Quality and Environmental Management Systems - Vodafone Project Portfolio - Case Study Example

QUАLITY АND ЕNVIRОNMЕNTАL МАNАGЕMЕNT SYSTЕMS Student’s Name: Course Code: Tutor’s Name: Date of Submission Contents QUАLITY АND ЕNVIRОNMЕNTАL МАNАGЕMЕNT SYSTЕMS 1 QUАLITY АND ЕNVIRОNMЕNTАL МАNАGЕMЕNT SYSTЕMS 1 Introduction 3 Management of compliance with ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS). 4 Vodafone’s activities 6 Environmental aspects of Vodafone 6 Energy 6 Waste management 7 Objectives, targets and environmental management programs in Vodafone 8 Recommendations 10 Conclusion 11 Figures and charts 12 References 13 Vodafone project portfolio Introduction Vodafone is a multinational telecommunications company. It has operational networks in twenty six countries of the world and it has partner networks in more than fifty other countries (Epstein and Buhovac 2014). The company can manage compliance with legislation and regulations within an ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS) by application of a systematic plan. ISO 14001 sets a framework to be followed by an organization for it to have an efficient system to control its responsibilities regarding the environment (Block and Marash 2002). An Environment Management System is used to address a business’s consequences on the environment (Sroufe 2003). Delany and Thomson (2013) says that implementation of environmental management system help to maintain compliance with regulations of the environment, reduce environmental related risks, reduce environmental costs as well as improve the environmental performance (Pahl-Wost 2007). An environmental management system is be made up of policies as well as goals of the organization towards the environment. It also consists of the organization’s information systems, audits together with regulatory requirements and emergency plans (Berkes 2009). It should also have a plan, procedures as well as structures that meet environmental requirements (Sroufe 2003). This essay will analyze how Vodafone will manage compliance with legislation and regulations within an ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System. It will also consider and analyze the activities of the organization and their environmental aspects. The essay will also come up with targets, objectives as well as programs of environmental management that are relevant to Vodafone. Management of compliance with ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS). Although Vodafone is operating an ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System, it will have comply with the regulations and legislations through planning and developing an environmental management system with an environmental policy (Delmas 2001). This will be a comprehensive statement of what Vodafone intends get from the system. It will make sure that activities related to the environment will be consistent and as per the objectives of the company (Raymond, Fazey, Reed, Stringer, Robinson and Evely 2010). It will continue with taking steps that will assist in complying with regulations regarding electronic waste. Every organization that is operating an EMS must identify the environmental consequences as a result of its operations. There are several potential as well actual impacts on the environment that are likely to come with Vodafone’s operations (Delmas 2001). The organization can take an environment audit for it to identify the impacts it can make to the environment. This will make it manage legislations in the management system for it to comply (Pahl-Wost 2007). Organizations such as Vodafone need to outline their targets as well as objectives. Raymond, Fazey, Reed, Stringer, Robinson and Evely (2010) say that this will also be facilitated by an environmental audit. They usually benefit by adoption of objectives which are long term to improve their performance. Vodafone also need to keep on reviewing as well as improving their targets for it to manage its compliance with the system’s regulations and legislations. Delany and Thomson (2013) argue that proper consultation and communication with the staff as well the community is equally vital for all organizations such as Vodafone. This will make sure that all the staff members are aware of and committed to the environmental management system therefore making it comply (Luetjen and Maatwk 2011). This cooperation between staff and the general public also improves the perception of the company to the general public making it easy to implement the environmental management system. It is an element of ISO 14001 for every company to have a good communication system within its employees and other stakeholders for the accomplishment of a good environmental communication system (Boiral 2007). This will make sure that the company complies with section 4.2b of the regulations. This section deals with continued improvement and prevention of pollution by the concerned company such as Vodafone (Florida & Davison 2001). Vodafone as a company willing to comply with legislation if ISO certified EMS need to have an environmental management plan; this contains how the company will do and the methods to meet targets and objectives (Delmas 2001). All the procedure will also be outlined in the plan for it to make sure that there is no pollution of the environment and there is compliance with applicable legislations. Well analyzed and determined