Governance & Policy
Sustainability Management System
Definition
A sustainability management system is the set of interrelated policies, processes, responsibilities and review mechanisms through which an organisation manages its sustainability performance systematically — extending the plan-do-check-act structure of environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and OHS systems (ISO 45001) across the full ESG agenda: materiality assessment, objectives and targets, operational controls, competence, monitoring, audit and management review.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Sustainability Management System” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures ISO system implementation, integrated management systems combining quality-environment-safety, supplier management requirements, and ESG due diligence evidence.
Why it matters
Strategy sets direction, but systems set defaults; a sustainability management system is how good intentions survive staff turnover and quarterly pressure.