The 'Sustainability: Integrated Guidelines for Management' [SIGMA] Project

The ‘Sustainability: Integrated Guidelines for Management’ (SIGMA) project sets out a framework for companies seeking to become more sustainable. Launched in 1999, the SIGMA project is a partnership between Forum for the Future, Account Ability and the British Standards Institution. Sustainability Guidelines Management Integration Core functions the day-to-day management challenge of handling all the different aspects of sustainable development becomes more and more complex—and more onerous. SIGMA can be used as a stand-alone model or in conjunction with a wide range of other initiatives. SIGMA is designed for use by organisations of all sizes and in all sectors. One of the greatest strengths of the SIGMA approach is its linkages with other initiatives the AA1000 Framework, The Natural Step and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001. The challenge for SIGMA will be to promote the concept of sustainability broadly so as to influence more traditional management systems such as ISO 14001 and the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.