Issues to be addressed in company environmental policy

By Merry Gibbons


Environmental policy is a signed document which details the stance of a company regarding the area where the company operates. This is the cornerstone of the company's intention to major on recycling, minimize the carbon footprint, reduce waste, minimize the reliance on packaging and improve efficiencies on limited natural resources in all the company's departments and operations.

All the commitments of the environment need to be an essential part of everyday activities, which is clearly communicated to every employee and might form a part for applying for registering under the scheme of EMAS or ISO 14001 certification.

Both internal and external statement should be succinct and simple to comprehend by the audience. The company's employees should understand clearly what the intention of the policy is without much strain. It should be the mission statement of the firm. It is normally written in a sheet of A4 paper, containing the main commitments undertaken by that policy. All goals ought to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

Even though there aren't any standard structures or legal requirements for environmental policies, there are specific areas that the policy has to contain. The policy needs to outline the main objectives of the company, the person accountable and how the objectives are to be achieved by which person.

All global warming issues and the current issues which face the green lobby can be covered by any function in which the business covers. These can be stationery, transportation, supplies and efficiency improvement. One of the major goals can be to minimize waste or improve recycling. Another one can be dealing with other companies with similar objectives. The policy has to be invested in all the suppliers and employees. There are a lot of environmental issues discussed which might affect the business from actions of customers, staff or suppliers.

Climatic change from global warming, excessive use of fossil fuels, rise of sea level due to iceberg melting, land falling into the sea, land degradation as well as automobile effects on the society should be considered.

Holocene extinction event, genetic erosion, species extinction, habitat fragmentation and destruction, invasive species, pollinator decline, coral washing and bleaching should also be taken into account when relevant.

The general environmental impacts of diverting rivers and building dams - If your business majors on fishing, then you should undertake the following; bottom trawling, blast fishing, ghost nets, cyanide fishing, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, overfishing and environmental impacts of fishing.

Development of renewable energy, energy conservation, using and commercialization of energy are some of the issues to consider. Others are to do with land. Intensive farming that includes overgrazing, issues to do with irrigation and environmental effects of the production of meat should be considered. The land degradation encompasses desertification, land pollution, soil erosion, soil conservation, soil salination and contamination.

Light, air, noise and thermal pollutions have to be taken into account. Water pollution comprises eutrophication, acid rains, water crisis, oil spills and ocean dumping. Toxins are main environmental concern. It includes DDT, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxin, herbicides, heavy metals, pesticides, toxic waste and toxic use minimization.




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