Model

Environmental Management Strategy
© Jon Nevill December 2000.

As set out in Acme Services International's (ASI) Environmental Policy, our company is committed to achieve a high standard of environmental care in conducting our business as a major provider of support services to commercial, industrial and private clients.

The purpose of this Environmental Management Strategy is to provide a framework to guide implementation of the Environmental Policy as it affects operational programs and plans for specific projects.

1.  ASI will ensure awareness of possible direct and indirect environmental effects of our operations and services, and will minimise these effects;

ASI will develop an environmental management system which will establish procedures to implement our policies throughout the organisation's operations. The system will incorporate mechanisms for monitoring and auditing our environmental performance, and for reporting and reviewing the results.

All staff have a duty to bring to the notice of senior management any possible environmental affects, either direct or indirect, of the company's operations.

ASI will, where necessary, engage appropriate professional environmental expertise to assist in developing programs to address and minimise environmental effects.

2.   ASI will comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards; uphold the spirit of the law; and where laws do not adequately protect the environment, apply standards that minimise any adverse environmental impacts resulting from our operations and services;

ASI will make itself aware of the statutory regimes relating to environmental issues in the Australian States and Territories where we conduct our operations.

Where necessary, applications will be made for appropriate permits or licences. Where such authorisations are issued, ASI will arrange for all conditions to be met, and will monitor and report performance in meeting these conditions as required.

Where ASI is aware that its activities, although in full compliance with government requirements, may result in significant environmental effects, we will seek appropriate means of minimising these impacts.

3. ASI will develop and implement an environmental management system based on current best-practice;

ASI will review the ISO 14000 framework for the development of environmental management systems, and will progressively develop and implement an EMS by applying the principles embedded in the ISO standard, as appropriate, to our company's operations.

The EMS will be developed in a phased approach, with a view to establishing a basic system by the close of 2001. The implementation of this system will be reported in the 2001/2002 Annual Report.

4. ASI will ensure that our services meet the environmental requirements of our major clients;

ASI will make itself aware of the environmental requirements of its major clients, and will modify working procedures, and if necessary, this environmental management strategy, to ensure that clients' requirements are met.

5. ASI will undertake specific environmental strategies:

5.1 use raw materials efficiently;

In accordance with principles of sustainable development, ASI will seek to minimise the use of raw materials. This objective is complementary to objectives seeking to minimise waste and maximise value adding.

For example, wherever practical,  component material will be sourced from recycled material.

5.2 avoid the pollution of land, water or air;

ASI will implement strategies in all it operations to avoid polluting the environment. This objective is complementary to waste minimisation objectives.

Specific strategies will include:

  • use of products whose manufacture is environmentally benign wherever possible.
  • use of manufacture and service solutions and products which meet or exceed government biodegradability and other environmental requirements;
  • avoidance of incinerators for waste disposal; the company will not use open burning for waste disposal under any circumstances;
  • ensure waste traps in water and air ventilation systems are regularly cleaned, and sludges treated appropriately;

5.3 protect biodiversity where this is under threat;

ASI will ensure that it's operations do not result in the transport of seeds or diseases which could have a deleterious impact on crops or native flora and fauna.

5.4 minimise energy use, particularly those forms of energy which impact adversely on climate change;

ASI will use sustainable energy sources where practical options for the use of these sources exist.

ASI will, when purchasing new equipment or property, investigate the energy efficiency of appliances and facilities. Where practical, ASI will pursue the strategy of investing in facilities which will repay increased capital cost with long-term energy and cost savings.

Over a period of time, ASI will undertake energy audits to identify aspects of its operations where modifications will provide energy or cost savings.

5.5 minimise waste through use of the waste management hierarchy (reduce, re-use, and recycle);

Specific strategies include:

  • use of minimal, recyclable, re-useable or compostable packaging;
  • where practical, separation of waste streams will be undertaken to allow recovery and re-use of components (eg: meat to pet food; vegetable wastes to compost; glass recyclable-plastic aluminium and clean paper into recycling streams);
  • the development of recyclable packaging that can be suitably identified to facilitate separation from other recyclables, thereby enabling greater ease of collection;
  • ASI will develop, design and operate recycling friendly facilities;
  • ASI will embrace procurement/purchasing policies that encourage waste avoidance. This includes avoidance of over-ordering, purchasing recyclable goods and refraining from purchasing over-packaged or inappropriately packaged materials;
  • use of re-useable crates rather than disposable plastic or cardboard cartons;
  • donation of excess containers to schools, kindergartens or nurseries;
  • purchasing in bulk to avoid excess packaging, together with avoidance of purchasing several varieties or brands of similar products;
  • ASI actively employs the services of suppliers that provide reusable and refillable containers and/or exchange empty containers. This minimises overheads and cuts down on excess garbage; and
  • ASI purchases some products in concentrated form thereby minimising the storage of excess stock and the generation of excess packaging waste.

5.6 develop and maintain contingency plans to deal with possible environmental accidents or other risks;

ASI will, where environmental risks appear, develop contingency programs to minimise risks. ASI will also prepare emergency response programs to deal with the environmental effects of possible accidents, where these effects may be significant.

6.  Ensure that our employees, suppliers and contractors are aware of this policy, and of their individual responsibilities;

    Employees, suppliers and contractors will be provided with a copy of the ASI Environment Policy, as well as detailed procedures and requirements relevant to their individual situation and responsibilities.

    Where appropriate, suppliers and contractors will be required to signed assurances that necessary conditions have been met.

    ASI will supervise and communicate with sub-contractors regarding waste issues and require them to prepare, implement and monitor Waste Minimisation Plans as part of their contractual agreements where appropriate.

7.  Ensure adequate training of employees, and where appropriate, contractors;

    In-house training covering most aspects of environmental responsibilities will be developed and provided to employees, and, where appropriate, contractors.

    Where necessary, external advice and services will be sought to provide specialist training.

8.  Incorporate environmental management programs into plans at an early stage when developing new services or operations;

    Environmental requirements will be investigated at an early stage where major new programs or facilities are proposed, in order to maximise opportunities for cost savings and environmental benefits.

    In-house and external expertise will be engaged as necessary.

9.  Communicate ASI's environmental policy to clients and the community, and engage in discussions with all stakeholders when issues of public concern arise;

ASI's Environmental Policy will be made available on its web site, and copies of the policy will be provided to clients and prospective clients.

Where issues of public concern arise, directly or indirectly related to areas of activity in which ASI has an interest, ASI will contribute to community discussions, assist in the development of community awareness, and engage in discussions with politicians and policy makers as appropriate.

10. include a brief report on environmental performance in each annual report.

Annual reports will contain a brief report on the performance of the company, specifically addressing commitments made in the Environment Policy.

 

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