The establishment of IRAS (formerly SustainabilityServices.co.za) in 2009 was effectively a response to a common request from several clients. Rather than operating as an 'independent consultant', clients such as Bidvest, Lonmin Platinum and Kumba Resources (now Kumba Iron Ore), asked that a brand be established to add credence to some of the work Michael, the founder of IRAS, was completing.

 

In creating IRAS, Michael set about hiring a team of supporting characters who helped expand into a wider array of complimentary services. Aside from the provision of Independent Third-Party Assurance over ESG/Sustainability reporting, and the Authorship of various types of annual reports IRAS now offers the following suite of advisory and other services:

 

• Evaluation of Carbon Credit projects to ensure alignment with the requirements of the SA Carbon Tax Act

• ESG Reporting Risk Assessments, including qualitative and quantitative benchmarking studies

• ESG Data Management Systems Development & Implementation

• CSI/SED Programme Identification, Selection and Implementation, based on a proprietary toolkit developed to apply quantitative modelling to maximise return on CSI/SED (in developmental terms)

• Development and authorship of key sustainability policies and procedures (Sustainability Management Framework, Human Rights Policy, Sustainable Sugar Production Policy, Sustainable Agri-Chemical Use Policy, Stakeholder Engagement Policy, etc.)

• CSI/SED Project Monitoring & Evaluation

• Materiality Determination Assessments (Including Material Issues Mapping Workshops)

• Stakeholder Engagement Planning

• External Assessments of Mine Community Resettlement, in accordance with the expectations set out in IFC Performance Standard 5

 

Due to ensure maximum value add for our clients, IRAS engages the services of specialists within our pool of "Networked Associates" to offer complimentary skills on an as/when needed basis.

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Having provided Tongaat Hulett with Group/Corporate support to the position of Group Sustainability Executive from June 2020 to June 2021, IRAS is willing to offer similar capacity and skills to a maximum of one company per annum on a part-time basis (maximum 50%). Based on the successes and achievements realised by Tongaat Hulett in overhauling their Group Sustainability management, we firmly believe we are well-placed to provide similar guidance to other large companies struggling to catch up to current and/or emerging trends in ESG/Sustainability management.

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