Impact Valuation Is Gaining Momentum: 

OECD Kick-Off, Nature Publication & More!

Dr. Richard Scholz

Head of Impact Analysis

For sustainability leads, procurement professionals, and ESG strategists: here’s how Impact Valuation is evolving — and what to do next. 

In This Edition: 

• What the OECD’s project on Environmental Impact Valuation means for companies
• How to use benchmarks to outperform your sector 
• Why procurement is a key lever for reducing your company’s footprint 
• Key takeaways from global ESG events 

OECD Project on Environmental Impact Valuation: Global Standards Are Taking Shape 

Last week, I joined the OECD’s project kick-off workshop on Environmental Impact Valuation, launching a multi-year initiative to define global standards for measuring environmental impacts. 

This marks a turning point: for the first time, governments, academia, and businesses are aligning to standardize how we value environmental effects in decision-making. A growing body of research is supporting this shift, including a recent publication in the renowned journal Nature, helping to build the scientific and practical foundation for adoption. 

Why this matters: Companies that align early will be better positioned to meet current and upcoming regulations, as well as stakeholder expectations — and will gain a competitive advantage through transparency and credibility. 

Free Masterclass – How to Outperform Your Sector Using Impact Benchmarks 

May 28 | 2:00–3:00 PM (CET) | Online 

Comparability is one of the biggest challenges in sustainability reporting. That’s why, in collaboration with the Value Balancing Alliance, we’ve published benchmarks for:

• 11 global sectors 
• 20 countries 

These benchmarks enable companies to compare themselves with competitors across social and environmental impacts. Whether you're refining your double materiality assessment, preparing for the CSRD, or seeking to strengthen your sustainability narrative with investors, these benchmarks provide the necessary context to make informed, credible comparisons. Register for our Masterclass

to discover how to lead in your sector.

 
Featured Speakers (including myself): 

• Dr. Anne Spranger, Director at BVMed Institute, part of the German Medical Technology Association 
• Christian Heller, CEO at Value Balancing Alliance
• Prof. Dennis A. Ostwald, CEO at WifOR Institute
• Roman Godau, Director of Public Affairs at Value Balancing Alliance & Senior Manager for Public Affairs at Novartis

Procurement: A Key Lever for Reducing Your Company's Footprint 

According to our benchmark data, in a typical industrial healthcare company: 

• 80% of environmental impacts 
• and 63% of negative social impacts

… originate in the supply chain. 

 
This makes procurement one of the most effective levers for reducing a company's sustainability footprint. In my recent article for Nachhaltige Beschaffung, I outline how Impact Valuation helps procurement teams: 

• Identify high-impact suppliers 
• Quantify social and environmental risks
• Prioritize interventions 
• Improve supply chain resilience 

The key takeaway: translating sustainability information into actionable data through Impact Valuation empowers companies to minimize their footprint efficiently. 

• Read the German article here 
• Read the English article here

Joining Global Conversations on Impact Accounting
 

Over the past few weeks, my team and I have contributed to leading events within our research and practice communities – including the World ESG & Climate Summit in Amsterdam and the Input-Output Workshop in Groningen. 

From regulators to investors, the demand for reliable, comparable impact metrics is rising – not just as a reporting requirement, but as a tool for smarter, more strategic decisions. 

Whether it's about setting global standards, expanding data coverage beyond the OECD, or integrating impact into strategy, one thing is clear: Impact accounting is becoming core to business and policy decision-making. At WifOR, we’re proud to contribute by translating impact data into meaningful change. 

Best wishes,