PROJECT MANAGERS

SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLIST
BY

TOM BAKER AND PEDRO ECHEVERRIA

The Project Managers Sustainability Checklist is a tool used to aid the project manager and project team in
addressing sustainability factors for all areas of the project.
Note: This checklist does not attempt to provide all the needs of project management nor all areas of PMBOK. Other
checklists serve that purpose. This checklist is specifically designed to help meet sustainability needs that project teams
and project managers face.
This checklist can be considered a template to be modified by an organization, or even by a project team, as needed. The
organization or PMO should determine what questions are mandatory for all projects to ensure the best results.

Project Managers Sustainability Checklist

Project Information
Project Name:

Date:

Name of Person Preparing Report:

Position:

Project Item

Yes

INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT
Are the corporate sustainability strategy and target
metrics stated in the Project Charter?
Does the project charter link to organization
sustainability goals?

SCOPE MANAGEMENT
Has the business case detailed benefits and
opportunities accruing from sustainability?
Has the business case linked to organizational goals
around social responsibility, vision/policy/directives?
Does the project have an approved sustainability
management plan?

TIME MANAGEMENT
Does the sustainability management plan indicate how
the schedule positively or negatively affects
sustainability metrics?

COST MANAGEMENT
Does the budget address any extra costs related to
sustainability targets?

No

N/A

Date

Comments

Project Managers Sustainability Checklist

Project Item

Yes

Does the budget address any extra revenues related

to sustainability targets?
Does the budget address any extra profits related to
sustainability targets?

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Do project KPIs include sustainability metrics?
Has the quality assurance plan addressed
sustainability?
Is the sustainability management plan consistent with
the rest of the overall project plan?

HR MANAGEMENT
Is the project team familiar with the project's
sustainability metrics?
Has the project team been asked to align project
operations with sustainability goals?
Have relevant project team inputs been identified?
(Eg. Energy)
Have relevant project team outputs been identified?
(E.g. waste electronics)

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT
Has the sustainability management plan been
reviewed by all stakeholders?
Do communications plans address sustainability?
Will sustainability-related benefits be communicated?

No

N/A

Date

Comments

Project Managers Sustainability Checklist

Project Item

Yes

No

N/A

Date

Will sustainability-related impacts/risks be

communicated?
Do all stakeholders have access to the sustainability
management plan?

RISK MANAGEMENT*
Has the business case detailed risk management
factors relevant to sustainability?

PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT
Are suppliers certified or accredited according to
organizational sustainability metrics/policies?
Procured assets are in compliance with project
sustainability metrics.
Is there a disposal plan for procured assets, in
accordance to sustainability metrics/policies?

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
Do all stakeholders have access to the sustainability
management plan?
Has the stakeholder engagement plan taken into
account community stakeholders?
Has the stakeholder engagement plan taken into
account relevant non-governmental organizations
(NGOs)?

A separate checklist for Sustainability Risk Management is under development.

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Comments