Commitment to improvement
The second Sheep Sustainability Framework annual report, released earlier this month, has revealed a broad range of data to date on the performance of the Australian wool and sheep meat industry.
Led by Sheep Producers Australia and Woolproducers Australia, the Sheep Sustainability Framework, SSF, was launched in 2021, with the first annual report released a year later.
It contained 58 indicators under four themes – caring for our sheep; enhancing the environment and climate; looking after our people, our customers, and the community; and ensuring a financially resilient industry.
SSF sustainability steering group chair Scott Williams said the report made notable gains in its reporting capacity during the past year, with a range of new information being added in 2023, including 25 new baseline data points.
“When we launched the inaugural annual report in 2022, just over half of the indicators were reported with data,” he said. “Today, 91 percent of our indicators are reported with data, and we are on track for 100 percent next year.
“These metrics allow us to determine directional changes over time, highlight our successes, identify areas for improvement and demonstrate the sustainability credentials of one of Australia’s most important industries.”
SSF board independent chair and sheep producer Lucinda Corrigan said each annual report was an expression of the commitment to continuous improvement across the industry.
“One of the most important functions of the annual report is to bring transparency to our industry and identify areas where we need to improve,” she said.
“We have a duty to our people, our animals and our consumers to strive for excellence in sustainability and continue to affirm the Australian industry’s position as among the best in the world.”