Sustainability Policy template for Google Docs and Word

The first pages of the Sustainability Policy template

Every page (7)

Overview

A sustainability commitment means little until it has a baseline, a boundary, a target year and an owner. This policy sets out those pieces in seven pages: the commitment, what is in scope, the targets and progress, the responsibilities and the reporting calendar. It is written to answer the questions that board approvals, customer questionnaires and procurement scorecards ask, without claims the evidence cannot support.

The sample is for the fictional Junipera Group, with a 2024 baseline of 4,200 tCO2e for Scope 1 and 2, a 42% reduction target for 2030, and progress of 18% so far. Replace the commitment, baseline, targets and owners with your own figures, note where data is estimated, and keep only the targets you can resource and report.

Useful for

A board approving a net zero commitment with interim targets
A procurement lead adding sustainability criteria to supplier scorecards
A green champion planning office changes for the year ahead

What's included

Commitment checklist with owners, dates and board approval steps
Scope page with in and out boundaries and key definitions
Targets scorecard with progress on emissions, power and waste
Responsibilities page with a RACI matrix and decision roles
Reporting service levels with a reporting calendar and claims note
Make it yours guide page to delete before the policy is published

How to use it

1
Click Make a copy in Google Docs, then confirm on the Google page. The copy is saved to your own Google Drive.
2
Replace the Junipera Group name, the commitment statement and the baseline figures with your own, noting any estimates.
3
Set interim targets with owners and resources, and list each abatement action with its cost, saving and payback.
4
Delete the guide page, check that every claim is backed by a figure in the report, then share the policy with staff and suppliers.

What you need

Requirements

A Google account with access to Google Drive

Works with

Google Docs
Microsoft Word (download the .docx)

Questions

Is this sustainability policy free to use?

Yes. Click Make a copy in Google Docs and the file is saved to your own Google Drive, with no sign-up and no charge.

Can the policy say we are carbon neutral?

Only if the evidence supports it. Offsets should be a small share of what remains after cuts, and any claim should state its boundary and the basis used.

Are the organization, people and figures real?

No. Junipera Group, its people, email addresses, baseline figures and targets are fictional sample data. Replace them with your own before you publish.

#sustainability-policy
#net-zero
#environmental-policy
#emissions-targets
#esg-reporting
#google-docs

More Google Docs templates More business operations templates

Net Zero Plan
Docs + Word7 pages
Free
Green Office Guide
Docs + Word7 pages
Free
Acceptable Use Policy
Docs + Word7 pages
Free

Also in Business operations

All business operations templates

Get this template