BXSUS501
BXSUS501
BXSUS501
Sustainability focuses on the concept of interdependence, meaning that life on earth exists
due to a delicate balance of ecosystems. If part of the system is disrupted, all life on earth
experiences repercussions.
In recent decades it has become clear that human
beings are living beyond this natural balance, using
up the planet’s resources at a rate that cannot be
maintained. Sustainability in an organisational
context is therefore about reducing water and energy
use, reducing waste and pollution, and switching
to renewable sources of energy, raw materials and
products.
A holistic approach requires that actions be
considered on individual, organisational, national
and global levels. The fundamental premise of
sustainable thinking is that the future is not
somewhere we are going, but something we are
creating through our choices today.
Components of sustainability
Sustainability is often associated uniquely with environmental issues. However, there are
three interlocking components associated with sustainability that are equally important.
Actions today have ecological, economic and social consequences for the future, as
shown here.
Ecological sustainability
Social sustainability
└└ This Act introduced a single national framework for the reporting and
dissemination of information about greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas
projects, and energy production and consumption.
Relevant personnel
You should also consult with a range of people to obtain relevant and current information
that can guide you in developing the sustainability policy. Suitable avenues for consultation
are described below.
Staff
1
All staff can provide input for the development of a workplace sustainability
policy as they can comment on the efficiency and effectiveness of current
practices. It is vital that input from employees is encouraged and acknowledged,
and combined with the input from all other sources.
Raise awareness
The sustainability policy must include how the organisation is going to raise awareness of its
sustainability aims. There must be a communication strategy that provides for information
sessions to ensure that all employees and relevant parties, such as contractors and suppliers,
are aware of the policy and the commitment of the organisation to achieving the targets it
has set.
The following information provides an outline of some communication strategies.
Communication strategies
Induction sessions
1
Ensure that information about the policy is included in induction sessions for
new staff.
Explanatory steps
3
Explain the steps to be taken to minimise resource use, reduce toxic material
and hazardous chemical use, and employ life cycle management. Present
these steps using notices, posters, intranet articles, blogs, memos and flyers.
Use pictures, photographs and graphics to ensure everyone understands the
procedure.
Intranet
4
Place articles on the intranet.
Newsletters
5
Place articles in the company’s newsletter that is distributed to full-time and
casual staff, customers, contractors and suppliers, business associates and
shareholders.
Teleconferencing
6
Hold teleconferences to include those in remote locations.
Qualitative questionnaire
Use a questionnaire to survey key people to rate their view using a Likert scale from
‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’.
A template can be used to gather the responses, and then an analysis should provide
an initial determination as to whether the option should be investigated further or, on
comparison with other options, that it be ranked above or below alternatives.
Here is an example of a qualitative questionnaire template.
Practice task 5
The Kare 4 Kidz centre director has approved two initiatives to include in the sustainability policy:
•• Creating a vegetable garden so the children can be involved in planting, watering, weeding,
spraying, picking, eating and composting (food scraps and weeds) and learn about how plants
grow.
•• Asking families to bring in items to re-use for arts and craft.
Using this SWOT analysis table, evaluate each initiative and determine whether you would
recommend that the initiatives are included.
Strengths (internal)
Weaknesses (internal)
Opportunities
(external)
Threats (external)
Review
6
Provide a review time line and process.
Internal newsletter
The organisation’s regular newsletter for internal
stakeholders is a useful medium to promote the new
sustainability policy. Some organisations may decide to
prepare a special issue of the newsletter that focuses on
sustainability. It should contain a message from the CEO
to emphasise the commitment of senior management,
and explain the major initiatives that will be implemented
in the first stage of the policy, along with the expected
outcomes.
Meetings
A meeting specifically held to introduce the policy will
focus attention on the sustainability targets and give
people the opportunity to ask questions. Meetings are a
good medium for explaining the expected outcomes so
people can see where they are heading.
Logo or mascot
Develop a name for your ‘green office’ program. Perhaps
create a logo or mascot that will identify the program. This
is a fun and visible way to increase its profile, although it
will take time and money to create and promote.
… continued
Correspondence
Suppliers, contractors and business associates can be informed of the policy through written
correspondence such as letters, memos and emails. Such documents should clearly detail the
policy, the methods and approaches for implementation, targets and expected outcomes.
Presentations
Presentations can be used to inform external stakeholders and the general community of
policy development and implementation. The size and scope of the presentation will vary
according to the promotional budget from a roadshow travelling across the nation, to an
open day or a display at a local shopping centre. Presentations are a chance to showcase the
organisation’s strengths, and to inform those interested in attending what they are doing in
relation to sustainability.