objectives as well as targets need to be accompanied by procedures of operations and emergency (Ludwig, Mangel, and Haddad 2001). Vodafone has to lay out operational and emergency plan and procedures which should be reviewed frequently to be in line with the plan. In case of any change there are supposed to be clear documentation for the benefit of the organization and environmental management system (Raymond, Fazey, Reed, Stringer, Robinson and Evely 2010). For compliance with these regulations of an ISO certified EMS, regular audits and the compliance of monitoring is paramount. This is done with the aim of ensuring that the set objectives are achieved. Vodafone has to do the same for it to be compliant with the section 4.2c of the regulations (Delmas 2001). The company is also required to be continuously improving its environmental management system to prevent continued pollution and conserve where they can (Raymond, Fazey, Reed, Stringer, Robinson and Evely 2010). This improvement will also be accompanied by proper allocation of responsibilities to the relevant members of staff as they continue to be trained on the companies’ EMS. Vodafone’s activities Vodafone activities together with their products and services are associated with both direct and indirect environmental activities. The company operates in the telecom sector by offering a range of communication services to its customers (Berkes 2009). Their activities in the services provision are accompanied by wide range environmental aspects. Environmental aspects of Vodafone Energy In service provision, Vodafone consumes energy which can have negative impacts to the environment. Alternatively, the company may make use of the available energy more efficiently in their networks as well as their operations. Adoption of innovative solutions to problems related to energy use can result to reduced emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere therefore affecting the environment positively (Boiral 2007). Waste management Environmental management system can help manage their wastes, water use as well as their emissions. Carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere is very evident in companies that use energy for their services and product provision (Raymond, Fazey, Reed, Stringer, Robinson and Evely 2010). This can be minimized by adoption of mobile services like in Vodafone. This will also be enabled by the use of renewable energy and use of technologies which are more innovative. Vodafone’s network efficiency can be developed by installation of efficient components in the entire network. As it is continually doing by adoption of 2G, 3G as well as 4G technologies, continued operations of these networks will have a positive influence to the environment (Folke, Hahn, Olsson, and Nordberg 2005). These networks consume energy which comes from sources such as hydroelectricity as well as generators. Some of these sources affect the environment negatively and some improvements will reduce environmental pollution in Vodafone and other communication services provider companies (Delany and Thomson 2013). Vodafone have been using fossils fuel which is accompanied by negative influence on the environment. This is because of the pollution effects they have to the environment due to emission of carbon dioxide. Date centers in the company contribute significantly to the increase on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and this can bring about global warming. As Vodafone employees travel from place to place to meet their customers, they may use motor vehicles which are in one way or another associated with environmental pollution (Block and Marash 2002). The company also has electronic wastes which affect the environment negatively. Lack of recycling facilities becomes a challenge to the environment as these electronic wastes lead to more degradation of the environment. Office wastes also contribute significantly to the environment degradation as some of the wastes cannot discompose posing a threat to the environment (Epstein, and Buhovac 2014). Water usage is accompanied by negative influences to the atmosphere. Vodafone is also accompanied by some negative influences to the environment due to water usage even if it does not use as much water as other industries. Communication services provision like in Vodafone is accompanied by ozone layer depletion (Block and Marash 2002). This can be as a result of their network cooling systems. Ozone layer depletion impacts the environment negatively due to the pollutants involved in the process. Objectives, targets and environmental management programs in Vodafone For a better environment there must be a good environmental management system, certified by ISO 14001 which will have some objectives as well as targets to be met for a good environmental sustainability to be realized (Delmas 2001). These targets are adopted by companies such as Vodafone but there is need for them to be consistent. Vodafone should aim at minimizing their carbon footprint. This, as a target and objective at the same time will be realized by making use of alternative sources of energy. According to Boiral (2007) the company should use energy from sources that are environmental friendly. Continued use of mobile communication services will reduce the use of energy that can emit carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and