Developing your Environmental Policy

An environmental policy is a public declaration of an organisation’s commitment to improve its environmental performance. The policy should include aims and objectives and these should be in line with the activities, products or services it provides. It will rarely include quantifiable targets – these are specified in the environmental management system.

An environmental policy should be an integral part of the organisation's business policies. In general it should be:

(a) company-wide - applies to all parts of the organisation

(b) strategic - directed towards an organisation's activities, products and services.

Putting an Environmental Policy together requires the following steps:

Consultation – engage all staff in policy development to gain their confidence and support. Businesses should also discuss their intentions and concerns with the local community and other stakeholders who have an interest in the company's activities.

Commitment – the Policy should be signed by the business owner or senior manager and be publicly available

Environmental Review – this review examines the company's current environmental performance in a number of areas including:

(a) operational activities, such as production, sale of goods or services through to final, disposal or reuse of waste products

(b) corporate activities, such as purchasing of goods and materials, energy supplies vehicles, fittings and stationery.

Formulating an Environmental Policy

An organisation's environmental policy will vary from business to but there are a number of general principles which apply to most, including a commitment to:

(a) continual improvement in environmental performance

(b) prevention of pollution

(c) compliance with legal and other requirements.

Other policy commitments might include:

• Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
• Assess the environmental impact of a product — this is sometimes known as life cycle assessment and involves assessment of the environmental impact of a product from the purchase of raw materials through to the product's final disposal.
• Conserve energy and other natural resources.
• Minimise the use of raw materials and reduce waste through better waste management.
• Provide staff with environmental awareness training.
• Work with suppliers, contractors and subcontractors to improve their environmental performance.
• Publish the environmental policy and consult with the local community on environmental issues.

 

Organisations should aim to ensure that the environmental policy is compatible with other company policies, such as the health and safety policy where, for example, safeguards for the workforce may incorporate environmental protection measures.

Sample Environment Policy
The policy usually includes a set of principles, by which an organisation determines its environmental aims and objectives.

Name of your company
Date	Date Environmental Policy was issued or revised
General description of the business	For example: We are a service sector company based in the UK. Our products include a, b & c. Turnover of £xxx Employs xxx people.
Short Mission Statement	Sample text: We recognise that all products and services generate environmental impacts and we are committed to minimising our negative impacts and improve environmental performance.
Examples of Policy Aims	Sample list: comply with all relevant regulatory requirements improve environmental performance continually incorporate environmental factors into business decisions reduce impacts of activities, products and services increase staff awareness and promote good environmental performance publish environmental policy and other environmental information.
Examples of Policy Objectives	Sample list: conserve energy and other natural resources improve efficiency of materials use reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling monitor and record regulatory consents and authorisations install methods to assess the environmental impact of activities, products and services employ best techniques and procedures for measuring and controlling emissions, discharges and wastes provide all staff with relevant environmental training and relevant job-specific training work with suppliers, contractors and subcontractors to improve their environmental performance monitor, record and publish environmental performance data.
Signed	Company owner or Chief Executive

This example of an environmental policy document is sometimes accompanied by additional information about specific business environmental aspects such as air, land and water quality along with other documents such as procurement, transport and supply chain management commitments.