for action—a practical, values-driven approach that can be applied to real-world challenges.
Projects, by their very nature, are about creating change. But change that lacks a principled framework is often directionless, reactive, and short-lived. That’s why we prioritize sustainability principles that go beyond aspirations and slogans. These principles are rooted in responsibility—ensuring that projects address fundamental aspects like human rights, labor practices, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption. When we integrate these values into the heart of our projects, we are "doing projects right" while "doing the right projects."
Principles, unlike manifestos, are not static declarations. They are adaptable guides that evolve with the times while keeping our focus steady on long-term goals. They help organizations navigate the ambiguity of a rapidly changing world, providing a moral and practical framework for decision making. When sustainability principles are embedded in projects, they enable teams to not only meet regulatory requirements but to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
At GPM, we believe in the power of principles because they inspire us to act with integrity, hold ourselves accountable, and aim for outcomes that benefit society, the environment, and the economy. By emphasizing principles over manifestos, we empower project managers to make ethical decisions in the moment, guided by values that are flexible yet unwavering. This is how we create projects that aren’t just successful—they’re meaningful.
Sustainability is not about reaching a final destination; it’s a continuous journey of improvement. Principles keep us on course, challenging us to strive for better solutions and to transform our ambitions into concrete actions. The true impact of a project is not measured solely by its deliverables but by its contributions to a sustainable future. That’s why, at GPM, our focus will always be on principles that drive enduring, positive change.
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Commitment and Accountability |
Recognize and uphold the fundamental rights of all individuals to live in a healthy, clean, and safe environment. Ensure equal opportunities, fair compensation, ethical procurement, and strict adherence to the rule of law. Embrace a proactive approach to accountability and ensure transparent reporting on sustainability objectives. |
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Ethical and Responsible Decision Making |
Embed ethical considerations into all decision-making processes, ensuring that actions align with universal principles and contribute positively to society and the environment. Prioritize the identification, mitigation, and prevention of both short- and long-term adverse impacts while fostering a culture of responsibility and ethical leadership within organizations. |
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Integrated, Transparent, and Inclusive Governance |
Promote the integration of economic, social, and environmental considerations into all aspects of project governance. Ensure transparency in decision making and foster stakeholder trust through open communication and comprehensive reporting. Encourage collaboration across disciplines to achieve sustainability outcomes that are inclusive of diverse perspectives and needs. |
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Principled and Values-Based Development |
Conserve and enhance natural resources by adopting sustainable technologies. Focus on responsible resource management that respects ecological limits and fosters the regeneration of ecosystems. Ensure that development practices prioritize sustainability, resilience, and the well-being of future generations. |
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Social and Ecological Equity |
Advance social and ecological equity by assessing and addressing vulnerabilities in densely populated regions and ecologically sensitive areas. Prioritize the needs of marginalized and vulnerable communities, ensuring that sustainability efforts contribute to reducing inequality and enhancing resilience against environmental and social challenges. |
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Economic Prosperity |
Adopt fiscal strategies that balance the immediate needs of stakeholders with the long-term sustainability objectives of future generations. Promote economic prosperity that is inclusive, resilient, and aligned with sustainable development principles, ensuring that growth contributes positively to social and environmental well-being. |
The Six Principles of Sustainable Project Management are derived from the UN Global Compact's Ten Principles, the UNGC's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), Earth Charter, and ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility.
Updated March 12, 2025
GPM Publication · Free Resource · Third Edition
Sustainable Project Management™A Free Resource for Every Project Professional
The Third Edition of Sustainable Project Management™: The PMI-GPM Practice Guide is a declaration that the tools to build a sustainable, regenerative world belong to everyone. In partnership with PMI, GPM has made this guide a free download — because knowledge that can help heal our planet should never be locked behind a paywall.
Coming in 2026
The Fourth Edition of the Practice Guide is in preparation, published through the PMI-GPM joint venture. It will reflect the full PRiSM™ six-phase lifecycle, updated impact assessment tools, and alignment with current ESG disclosure frameworks. Stay tuned.
This edition marks a turning point for the profession. It introduces regenerative project management — a practical framework for designing and delivering projects that actively restore ecosystems, strengthen communities, and create long-term, net-positive impact.
It’s not enough to minimize damage. That era has passed. This guide empowers project professionals to leave things better than they found them.
Every project leaves a footprint. This guide helps you make sure it’s a positive one. It bridges the gap between what we should do and how to actually do it — translating sustainability principles into project deliverables that produce verifiable outcomes.
The authors — recognized by Forbes and contributors to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and GRI Standards — have practiced what they preach for over 15 years. These are real methods used in real projects that drive measurable change.
