SIONZ – Environmental Sustainability
There is no standard format for writing an Environmental Sustainability Policy, but the style should reflect your organisation’s culture and your business drivers. A good starting point is to review examples of policies written by other organizations and select a format and style appropriate to your organisation. (Refer Appendix Six for Policy examples). There is no standard content for an Environmental Sustainability Policy, although policies normally contain similar themes, including those listed below. As a general rule, the policy should comment on the following criteria:
A commitment to continuous improvement
Recognition of compliance with relevant environmental legislation as a minimum level of performance
The education and training of employees on the environmental impact of their activities and on environmental issues as they relate to the workplace
The monitoring of progress and review of environmental performance on a regular basis (usually annually)
Additional issues you may wish to address in your Environmental Policy could include:
Efficient use of waste and energy
Minimising waste
Transport
Recycling of packaging materials
Use of biodegradable materials
Use of timber from sustainable (managed) forests
Minimising use of solvents and lead-based paints
Compliance with approved Codes of Practice
Expecting similar environmental standards from all suppliers and contractors
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