The internet is a valuable tool to keep external stakeholders and the broader community
informed. Many organisations have a webpage dedicated to sustainability and the
environmental strategies they are introducing to reduce their impact. This is used to display
policies and highlight achievements. Sustainability reports and the organisation’s newsletter
can be made available online.
Many websites also provide the opportunity for external parties to seek answers to questions
in relation to policy matters, where the organisation welcomes comments and feedback.
Organisations may include a logo on documents or a footer on their email to emphasise
commitment to the environment; for example, ‘Please consider the environment before
printing this email’.
Information service
Some organisations provide information services via dedicated phone lines and, when a new
policy development is released, provide additional trained staff to handle calls.
Example KPIs
Allocate the responsibilities to the relevant areas and key personnel in your organisation
by determining who is responsible for each area. The information below outlines typical
responsibilities for managers and staff.
this target, and the target may well be increased at some future date after
a review.
Resource checklist
Have you turned off all equipment in your area (computer, printer, etc.)? Yes No
Has all your recycling material been placed in the main bin? Yes No
Was all ordering done according to the green purchasing policy? Yes No
Are you the last to leave? If yes: Yes No
Have the main lights been turned off Yes No
Have the taps in the kitchen been checked? Yes No
Has all non-essential equipment been powered down? Yes No
Training
Meetings
Held in appropriate groups and used to inform staff of the procedures and how
to implement them
Continuous improvement
Continuous improvement is not about fixing problems as they arise, but creating an
environment in which improvement is always encouraged; adopting this mindset can
benefit all areas of the workplace.
Planning
2
Evaluate how well your planning processes worked, and areas that could be
improved in future planning activities.
•• Was there sufficient consultation?
•• Were more physical resources needed?
•• Was more time needed?
•• Did you have access to all relevant legislation, codes of practice and industry
standards?
•• Did you do sufficient research on the current impact of the organisation on
the environment?
•• Did you collect information and data from internal and external sources, and
analyse it to determine the strategies to be considered?
•• Did you obtain agreement from stakeholders and set realistic targets?
•• Was the implementation time frame realistic?
Environmental records
Be aware of the type of environmental records that your organisation needs to keep.
Examples of environmental records that need to be kept by some organisations are shown in
the following information.
Details of environmental hazards; e.g. material safety data sheets on the storage
of chemicals, incident reports, disposal of toxic waste
Board reports
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BSBSUS501
Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
Provide feedback
Senior managers and shareholders will receive regular formal reports, but other also
stakeholders need to know how the organisation is progressing towards achieving its
environmental targets. Regular updates and successful achievement of targets can be used
to provide encouragement and support to maintain the momentum and commitment of all
involved. Feedback can also identify targets that have not been met, areas of weakness and
risks; thus showing where improvements need to be made.
There are a number of ways you can provide feedback, as shown in the following
information.
Newsletters
Newsletters can be targeted at internal personnel only, or produced to
provide information to external groups through publication of a company
newsletter or a sustainability newsletter.
Website – intranet
Use an internal website (intranet) to provide key feedback and information,
and act as a repository for reports, reviews, audits and analyses of
outcomes and issues relating to the implementation of the workplace
sustainability policy and procedures. The intranet can be used to announce
achievements or highlight staff who have demonstrated a commitment.
Meetings
Hold specific focus meetings to provide feedback and address
performance against targets. These meetings can also be used to obtain
input from people to address issues. Such meetings may be documented
and can result in an action list.
Presentations
Relevant senior management can also hold presentation sessions for key
personnel and provide feedback. Such sessions can be used to highlight
progress, and boost the confidence of people involved or charged with
responsibilities under the implementation of the policy.
Visual methods
Use visual methods to share achievements, such as a huge thermometer
on the factory wall for communicating long-term targets and showing
current progress or posters thanking people for their contributions.
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Topic 4
Review workplace sustainability policy implementation
Procedure modification
When a procedure needs to be modified it is important that the relevant stakeholders
are consulted in the development phase. Then, once the new procedures have been
implemented, the continuous improvement cycle begins again to monitor and review the
improvement.
Procedure modification may be needed for a variety of reasons, as shown in the following
information.
Changes in targets
2
A new or amended policy has changed targets; for example, cardboard
packaging must be reduced by 60 per cent within 12 months.
New initiatives
4
Internal proposals for improved efficiency and reduction of the ecological
footprint have prompted new initiatives; for example, an incentive program for
team successes.
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