hence a sustainable environment is realized. The company can set a target of incorporating products and services such as cloud hosting and video conferencing and using technologies which are carbon savings. In some markets, telecom networks go beyond the electricity grid (Curwen & Whalley 2014). In these markets, Vodafone should use renewable power for charging and using their mobile phones and this will reduce environment pollution. The company is supposed to manage their electronic waste that is usually produced by their networks. As technology advancement takes place the company usually replaces the equipment they use for facilitation of the services they provide (Curwen & Whalley 2014). Installation of new equipment means there is some equipment that must be wasted in form electronic waste. Disposal of these electronic waste from the equipment may be hazardous to the environment hence the need for responsible disposal. Vodafone should come up with a way of disposing these wastes in their objectives and frame it in such a way that it will feature in their vision and mission. Recycling of these electronic waste is also equally important to prevent pollution and in the making use of the waste (Epstein and Buhovac 2014). The company should also set at target of employing recycling experts mostly in the emerging markets. These are meant to recycle the electronic wastes and meet the international standards for it to be sustainable and conserve the environment (Curwen & Whalley 2014). Electronic wastes in the emerging markets can be transported to the developed markets for treatment and recycling. Vodafone can make an objective of sustaining the environment by making sure that in markets that are emerging and the ones that are not able to recycle their wastes, all the electronic is transported to where there is possibility of recycling and safe disposal. The company’s offices are usually associated with wastes which can be harmful to the environment. A management system is supposed to set objectives of reusing or even reducing the office wastes (Delany and Thomson 2013). Vodafone uses water in a smaller scale than other industries. However there is need for the company to set objectives in water conservation. This will help in even making the other companies continue adopting strategies of conserving water. In the long run, this will lead to a sustainable environmental management system for the company. Vodafone should set reasonable targets and objectives do away with the use of Chlorofluoracarbons (CFCs) as well as Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in their network cooling systems together with air conditioning systems (Curwen & Whalley 2014). These substances are associated with the depletion of Ozone layer. Instead they should come up targets to use refrigerants which are more environmental friendly and do not deplete the ozone for environment conservation purposes. The company should also target to comply with environmental legislations and regulations (Epstein and Buhovac 2014). These targets will help in making identifying steps which the local markets will follow to do away with electronic waste. Recommendations It is highly recommended that Vodafone should start environmental awareness programs and incorporate all stakeholders in conserving the environment. The company should also set up electronic waste recycling plants in all the countries that they operate. This will reduce the costs involved in transporting the wastes. The company should also set specific objectives to be achieved by the company in matters concerning the environment. This would include how the company will initiate programs that will prevent pollution of the environment. The company should also initiate programs for making use of solar power which does not emit carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Conclusion In conclusion Vodafone, a telecom company with operations more than twenty five countries of the world can manage its compliance with legislations and regulations within ISO 14001 certified environmental management system. This will be possible with laying down some strategies which reduce environmental pollution and conserve the environment. The system is used to address the consequences of an organization to the environment and help in the reduction of costs associated with the environment. Planning and development of a system with an environmental plan is very vital. Vodafone is supposed to pursue an environmental audit to know environmental impacts associated with its operations. It is important to set reasonable targets and objectives and keep on reviewing them for it to comply with the system. A management plan together with proper communication and consultation among the stakeholders of the company is also important. There is also need for proper monitoring and evaluation to prevent continued pollution as well as continue with environmental conservation. More innovation on the activities carried out should be employed for proper electronic waste recycling and disposal. They are also supposed to use renewable sources of energy in their networks provision as well as in their offices. Efficiency should be enhanced in all operation of Vodafone. All these activities will enhance management of compliance with ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS). 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