Implementing and Monitoring Environmentally Sustainable Work Practices - Assignment Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: PART A: QUESTIONING 1. i. Stakeholders: Any person(s) or parties that will be affected the continued existence of operations of a program or a project. ii. Best practice: Adopting a benchmark of techniques or methods that will demonstrate superior results against those achieved through other means iii. Resource efficiency: Minimizing the impacts of activities on the environment by utilizing the scarce resources on Earth more sustainably iv. Environmental Management Systems (EMS): These means documenting and planning environmental programs of an organization more systematically and comprehensively. It also involves developing, executing and maintain environmental protection policy using organizational resources. v. Environmental purchasing: This means buying a product with reduced or lesser effect on environment and human health compared to competing products serving similar purpose. vi. A lifecycle approach: An effective approach to analyzing the environmental and health impacts of certain activities of a firm or organization on the environment. vii. Supply Chain Management: Involves all sustainable activities or operations of getting the right product to the hands of the right customers within the right time. This covers stages from extraction of raw materials to consumer purchase. viii. Continuous improvement: Refers to an ongoing effort of improving processes, services and product quality to conform to expected quality and be more environmentally sustainable. ix. Pay-back period: The period it takes to make sustainable returns on investment considering non-cash benefits, and cost of societal and environmental factors such as lower emissions. 2. Sources of data about environmental sustainability i. Internal sources include annual reports (e.g. annual financial reports) and internal surveys (e.g. questionnaires) ii. External sources include industry magazines (e.g. eco-journals) and print or electronic media (e.g. Earth TV) 3. Qualifications, qualities and experience of an environmental compliance assessor The candidate should have at least a diploma or degree in business information systems, working knowledge in environmental impact assessment, more than 3 years experience in environmental auditing and should be capable of collecting, analyzing and presenting data obtained from the audits. The individual should also be passionate on sustainability issues in organizations entrenched in their corporate mission. 4. Waste prevention starts from buying a product that can have less harm on the environment and human health. To promote a cleaner and healthier environment, it should start from the manufacturer down to the final consumer. This means that the consumer can choose to buy a product that is biodegradable or recyclable. 5. PDCA cycle means; P-Plan, D-Do, C-Control, and A-Act (Griffith & Jones, 12). Upon identifying a problem in an organization, it is appropriate to plan resources and interventions, and then implement. These implementations will need to be controlled by acting on the issues arising. In a recent visit to a company, the minimum level of acid released to the waste water has been high. The company decided to investigate and allocated resources to check the leakage of acids into the waste water. Within two weeks, they had sought a solution and made decisions to always limit the excess acid emptied from the filtration processes. 6. Total costs incurred by the island resort = $38,000; Total savings = $2,500 per quarter and $2,000 per year. i. The total cost benefits (savings) per year = Savings in cost of bulbs and labor + savings on electricity bill = ($2,500*4) + $2,000 = $12,000 ii. The payback period = Time taken for cost benefits to equal total costs = $38,000/$12,000 = 3 years and 2 months 7. Engaged employees are the most productive and efficient employees. employees can contribute to environmental sustainability by; i. Performance based systems that rewards employees who show increased attention and concern to environmental sustainability ii. Integrating environmental sustainability in the employee workplaces through organizational vision and mission statement iii. Establishing annual awards to recognize employees and entrench sustainability in their daily activities 8. Efficiency targets should be reviewed regularly (Brooks, 5). The best intervals need to be annually. Efficiency targets are critical in measuring the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives implemented in the organization. By using a balanced scorecard, the company is able to employ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to underscore environmental sustainability (energy saving, emissions control and pollution), functionality and quality was well as community utilization and benefits. PART B: SCENARIO 1. Internal stakeholders of Sparkles are; i. Employees ii. Management External stakeholders are; i. Ecowise, the national audit firm ii. Australian community 2. i) Environmental Protection Act (1997) protects the environment from the effects of pollution (AEPD, 2012). It also aims to reduce discharge of pollutants into the water, land and air. Sparkles need to comply with this regulation by reducing the level of phosphates in spray water released to the stormwater systems iii. Responsible reporting and accountability as Code of Practice needs to be adhered to given that Sparkles relies on the verification of Ecowise and independent auditors. This means that the auditors should be responsible and report the circumstances as they are and not be compromised. 3. Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental risk Risk assessment Risk control Release of dangerous chemicals like phosphates into large water bodies that endangers aquatic life forms Frequency of Occurrence: Probable Severity: Critical Risk category: 2B (Serious) Eliminate the hazard or prevent the risk Inefficient processes that wastes water and energy such as spray booths Frequency of Occurrence: Frequent Severity: Critical Risk category: 2A (serious) Minimize the risk by engineering means Over-extraction of water resources and damage to the land and soil composition within the spray area Frequency of occurrence: Probable Severity: Catastrophic Risk category: 1B (high) Apply administrative measures 4. i. Monitoring air and land quality: Sparkles can be committed to environmental sustainability by procuring equipment that measures air quality and concentration of pollutants on land. With this knowledge, they are able to make informed decisions. ii. Reducing on heating and cooling systems – The company can learn to be less wasteful and more energy efficient by switching off power at daytime and during non-business hours iii. Recycling water: Sparkles needs to increase recycle rate to 50% from the 20% to help reduce water costs and pump energy. Efficient water recycling equipment should be procured. 5. SMART objectives i. To eliminate land and air pollutants by 40 percent in the next one year ii. To save energy and water by 50 percent in the next three months iii. To establish a reward systems for employees who participate in environmental awareness and adopt sustainable practices at Sparkles within the next one year PART C: RESEARCH PROJECT 1. Green office program for imagine education will go a long way in sensitizing and creating awareness among Imagine Education employees on environmental sustainability. The benefits of being eco-friendly include the support of customers to the business, saving on energy and recycling costs can be channeled to marketing the business while the reputation and image of the organization also grows. Going green actually saves on costs by cutting spending. 2. Imagine Education uses various resources to teach, access workplaces, dine, and derive comfort. Some of the resources are water, reading and teaching materials, lighting, heating, classroom equipment and transport. Reading and teaching materials include paper, chalks, markers, pens and projectors. Lighting resources include bulbs and natural lighting. Heating gadgets include room heaters and water heaters, ovens and fridges. Classroom equipment includes wooden chairs, cupboards, cabinets and lockers. Transportation of students and staff involves three college buses and various personal cars respectively. Water is mainly used for cleaning, washroom use, cooking, and drinking within the college premises. 3. Eco-efficiency saving tips are critical for Imagine Education if they are to save on energy and water while eliminating wastes and pollution. Regarding energy, the college can procure energy saving bulbs to reduce on energy use in which each can utilize 20watts less of electricity. They can also procure renewable solar panels to save and complement on daily energy needs. On water, special cisterns for washrooms can be used to limit excess waste of water to flush. Special machines can also be procured to recycle water from the toilet and kitchen to be used in lawn sprays and cleaning. Wastes from the kitchen and classrooms can be disposed to special bins and disposed off into the dumpsites. Recyclable wastes can be sorted such as plastics and resold to plastic recycling companies. 4. i. Ethical sourcing and selection of suppliers: should involve suppliers and manufacturers with good record on environmental conservation and adherence to human rights practices. ii. Environmental purchasing: by procuring items or services that pose minimal threat to the environment: For example, procuring plastic or regenerated classroom seats that have less wood or low carbon emissions. iii. Quality and sustainable supply chain management: This ensures compliance to regulations on quality and environment through partnerships between suppliers, customers and regulators. 5. Action plan for the implementation of Green Office Program Action Responsibility Timeline Resources Investment Approved by Host management meetings to brainstorm environmental sustainability for Imagine Education Imagine Education director 20th May -20th June 2015 e-mails, flipcharts, projectors $3,500 Director Invitation of key speakers on environmental sustainability and quality supply chain management Human resource officer 15th May 2015 e-mails, pens, note books $2,500 Human Resource manager Communication to all the stakeholders on new changes and approach to environmental sustainability Quality assurance officer 10th June 2015 Memos, e-mails, telephone $1,500 Corporate affairs manager Prepare reports to be released in annual events Financial officer 20th -25th November 2015 Paper, files, staples, pins, clips etc $2,000 Finance manager Set aside funds to procure bins, solar panels, water recycling equipment and kitchen waste recyclers Financial manager 10th May 2015 – 30th September 2015 Bins, solar water heaters, recyclers $12,000 Director 6. The Green Office Program will be essential for Imagine Education not only to comply with the environmental laws and codes of practice but also increase their input to environmental conservation and sustainable workplaces. By adopting this program, the college is able to attract students who believe in staying in environmentally safe learning places. Tutors and lecturers will always have a sense of pride in their workplaces and contribute more in teaching and helping students to excel in their various disciplines. The college will build a good name and reputation for being an icon of environmental sustainability. The college needs to set aside financial resources for awareness campaigns, purchasing of materials and equipment that saves on energy and reduces wastes to the environment. Imagine Education are embracing the Green Office Program because they have a duty to its stakeholders and the community they operate to act sustainably and take great care of their environment and efficient use of resources at their disposal . Works cited Australian Environmental Planning Directorate (AEPD) Legislations and Policies. 2012. http://www.environment.act.gov.au/environment/environment_protection_authority/legislation_and_policies Brooks, Sarah. 10 Steps You Can Take to Make Your Business More Eco-Friendly, March 12, 2013. http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/sarahbrooks/82751/10-steps-you-can-take-make-your-business-more-eco-friendly Griffith, S. and Jones, L. Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices. Software Publications Pty Ltd. Sydney. 2009. Read More