MBA402: Timberwell Constructions Sustainability Assessment Report

This report presents a sustainability assessment of Timberwell Constructions, a housing construction firm, adhering to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. It examines the company's performance across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The economic section assesses financial implications related to climate change, confirmed incidents of corruption, and legal actions concerning anti-competitive behavior. The environmental analysis covers energy consumption, impacts on biodiversity, and non-compliance with environmental regulations. The social sustainability aspect evaluates employee hiring and turnover rates, worker safety, and training programs. The report utilizes the GRI 2016 disclosure standards, providing a comprehensive overview of Timberwell's sustainability practices and areas for improvement. The analysis incorporates details from a case study, evaluating Timberwell's responses to various challenges and opportunities in the Stanwell Council region.

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 1
GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
by
Student
Name
Course
Professor
Institution
Date

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 2
Governance, Ethics and Sustainability
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background......................................................................................................................................3
Methodology....................................................................................................................................4
Sustainability Development.............................................................................................................5
Economic Sustainability..............................................................................................................5
Environmental Sustainability.......................................................................................................9
Social Sustainability...................................................................................................................11
Conclusions....................................................................................................................................14
References......................................................................................................................................15

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 3
Introduction
Timberwell Constructions is situated in Stanwell Council region where it is a housing
construction firm, which builds different apartments. Timberwell has 58 guys employees
recruited from the district where they are competent with diverse professions in addition to trade.
The local marketplace for the workers is very competitive; hence, because of the market
competition, Timberwell recruited 21 new employees for the reporting time. The report has been
all set with standards provided in conformity to the Global Sustainability Board. Consequently,
the report will provide the basis for the utilization the Global Reporting Initiative standards to
report concerning the environmental, economic, as well as social effect. Global Reporting
Initiative principles are the basis of the universal language of Timberwell Constructions plus its
stakeholders via the environmental, social and economic effect on the company may be
understood in addition to communicated (Tricker & Tricker, 2015, pp. 35).
Background
Economic sustainability is intrinsically connected to both social and environmental
sustainability. It means a scheme of production, which satisfies current use levels devoid of
compromising prospect needs. It is believed that the delivery of natural resources is infinite, put
undue stress on the capability of the marketplace to allot this capital resourcefully. This is shown
through the limits of growth. Thus, the marketplace allocation of resources, constant degrees of
growth plus consumption, a presumption that natural capital are infinite plus a belief that
economic development would “trickle down” to the underprivileged persons have been its
features (Lee, Faff & Langfield-Smith, 2009, pp. 21). Sustainable development extends growth’s

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 4
concern with financial resources to reflect on social, human and natural resources. Social
sustainability entails notions of fairness, empowerment contribution, sharing, accessibility,
cultural identity plus institutional constancy. Social sustainability seeks to protect the
environment via economic development and the mitigation of poverty. A few commentators
have recommended that poor nations should accept ecological deprivation as a short-range result
of economic growth. Some individuals claimed that a favorable environment, which maximizes
resource allotment, may prevent the need for such swap (Denis, 2016, pp. 468). Thus, social
sustainability means a system of social composition, which mitigates paucity. It develops the
nexus amid social situations (like poverty) in addition to environmental degradation. On the
other hand, environmental sustainability needs sustaining natural resources as both a supplier of
economic inputs (resources) as well as absorber of economic inputs. Environmental
sustainability entails the frequencies of renewable supply harvest, pollution formation, as well as
non-renewable resource exhaustion, which may be persistent for ever. The increasing impacts of
climate change offer an apparent argument for the demand to embrace ecological sustainability.
The climate change entails considerable plus long-term changes in the climate scheme due to
natural climate unpredictability or human actions (Milne & Gray, 2013, pp. 14).
Methodology
The report investigates the set of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2016 disclosure
concerning the sustainability reporting standards of Timberwell Constructions. This report has
been organized with standards issued in conformity to the Global Sustainability Board.
Accordingly, the green reporting initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting standards assist
businesses, states, and other companies comprehend plus communicate the effect of business on

