Desert Group
Sustainability Implementation & Governance Process
1. Overview
In parallel with its formal Sustainability Policy, Desert Group has implemented an evolving sustainability management and implementation process designed to embed environmental, social, and ethical considerations across its operations, projects, and supply chain.This process is actively implemented, reviewed, and refined, and is designed to mature into a fully integrated sustainability governance and reporting framework.
The approach prioritises practical delivery, technical rigor, and continuous improvement, while remaining aligned with recognised international sustainability principles and regional operational realities.
2. Sustainability Leadership & Framework Alignment
Desert Group’s sustainability framework is designed and led internally by its appointed sustainability leadership function, under the direction of Bjørn Heyerdahl, an Earth Charter Affiliate for Africa and the UAE.
The Earth Charter provides the ethical and systems-based foundation for Desert Group’s sustainability approach, informing:
- Environmental stewardship principles
- Social responsibility and workforce ethics
- Long-term ecological and economic resilience
- Intergenerational responsibility and systems thinking
This ethical framework is translated into practical operational standards, technical decision-making, and education programmes relevant to landscape, horticultural, construction, and consulting contexts.
3. Staff & Supplier Education Programme
Internal Education & Capacity Building
Desert Group is implementing a structured sustainability education programme for staff, including:
- Core sustainability principles relevant to Desert Group operations
- Climate-appropriate design and delivery practices
- Water, soil, and planting strategies for arid and semi-arid environments
- Health, safety, and human wellbeing considerations
- Ethical responsibility and professional conduct aligned with Earth Charter principles
Training is delivered through a combination of:
- Internal briefings and workshops
- Project-based learning and site-level guidance
- Ongoing leadership engagement and mentoring
Supplier & Subcontractor Engagement
Sustainability expectations are progressively extended across Desert Group’s supplier and subcontractor network through:
- Communication of sustainability principles and minimum expectations
- Evaluation of supplier practices where relevant to environmental and social impact
- Preference for suppliers demonstrating responsible sourcing, material transparency, and ethical practices
- Continuous dialogue aimed at improvement rather than exclusion
4. Supply Chain, Materials & Carbon Evaluation
Desert Group is actively undertaking a structured review of its supply chain, material selection, and carbon footprint, focusing on areas with the highest potential environmental impact.This includes:
- Assessment of material sourcing and embodied impacts where applicable
- Evaluation of planting materials, soils, amendments, and construction inputs
- Identification of opportunities to reduce waste, transport intensity, and unnecessary material use
- Progressive alignment with climate-appropriate, durable, and regionally suitable solutions
The objective is incremental, measurable improvement, rather than theoretical optimisation, ensuring solutions remain buildable, cost-aware, and operationally viable.
5. Review Cycle & Continuous Improvement
Desert Group operates a bi-annual sustainability review cycle, designed to:
- Review current practices and performance
- Identify risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities
- Update internal guidance and technical approaches
- Incorporate lessons learned from completed and active projects
- Respond to evolving client, regulatory, and industry expectations
These reviews include technical analysis, operational feedback, and leadership oversight, forming the basis for future reporting, governance strengthening, and strategic alignment.
6. Project-Level Integration
At project level, sustainability is addressed through:
- Early design and planning considerations
- Material and planting selection aligned with environmental context
- Construction methodologies that minimise unnecessary environmental disturbance
- Maintenance and stewardship strategies that support long-term performance
Approaches are scaled and adapted to suit:
- Project size and complexity
- Client sustainability objectives
- Regulatory and authority requirements
- Site-specific environmental constraints
7. Reporting & Maturation Pathway
Desert Group recognises that sustainability governance and reporting systems evolve over time. Current practices focus on implementation, learning, and system building, with increasing formalisation as data quality, processes, and organisational maturity grow.This interim process reflects current practices and initiatives and will be expanded into a comprehensive Sustainability Report as Desert Group’s sustainability governance and reporting systems continue to mature.