How Impact Measurement Can Unlock Opportunity

What gets measured gets managed and what gets managed creates value. It’s a simple truth that has shaped business for decades, yet it’s never been more relevant than today. We have the power to measure comprehenensive impact across financial, social, enviornmental, and human dimensions. Every impact journey begins with ambition; a bold commitments to invest in the future of the company by analyzing the ways we affect stakeholders. But ambition alone doesn’t change the world. What truly drives progress is measurement. Without it, we’re navigating in the dark, guided by good intentions but lacking the clarity to know if we’re moving forward or standing still.

Measurement tells us where we are, where we need to go, and whether our actions are making a difference. Think about greenhouse gas emissions: companies that track their emissions consistently reduce them faster. For example, Microsoft’s detailed carbon accounting enabled it to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by over 17% in a single year, largely by identifying energy hotspots and switching to renewables. The same principle applies far beyond carbon. Water use, biodiversity impacts, community well-being are all measurable, and when we measure them, we unlock the ability to act meaningfully.

This is where DIROs—Dependencies, Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities—come in. They give us a framework to capture the full picture of a company’s relationship with nature, climate, and people. Measuring DIROs means asking: What resources do we depend on? What impacts do we create—positive or negative? What risks could disrupt our operations? And what opportunities can drive innovation and growth? Take Unilever: by mapping water stress in its agricultural supply chain, it reduced risk by shifting sourcing and developed new opportunities by investing in local water stewardship programs.

The business case is clear. Investors and customers increasingly demand transparency. Regulators are tightening disclosure requirements. Companies that measure and report their impacts build trust, attract capital, and stay ahead of risk. More importantly, measurement drives efficiency and innovation. It helps businesses identify where resources are wasted, where risks are hiding, and where opportunities for improvement lie. Walmart’s Project Gigaton is a prime example: by measuring supplier emissions, the company uncovered efficiency gains that saved millions in energy costs while cutting carbon. In short: what gets measured gets managed—and what gets managed creates value.

So how do we begin? Start by defining what matters most to your business and stakeholders. Align metrics with material impacts and strategic goals. Use credible frameworks—whether it’s the GHG Protocol, TNFD, or SDG-based indicators—to ensure consistency and comparability. Invest in systems that make data collection reliable and scalable. And most importantly, act on the insights. Measurement without action is just reporting; measurement with action is transformation.

The bottom line is simple: sustainability without measurement is guesswork. By measuring DIROs, businesses move from intention to impact—creating resilience, trust, and long-term value. The future belongs to companies that know their numbers and use them to lead.