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 5
decisive sustainability matters. GRI reporting standards helps businesses and governments report
efficiently and publicly disclose the effect of their activities on primary social, environmental, as
well as governance (ESG) themes. The GRI standards start with three universal standards to
disclose general information concerning an organization and its strategies to sustainability
management. Certain of the unique elements of GRI standard-along with the action, which forms
them that comprise multi-stakeholder contribution, a record us and support, shared development
costs, governmental reports and acts and sovereignty (Seitz, Wennhage, Bergström, Lipcius
&Ysebaert, 2013, pp. 651).
Sustainability Development
Economic Sustainability
Climate Change and the Opportunities and Risks and Financial Effects
Material Topic Description Management Approach
Disclosure
201-2
Financial
implications
and other
risks and
opportunities
due to climate
The Global Reporting
Initiative (GRI) standards
show that the reporting
company should report the
subsequent elements:
information of the prospect
or risk plus its
identification as both
physical or regulatory;
In the instance of Timberwell
Constructions, there was an
amplified risk in Stanwell district
that emanated from the bushfires
because of the warming impacts as
well as the climate change (Croce,
Stewart & Yermo, 2011, pp. 9).
Thus, the Stanwell Council
recommended modifying the Local

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 6
change explanation of the
opportunity or threat in line
with the effect; financial
implication of the
perceived opportunity or
threat earlier than a
measure is implemented;
techniques utilized to
supervise the threat or
opportunity; the rate of
action undertaken to deal
with the opportunity or
risk.
Environmental Plan (LEP) plus
rezoning some regions of Stanwell
region as bushfire vulnerable
regions. The proposed change is
anticipated to take effect in a period
of six weeks. Thus, any new
development in the amended Local
Environmental Plan zone should
meet the matter of bushfire in the
region. The greater standards of
safety comprise amplified spaces
connecting the land borders in
addition to buildings and use of the
fire retardant resources in
constructions. In addition,
Timberwell has an area in Stanwell
locality, which needs an amended
LEP zone to comply with bushfire
safety. In order to comply with the
novel changes, it will cost the firm
about $4 million. Thus, to reduce
the elevated costs, an exterior urban

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 7
planning company has been
engaged by the Timberwell to cater
to the development of the area and
work with the Stanwell authorities.
Consequently, the urban planning
firm is charging $50,000 (Iliev,
Lins, Miller & Roth, 2015, pp.
2168).
Disclosure
205-3
Confirmed
incidents of
corruption
and actions
taken
Global reporting initiative
standards show that the
firm that is reporting
should collect data founded
on nature plus the number
of the established instances
of bribery; the amount of
identified cases where
employees were either
disciplined or sacked
because of the charges of
bribery; the number of
cases where contracts were
not reduced due to
Based on the case study, Dennis past
personnel of Timberwell brought
charges against the firm to diverse
state agencies. This led to Australian
Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) to move to the
Federal courtyard on the premise of
anti-competitive behavior, which
entailed restricted transactions along
with marketplace power abuse against
the company (Hahn & Kühnen, 2013,
pp. 7). The ACCC accused that the
company came to know concerning
the establishment of a competitor firm

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 8
participation in bribery
charges or business
alliances were concluded
because of bribery; lawful
cases founded on bribery
changes alongside
employees in their
reporting time or touching
the firm and the
consequences of such cases
(Dempsey, Bramley, Power
& Brown, 2011, pp. 291).
in the Stanwell region. In reaction to
the spirited risk, Timberwell
executives told the contractors along
with the suppliers not to get engaged
with the novel firm. Founded on the
accusations, the federal court will
give its verdict in four months. The
complaint showed that two outside
consultants in addition to five workers
from the company offered kickbacks
to the project officials of the council
to move the firm’s expansion request
of the commission authorization
procedure. The employees plus the
outside consultants were charged with
bribery and the workers were
suspended by the firm with no their
pay and Timberwell cancelled the
deals with the outside consultants
(Fonseca, McAllister & Fitzpatrick,
2014, pp. 72).

