This document provides a quick reference to the Web Sustainability Guidelines (WSG) specification. The content is laid out in a table, with Success Criteria, Impact, Effort, and GRI ratings noted for each guideline. Checkboxes are provided for those individuals or groups wishing to work through the list (note your progress will not be saved), and a print-friendly (PDF) version is also available to audit your work as part of an exercise.

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User-Experience Design

2.1 Display any variables that have a negative impact on your project
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.2 Understand visitor requirements or constraints, resolving barriers to access
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumHigh
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.3 Understand the impact of non-visitors
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.4 Consider sustainability throughout the ideation process
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
2.5 Brainstorm ways to resolve any stakeholder issues
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.6 Minimize non-essential content, interactivity, or journeys
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.7 Use decorative design with care
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.8 Ensure that navigation and way-finding are well-structured
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.9 Be attentive rather than distracting
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.10 Use established design patterns and appropriate components
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.11 Avoid being manipulative or deceptive
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
2.12 Enable others to understand and reuse your deliverables
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumHigh
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.13 Use a design system to prioritize interface consistency
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.14 Write with purpose, in an accessible, easy-to-understand format
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.15 All images must be optimized for sustainability
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.16 All audio or video must be optimized for sustainability
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.17 Animation must be proportionate and easy to control
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.18 Web typography must be highly optimized and appropriate
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.19 Suitable alternatives to any provided format must be offered
Success Criterion
.
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.20 Provide accessible, usable, minimal web forms
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.21 Consider the impact of visitors using non-visual browsers
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.22 Provide useful notifications to improve the visitor's journey
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.23 Reduce the impact of downloadable or physical documents
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.24 Policies and processes must exist to get stakeholders invested
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.25 Audit and test for bugs or issues that require resolving
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.26 Measure and test for performance
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.27 Ensure features provide maximum value for their impact
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.28 Verify that real-world users can successfully use your work
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.29 Check for compatibility or platform-specific issues
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh

Web Development

3.1 Set goals based on potential impact considerations
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.2 Remove unnecessary or redundant information
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.3 Modularize bandwidth-heavy components within projects
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.4 Tree shaking should be used to remove unnecessary code
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.5 Sustainable solutions must be accessible
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.6 Redundancy and duplication in code should be avoided
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.7 Third-party services should be assessed as first parties
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
3.8 Code must follow good semantic practices
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.9 Render blocking should be resolved
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.10 Information to help understand the usefulness of a page should exist
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.11 Forms must validate for errors, accounting for tooling requirements
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.12 Metadata is structured for machine readability
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.13 Sustainable CSS user preference media queries are used
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.14 Layouts work across devices and requirements
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
3.15 Use beneficial JavaScript and its APIs
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
3.16 Ensure that your scripts are secure
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.17 Dependencies are appropriately used and maintained
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.18 Include expected and beneficial files
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.19 Avoid using deprecated, proprietary, or outdated code
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.20 Use the most efficient solution to implement your service
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.21 Use the latest stable language version
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.22 Take advantage of native features and functionality
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.23 Run fewer, simpler queries as possible
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowLowLowLow

Hosting, Infrastructure and Systems

4.1 Choose a sustainable hosting provider
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.2 Optimize caching with offline access supported
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI MediumHighMediumHigh
4.3 Compress files where it is beneficial
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.4 Setup necessary error pages and redirection links
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.5 Unless required, avoid utilizing unnecessary environments
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.6 Allow automation but ensure it is tightly regulated
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.7 Define the frequency of data refreshes
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
4.8 Backup critical data at routine intervals
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.9 Consider the impact and requirements of processing information
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.10 CDN use must be proportionate and sustainable
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowMediumLowMedium
4.11 Infrastructure decisions must meet business requirements
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.12 Store data according to the needs of your users
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow

Business Strategy and Product Management

5.1 Have an ethical and sustainable product strategy
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.2 Assign a sustainability representative
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.3 Inform, raise awareness, and train for sustainability
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.4 Communicate the ecological impact of user choices
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.5 Estimate a product or service's environmental impact
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.6 Define clear organizational sustainability goals and metrics
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
5.7 Verify your efforts using established third-party business certifications
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.8 Implement sustainability onboarding guidelines
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.9 Support mandatory disclosures and reporting
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.10 Create one or more impact business models
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.11 Follow a product management and maintenance strategy
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.12 Implement continuous improvement procedures
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.13 Document future updates and evolutions
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
5.14 Establish if a digital product or service is necessary
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.15 Conduct a full life-cycle assessment
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.16 Provide a supplier standards of practice
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.17 Share any economic benefits
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.18 Share decision-making power with appropriate stakeholders
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowHigh
GRI LowLowLowLow
5.19 Use Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) Practices
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.20 Promote responsible data practices
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.21 Implement appropriate data management procedures
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowHigh
GRI LowLowLowLow
5.22 Promote and implement responsible emerging technology practices
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.23 Include responsible financial policies
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.24 Include organizational philanthropy policies
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.25 Plan for a digital product or service's care and end-of-life
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.26 Include e-waste, right-to-repair, and recycling policies
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.27 Define performance and environmental budgets
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.28 Use open source where possible
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.29 Create a business continuity and disaster recovery plan
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow

Acknowledgments

Additional information about participation in the Sustainable Web Interest Group can be found within the GitHub repository of the Interest Group.

Participants Active in the Development of This Document

Alexander Dawson, Simon Perdrisat, Tim Frick