Environmental management for real business impact

Additional
Q&A

Q1: What would be your advice for someone who wants to contribute more to the Sustainability Committee at work? Our committee is not really active at the moment.

Get clarity about what you are trying to achieve. Make sure that is based on real expected outcomes and each time you meet as a team, check in on how those projects are progressing.

See what other organisations like yours have been doing. Imitate their goals.

Success creates enthusiasm.

Q2: How do you ensure the accuracy of your various waste stream measurements?

Don’t make the mistake of assuming quantitative measurement is the best option.Waste streams can be measured in a variety of ways including:

1. What proportion of recyclables are ending up in the landfill? (visual assessment)
2. How quickly does the bin fill up (8 days compared to 12)
3. How many kg could I divert (get people to put the thing of interest into a pile on the side, measure it before throwing it in the bin for disposal).

Measurement accuracy may require weighing, but you might be able to get away with volumes (5 large cardboard boxes full per week). Waste audits are time consuming and may not represent a standard day/week.

Q3: Do you extend your goals and objectives to your contractors?

One size does not fit all. It’s definitely an option, but needs to be balanced against internal resource availability and likely outcomes from contractor impacts. In some cases it will be essential to manage contractors effects (like instructing architects to consider green materials and outcomes or waste companies who will sort recycling for you), but in others it will be business as usual for them and not something you need to spend a lot of time on (e.g. expecting couriers to manage their fuel efficiency and logistics).

The simple answer is: assess whether their impact is significant in your context. If not, review it again at another time (a year or so). If yes, start asking them what they are doing in relation to the issue and see how you can be involved from there.

Q4: Are these certifications (Toitū Enviromark and B Corp) reasonably aligned? Or does it take plenty more resources in order to qualify for that too?

B Corp looks at the outcomes of your business from a social and environmental sustainability perspective. An EMS is more about having the systems in place to manage projects so you get the outcomes.

B Corp assessment looks for results.

An EMS assessment looks for competence of the organisation.

Q5: What's the most effective way of implementing and EMS in the company culture?

Start with sharing the story of what you are doing and why. Include successes, things people can be proud of.

Three critical ideas:

1. Explain why the organisation needs to change, what is wrong with the old way of doing things which requires a shift in behaviour. Then,
2. Share what are you are aiming for. How will it make their lives easier/better? Will it result in a cleaner environment for their children/grandchildren? Will it create better systems with more predictable/easier outcomes? Does it offer branding outcomes to convince shareholders/senior management? Then,
3. Provide a clear achievable step-by-step plan that people can see they can do. Any mysteries will raise resistance and doubt.

Q6: When collecting all information of the current situation of an organisation to make and prepare them to comply with Toitū Enviromark Bronze and Gold, is it helpful to use business frameworks like a congruence model to help process this information?

Helpful yes, but I find the same information should already be there in your H&S planning process. How can you understand the hazards unless you know what people are doing that create the hazards? Start there and unpack who does what and where. Don’t forget to include predictable but infrequent events and what might happen in an emergency.

Q7: What percentage of company spend goes to green projects/labels? A lot of these labels are expensive for a small company.

Angela: At Epicurean we make a conscious choice to put efforts into this space as we believe we need to do the right thing with the resources we have. We do have a dedicated Sustainability Champion which provides direction and expertise, but have found most staff are keen to be involved one way or another so they feel like they are contributing and making a difference. Not all sustainability projects need to be independent, ideally you work the principals of sustainability into all projects as everything you do makes an impact.

Chirs: Certification costs vary based on company complexity. Toitū Enviromark also includes regular mentoring sessions throughout the year.

It is best to consider how much time is required by your staff, as that is the real cost. My suggestion is that the “project champion” has at least 2 hours a week every week. This is recommend both when setting up the EMS and going forward to keep the EMS running and manage the projects you decide on.

Compliance projects must be done so the cost is irrelevant. Voluntary projects often either support client retention or save you money over your CAPEX payback period (normally 12 to 18 months).

Q8: I don't know where to begin and need some help on how to start.

We are always happy to chat with you to start you on the journey. Toitū is part of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, a public Crown Research Institute. Reach out and we’ll have a 15 minute chat to start you off.

Q9: How do you reduce freight costs?

Light weighting product/packaging and rationalising shipping are good starts. Understand who you send what to and how often.

For example, an organisation identified they could send some orders fortnightly (all together) rather than on demand. The client would tell them if something was super urgent, if not it waited until there was a full shipment.

Q10: How can an EMS assist in reducing food waste?

Start with understanding what’s in the food waste stream and identify the largest components.

Is it off-cuts, waste from the process, out-of-spec product, spoilage?

Why is that happening, what might you do differently to reduce the waste quantity. Some things like cleaning in place (CIP) for tanks may have limited options. Maybe the pack sizes of raw materials isn’t optimal, or maybe you can pick the brains of other similar organisations as to how they approached similar issues in the past? I strongly recommend perusing EU examples for best practice solutions. You can do this once you understand what part of your process leads to the waste.

Q11: In what ways can companies that focus on refurbishment and re-metaling better quantify and communicate their contributions to circular economy principles & reduced environmental impact?

You may need to start with identifying which of your clients are open to “other options”. Materials selection, design that allows for waste reduction (e.g. exact sizes of new gib-board to prevent off-cut wastage), re-use options before recycling before landfill. Influence after project completion (how it could be better done next time).