HPDC Client Toolkit Section 1: Firm Commitment
Your firm’s commitment to transparency and material health is the starting point for building a “Client Pitch” for projects and proposals. Creating and inventorying position statements, leadership positions, key personnel and communications is the first step towards initiating and increasing dialogue with your clients about transparency and material health.
SECTIONS:
Position Statement from Firm Principals
Making a commitment to transparency and healthier products in the built environment starts with a A + D Position Statement that will differentiate your firm’s transparency and optimization from other competitive firms. The Position Statement is a tool that can be shared with your client’s to help them align with your values and bring them along in the decision-making process to choose healthier materials in their projects.
Example: “Firm X, Y, Z wants the materials used in our projects to positively impact human health, the climate, the environment
Transparency Plan from Firm Principals
As part of your firm-wide commitment, you’ll want to create a plan with the start date that your firm committed to using transparency and material health practices on a client project or pitch and steps for continual improvement in firm performance. The Plan should include goals and benchmarks with specific dates and measurable objectives that are achievable, relevant and time-bound, otherwise known as SMART goals.
TIP: If you want a “living” strategy – less is more. Focus on strategic intent and getting everyone on the same page through a simple one page document that includes transparency goals and objectives.
Industry Leadership Positions
Substantiates your firm-wide commitment to transparency and healthier products in the built environment by identifying and publishing your industry leadership positions as working members of other relevant efforts. Using the Industry Leadership Positions worksheet, make a list of (do we want to add memberships) committees and boards your firm is part of, as well as the public pledges you’ve made to organizations and movements.
Firm Sustainability Support Materials
Gather sustainability support materials that demonstrate how your A + D firm communicates about its commitment to transparency and healthier products in the built environment.
Key Firm Contacts
Substantiate your firm-wide commitment to transparency and healthier products in the built environment by identifying and publishing your industry leadership positions as working members of other relevant efforts. Using the Key Contacts worksheet, make a list of (do we want to add memberships) committees and boards your firm is part of, as well as the public pledges you’ve made to organizations and movements committed to transparency in material health.