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 9
Environmental Sustainability
Material Topic Description Management Approach
Disclosure 302-1
Energy
consumption
within the
organization
The GRI disclosed that the
reporting company should
report the following data;
entire fuel used from the
non-renewable sources in
the company that include
fuel use from the renewable
sources, the use of fuel
sorts, total energy used in
the company in the unit of
joules; computation
techniques, assumptions,
techniques, as well as
standards utilized.
Based on the case, the media released
findings that asserted that Timberwell
is an energy resourceful company.
The information disclosed comprised
fuel use concerning non-renewable
sources were 1.0 Gigajoule; the fuel
use based on renewable energy was
0.5 Gigajoules; spending of electricity
was 2.0 Gigajoule. Based on the
computations, this was used: 1
Gigajoule = 109 joules. In the case,
the tools for computation utilized
were approved by the Australian
Department of Industry and Science.
Thus, the media reported that
Timberwell Constructions has put in
place a plan where it intends to boost

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 10
the use of fuel concerning renewable
sources by around 50% in a period of
three years (Junior, Best & Cotter,
2014, pp. 8).
Disclosure
304-2
Significant
impacts of
activities,
products, and
services on
biodiversity
GRI reporting standards
show that the organization
reporting should gather
data founded on: nature of
considerable effect on
biodiversity because of the
building of transport
infrastructure, mining
stations, manufacturing
factories; pollution;
establishment of the
bacteria, pests, as well as
insidious species, lessening
of the species environment
conservation; considerable
indirect optimistic,
negative plus direct effect,
Based on the case, Dennis made a
grievance to the Department of
Environment and Energy. This
department following an inquiry
directed that Timberwell was to pay a
fine of estimated $200,000 for
clearing a perilously in danger of
extinction environmental population
of coastal grasslands. Thus, the
affected ecological system was
acknowledged by the State Planning
Commission as a vital habitat for both
the fauna and flora Mekhilef, Safari,
Mustaffa, Saidur, Omar & Younis,
2012, pp. 389).

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 11
period of the effects,
degree of the affected
regions, species impacted,
irreversibility, as well as
the reversibility of the
effects.
Social Sustainability
Material Topic Description Management Approach
Disclosure
401-1 New
employee hires
and employee
turnover
Global reporting initiative
reporting standards show
that the reporting company
should report the
subsequent: the pace of the
hiring of fresh workers and
the entirety figure of
personnel in the reporting
time by area, age group,
gender; the rate of worker
turnover.
Based on the Timberwell case, 58
male employees were hired by the
Timberwell from the region, which is
having the experience in the
construction field. It was stated that
because of the competitive
marketplace, 17 personnel resigned
from the firm. To replace the
employees who had left, the company
hired only 12 new employees. In
order to retain the workers, the firm
has begun to increase the salary and

Governance, Ethics and Sustainability 12
too introduced a monthly rostered day
off for its current employees. When
Dennis lodged a grievance to the
commission concerning the work
discrimination in the workplace, it
was disclosed by Dennis that other
than him, all other workers were aged
between 30 and 50 years.
Disclosure
401-1 New
employee hires
and employee
turnover
The GRI standards show
that reporting entity should
report the subsequent: the
of cases of discrimination
at the period of reporting;
measures undertaken plus
the issues of inequity;
incidents cross-examined
by the company,
remediation plans, which
are executed and the
custom test by the
management procedures,
incidents, which are no
Based on the case, only a single
occurrence of favoritism was
reported. Thus, Dennis lodged a
complaint regarding discrimination to
the commission against Timberwell
(Santos, Oliveira, Gonçalves,
Almeida, Loebmann & Tozetti, 2013,
pp. 369). Dennis reported to be facing
discrimination because of his age
from other employees since he was
only 50 years of age. Also, the
commission investigated the case and
directed the company to pay Dennis
$4,400 as payment. The commission