Books like this often sell for $60 to $200. GPM offers it free because sustainability knowledge should not be a privilege. Every tool, framework, and standard in the PMI-GPM Sustainability Ecosystem is open and free to the public — ensuring that any project manager, anywhere in the world, can lead with purpose and access the same resources used by leading organizations worldwide.
Project professionals, students, educators, and anyone ready to make projects a force for regeneration rather than depletion.
The world doesn’t need more projects that simply minimize harm. It needs leaders who design work that restores balance and builds resilience.
Updated: November 2025
GPM Methodology · Since 2007 · PMI-GPM Practice Guide, 4th Edition
PRiSM™The First and Leading Methodology for Sustainable Project Management — Redefining Project Success Since 2007
2026 Update
PRiSM is the delivery methodology underpinning the PMI-GPM Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management, 4th Edition (2026) — published by the PMI-GPM joint venture and available through the Project Management Institute.
Sustainability in project management isn’t just about principles — it requires practical tools and proven methods that deliver results. PRiSM was the first methodology developed specifically for Sustainability in Project Management, with roots that trace back to 2007. Born out of a vision to embed sustainability into the DNA of project delivery, PRiSM has grown into the most trusted framework for managing projects responsibly and effectively.
PRiSM is a phased methodology that guides teams through the life cycle of a project with precision and purpose — ensuring projects don’t just meet their objectives, but create lasting, measurable value.
At the center of every PRiSM project is the Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) — a living document introduced by GPM in 2009 that evolves through each phase of the project lifecycle. It consolidates impacts, commitments, monitoring, verification, and outcomes into a single source of truth that connects project activities directly to organizational ESG disclosures under GRI, ISSB, TCFD, and the EU’s CSRD.
The P5 Impact Analysis (P5IA) is performed formally in both the Discovery and Delivery phases, analyzing the project solution and its processes against environmental, social, and economic criteria to ensure sustainable outcomes and identify opportunities to create value across People, Planet, Prosperity, Product, and Process.
PRiSM’s phased methodology is universally adaptable yet inherently structured to address the unique challenges of individual projects, programs, or portfolios. Its strength lies in integrating sustainability principles directly into existing governance structures and operational practices, enhancing both effectiveness and accountability.
PRiSM is an essential component for organizations seeking to improve their capability maturity in project management. By aligning processes, tools, and documentation with sustainability principles, PRiSM helps organizations achieve greater integration and alignment across functions.
| Maturity Development — PRiSM’s structured processes and documentation provide clear indicators for assessing and improving organizational maturity. |
| Competency Frameworks — PRiSM offers benchmarks for individual and team competencies, guiding professional development and ensuring consistency in process execution. |
| Knowledge and Performance — The goals and activities within PRiSM’s phases define clear criteria for evaluating performance and driving improvement. |
The nature of modern projects requires a methodology that goes beyond timelines and budgets. PRiSM is designed to address the conditions that define project work today.
| Resource Scarcity — Optimizing the use of materials, energy, and time to reduce waste and costs. |
| Stakeholder Expectations — Ensuring projects align with organizational goals and societal responsibilities. |
| Regulatory Disclosure — Producing project-level sustainability data that flows directly into organizational reporting under GRI, ISSB, TCFD, and the EU’s CSRD and CSDDD. |
| Long-Term Impact — Delivering outcomes that create measurable value for communities, organizations, and the planet — tracked through post-project benefits realization. |
PRiSM is a practical, scalable methodology for professionals and organizations striving to lead in a world where sustainability and accountability are non-negotiable.
GPM was awarded an IPMA® Achievement Award in 2013 for developing PRiSM and its corresponding framework — the first recognition of its kind for sustainable project management.
Developed in partnership with the Association for Project Management (APM), the 2024 report examines how the Sustainable Project Management™ framework is being used across industries and geographies.
This 2024 report, developed with APM, explores how Sustainable Project Management™ methods are influencing project practices globally. Based on 10,000+ responses across 113 countries, it surfaces where organizations are integrating impact analysis, sustainability management plans, and governance into scope, schedule, budget, and reporting.
This edition explores:
One of the most significant findings is the gap between sustainability strategy and project management execution. Although many organizations acknowledge the importance of sustainability, 68% have not yet aligned their project management practices with their long-term sustainability goals. This misalignment poses risks such as operational inefficiencies, missed regulatory compliance, and diminished stakeholder trust, emphasizing the need for systemic change within the profession.
The report highlights how sustainability challenges affect various industries differently. Sectors such as Hospitality and Tourism, Construction, and Healthcare report the highest levels of disruption, with sustainability challenges critically impacting timelines and budgets. This underscores the need for tailored, industry-specific strategies that enhance resilience while maintaining project performance.
The report tracks the growing adoption of the GPM P5™ Standard, a framework designed to embed sustainability into every stage of project management. From 2016 to 2024, the use of the P5 Standard has steadily increased, with 94% of users reporting tangible improvements in their projects' sustainability performance. This trend illustrates the critical role that standardized frameworks play in driving consistent, measurable sustainability outcomes across industries.
