GEMI currently has three types of activities: Work Groups, Networks and Committees. 





Networks conduct ongoing discussions on member-driven topics, and may serve as prelude or postscript to a Work Group.

Work Groups develop focused tools (from concept to finished product) with designated resources

GEMI has identified three signature issues that it will be focusing its activities on for the next couple of years.  GEMI is still in the discussion phase as to how best to address these issues to meet the needs of its members and the organization as a whole.  The issues are: Climate Change and Energy; Supply Chain; and Water Sustainability.

  • Water

    GEMI has developed 2 water sustainability tools and in 2011 has begun working on a 3rd tool:

    • Connecting the Drops Towards Creative Water Strategies: A Water Sustainability Tool and supplemental web site, www.gemi.org/water, which addresses the challenges and opportunities of water sustainability. (Launched in 2002)
    • Collecting the Drops: A Water Sustainability Planner (www.gemi.org/waterplanner), a detailed and comprehensive water sustainability-planning tool that can be used by a company to establish baseline performance, assess opportunities, set goals and evaluate progress against objectives.  (Launched in 2008)
    • GEMI Local Water Tool™ (LWT) -- In 2011, GEMI's Water Sustainability Work Group is developing a new tool,GEMI Local Water Tool™ (LWT), the which will be an interactive, downloadable module, and include new functionality, which will help companies evaluate specific sites for water impacts and risks in order to devise site-specific sustainable water management strategies.  The GEMI LWT™ encourages businesses to conduct systematic assessment of their relationship to water, identify specific opportunities and risks associated with this relationship and report key indicators to stakeholders.  

    The WBCSD Global Water Tool (GWT) (www.wbcsd.org) was designed to provide the critical link between a company’s operations and the external water landscape which may cause risks to their competitive position.  This tool provides a high level portfolio assessment but does not provide a complete risk assessment of specific sites.

    The purpose and functionality of the GWT and the LWT are mutually supportive.  Companies can employ the WBCSD Global Water Tool to identify and prioritize risks in their portfolios.  Companies can then employ the GEMI LWTTM to further evaluate the high risk locations and plan actions to manage the risks.

    It is anticipated that the GEMI LWT™ will be launched to the public in Spring 2012.







  • Climate Change and Energy
    GEMI's "Business and Climate" web-based tool, www.gemi.org/businessandclimate, is designed to help companies assess the most appropriate ways to address climate change-related emission reductions and reduce energy consumption.


  • Supply Chain

    GEMI has developed two supply chain/procurement tools:

    • New Paths to Business Value: Strategic Sourcing--Environment, Health, and Safety, is designed to address the business value of managing Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) in Procurement. It is designed to help identify when, why, and how to pursue added business value by addressing the EHS performance of suppliers and contractors, and understand how their products and services might affect your business.






GEMI Committees work on procedural, administrative or strategic issues as directed by the Board
  • Benchmarking Committee
    The Benchmarking Committee identifies and benchmarks key environmental, health and safety management practices. Examples of benchmarking topics include: interaction with corporate board of directors, EHS cost accounting practices, EHS auditing practices, relationships with suppliers/contractors, sustainability and community relations. NOTE: After one year, benchmarking survey results are posted on GEMI's public web site on the Benchmark Survey page.


  • Communications & Marketing (C&M) Committee
    The C&M Committee is responsible for extending GEMI's presence abroad through national and international press relations. The committee establishes well-defined guidelines for the creation and use of GEMI materials and reviews publications as they are developed as well as the development of the monthly member newsletter, GEMI NEWS. The committee also focuses on developing a simple, standard marketing plan for tools, and approves materials to be posted on the GEMI web site.


  • Senior Advisory Council (SAC) Committee
    The SAC is comprised of the Vice Presidents or the most senior environment, health and safety / sustainability representative of GEMI member companies. The SAC meets annually and assists in the development of future GEMI project topics and activities.