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 Undertake Systemic Impacts Mapping
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.2 Assess and Research Visitor Needs
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumHigh
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.3 Research Non-Visitor's Needs
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.4 Consider Sustainability in Early Ideation
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
2.5 Account for Stakeholder Issues
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.6 Create a Lightweight Experience by Default
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.7 Avoid Unnecessary or an Overabundance of Assets
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.8 Ensure Navigation and Way-Finding Are Well-Structured
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.9 Respect the Visitor's Attention
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.10 Use Recognized Design Patterns
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.11 Avoid Manipulative Patterns
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
2.12 Document and Share Project Outputs
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 Take a More Sustainable Approach to Image Assets
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.16 Take a More Sustainable Approach to Media Assets
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.17 Take a More Sustainable Approach to Animation
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.18 Take a More Sustainable Approach to Typefaces
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.19 Provide Suitable Alternatives to Web Assets
Success Criterion
.
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.20 Provide Accessible, Usable, Minimal Web Forms
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
2.21 Support Non-Graphic Ways To Interact With Content
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 Create a Stakeholder-Focused Testing & Prototyping Policy
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
2.25 Conduct Regular Audits, Regression, and Non-Regression Tests
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.26 Incorporate Performance Testing Into Each Major Release-Cycle
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.27 Incorporate Value Testing Into Each Major Release-Cycle
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.28 Incorporate Usability Testing Into Each Minor Release-Cycle
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
2.29 Incorporate Compatibility Testing Into Each Release-Cycle
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh

Web Development

3.1 Identify Relevant Technical Indicators
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.2 Minify Your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.3 Use Code-Splitting Within Projects
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.4 Apply Tree Shaking To Code
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.5 Ensure Your Solutions Are Accessible
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.6 Avoid Code Duplication
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.7 Rigorously Assess Third-Party Services
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI HighHighHighHigh
3.8 Use HTML Elements Correctly
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.9 Resolve Render Blocking Content
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.10 Provide Code-Based Way-Finding Mechanisms
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.11 Validate Form Errors and External Input
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.12 Use Metadata Correctly
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.13 Adapt to User Preferences
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.14 Develop a Device-Adaptable Layout
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 Your Scripts Are Secure
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.17 Manage Dependencies Appropriately
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.18 Include Files That Are Automatically Expected
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.19 Use Plaintext Formats When Appropriate
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI MediumLowMediumLow
3.20 Avoid Using Deprecated or Proprietary Code
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
3.21 Align Technical Requirements With Sustainability Goals
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.22 Use the Latest Stable Language Version
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.23 Take Advantage of Native Features
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
3.24 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 Browser Caching
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI MediumHighMediumHigh
4.3 Compress Your Files
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.4 Use Error Pages and Redirects Carefully
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.5 Limit Usage of Additional Environments
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.6 Automate To Fit the Needs
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.7 Maintain a Relevant Refresh Frequency
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
4.8 Be Mindful of Duplicate Data
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.9 Enable Asynchronous Processing and Communication
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.10 Consider CDNs and Edge Caching
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI LowMediumLowMedium
4.11 Use the Lowest Infrastructure Tier Meeting Business Requirements
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI LowLowLowLow
4.12 Store Data According to Visitor Needs
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort LowLow
GRI LowLowLowLow

Business Strategy and Product Management

5.1 Have an Ethical and Sustainability Product Strategy
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.2 Assign a Sustainability Representative
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumLow
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.3 Raise Awareness and Inform
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 Determine the Functional Unit
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort MediumMedium
GRI MediumMediumMediumMedium
5.16 Create a Supplier Standards of Practice
Success Criterion
Impact & Effort HighHigh
GRI HighHighHighHigh
5.17 Share 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 Tools
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