The 2024 report is not just a reflection of where we stand but a call to action. As climate change accelerates and stakeholder expectations grow, project management professionals have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to lead the charge in sustainable development. By integrating sustainability into every project decision, professionals can drive innovation, enhance organizational resilience, and contribute to global sustainability efforts.
Download the full report to explore detailed insights, industry-specific data, and practical recommendations for embedding sustainability into your project management practices.
Trademark notice: Sustainable Project Management™ is a trademark of GPM Global for training and professional development in project management.
The GPM Sustainability Competence Standard Version 2.1 is here—rewritten from the ground up to empower today’s sustainability leaders and project managers with the tools, knowledge, and frameworks needed to thrive in a world demanding regeneration, not just sustainability.
Why Download the GPM® Sustainability Competence Standard Version 2.1?
The world is changing—and so are the expectations placed on leaders and project managers. From tackling climate change to ensuring social equity and biodiversity preservation, the challenges we face today demand more than good intentions. They demand bold, forward-thinking action.
That’s where the GPM® Sustainability Competence Standard Version 2.1 comes in. This is not just a document; it’s your roadmap to impactful leadership in a world that needs real solutions. Whether you're leading sustainability initiatives, managing complex projects, or championing systemic change, this standard provides the tools, frameworks, and criteria to:
This isn’t about checking boxes or following outdated practices—it’s about becoming a leader who creates lasting, meaningful change.
For Sustainability Leaders |
For Sustainable Project Managers |
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Each unit is meticulously defined, with actionable elements and performance criteria designed to assess and enhance real-world competence.
*We even have an industry forward looking unit on Regenerative Design that is not being used for formal assessments at the onset but will be a game changer in the near future as we move the profession forward.
We believe these tools are far too important to put behind a paywall. That’s why we make them accessible to everyone—no fees, no membership requirements, and no complex processes. Sustainability is the defining challenge of our lifetime, and we are committed to tackling it with unwavering seriousness and inclusivity. By removing barriers, we empower individuals and organizations to drive meaningful change in creating a sustainable future.
This standard raises the bar, leaving outdated concepts like CSR in the dust. It integrates regenerative development principles and equips you to lead with confidence in a world where results matter more than ever.
The GPM Sustainability Competence Standard Version 2.0 is available for free download. Redefine your approach to sustainability and join a growing global network of professionals driving meaningful change.
Welcome to GPM's expanded universe of insights, where we're thrilled to unveil not just our comprehensive White Paper Series but also our in-depth Case Studies! This expansion marks our unwavering dedication to spearheading innovation and fostering a shared knowledge base in our field. Our white papers and case studies are meticulously crafted to guide you through the critical subjects that shape our industry, illustrating both our thought leadership and practical, hands-on expertise in driving sustainable transformation across organizations.
Our collection is curated by industry veterans and sustainability champions, tailored for a diverse audience ranging from passionate newcomers to seasoned professionals. These resources provide a dual perspective:
Practical Insights and Future Trends: Each white paper and case study is a result of exhaustive research, collaborative expertise, and a genuine passion for knowledge, equipping you with the foresight to stay ahead.
Comprehensive and Diverse Perspectives: From energy sector transformations to sustainable project management practices, our resources cover a wide spectrum, providing diverse insights from leading experts.
Real-World Impact: Our case studies highlight our direct involvement with organizations, detailing the challenges they faced, the solutions we crafted together, and the sustainable outcomes achieved.
We invite you to explore these resources as tools to innovate, inspire, and implement sustainable solutions in your projects and organizations. Whether aiming to understand broader industry trends or seeking actionable guidance for sustainability challenges, GPM's white papers and case studies are your go-to knowledge base.
Embark on this journey with us to explore, learn, and transform. Together, let's build a sustainable future, one insightful page at a time.
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Materiality Everywhere! What it is–and why projects are not immune in sustainability reporting and ESG disclosures
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Future Proofing Projects: The Role of Predictive Analytics in Sustainability
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The Agile Advantage in Sustainability Leadership: A New Paradigm for Organizational Success
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The Role of Projects and Project Management in the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive Reporting (CSDDD).Download now! |
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The Project Management Office: A Driver for Sustainability in Projects.Download now! |
Case Studies |
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Click on the case study to download |
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Click on the case study to download |
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Click on the case study to download |
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© 2009–2025 GPM Global. All rights reserved.
Green Project Management® and GPM® are registered trademarks of GPM Global.
Sustainable Project Management™ is a trademark of GPM Global for training and professional development in project management.
PRiSM™, The GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management, GPM-b™, GPM-m™, PSM3™, and GPM360º™ are trademarks of GPM Global and may be used only with written consent.
