Environmental Consulting Firms- Environmental Consulting Firms Can Help Your Company Become Truly “Green” and Achieve Environmental Sustainability

I’ve met many people, representing small to large companies, that proudly proclaim, “We are a “green” company!” The label is a euphemism that implies they are following strict criteria regarding environmental sustainability guidelines and standards. The “green” label is in vogue and it is an admirable aspiration, to be sure. Many companies are jumping on the “band wagon”. They are using the term as a technique to directly and indirectly market their services and/or products.  But, what does it mean to be “green”? And, how can any size company implement a plan to meet environmental sustainability standards to be well on its way to becoming a “green” organization?

Agenda 21 was the principal output of the United Nations Conference on environment and development (the, “Earth Summit”). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) offers standards or gives guidance on good management standards in support of Agenda 21. The ISO 14001 provides its requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS) that confirms global relevance for all size organizations wishing to operate under environmentally sustainable operations. It is an internationally accepted specification. With the help of environmental consulting firms, the standards can be applied to any organization, large or small, whatever its product or service, in any sector of activity, and whether it is a business enterprise, a public administration, or a government department.

The principle elements, stated in an EMS are presented below:

1. Environmental Policy Statement (environmental aspects & impacts of products, services, activities, and services, including intra-and inter-organization operations),
2. Planning (environmental aspects, legal and other requirements, objectives and measurable targets, environmental management programs),
3. Implementation and Operation (structure and responsibility, training, awareness, and competence, communication, environmental management system documentation, document control, operational control, emergency preparedness and response),
4. Checking and Corrective Action (monitoring and measurement, non-conformance and corrective- and preventative- action, records, environmental management system audit)
5. Management Review

Okay, you’re probably thinking, “I’m a bit overwhelmed by all of this! And, what can I do to actually represent my company is “green”?” Its entirely probable in your business your Environmental Management System is just an approach for doing things that you think are “green”, e.g., turning out lights, recycling, walking or biking to work, etc. (Don’t get me wrong! These are all great things to do.). But your system isn’t written down and likely known only by one or a few individuals in management with little or no communication. Everyone has the “green spirit” and each is contributing by doing his or her own thing.

Not all companies will want to go through the ISO 14000 certification process (many large companies do). Companies that don’t wish to become certified can implement the standards to be considered as third party compliant. Environmental consulting firms can suggest some ways to implement a “green” company system that minimizes harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities in an effort to achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance:

1. Plan - establish objectives and make plans (analyze your organizations situation, establish your overall objectives and set your interim targets and develop plans to achieve them.
2. Do - Implement your plans (do what you planned to do).
3. Check – Measure your results (measure/monitor how far your actual achievements meet your planned objectives.
4. Act – Correct and improve your plans and how you put them into practice (correct and learn from your mistakes to improve your plans in order to achieve better results next time.

The items that go into your plan are based on your specific industry type. The depth and detail is also driven by your companies size, but many of the same principles apply:

* Waste and toxics elimination that includes, but is not limited to, product creation, materials, manufacturing processes, delivery, consumer and end of life for products you use in your daily business activities or products that you sell to others,

* Toxics reduction and elimination (“The Ban List”)

* Reduce Greenhouse gas emissions by performing teleconferencing and web conferencing instead of traveling,

* Tracking and reduction of wastes,

* Purchase automobile hybrids,

* Alternative Transportation (walking, car pooling, biking, public transportation),

* Community involvement and volunteering,

* Reduce consumption of non-biodegradable products (plastics),

* Join and participate in associations dedicated to providing regulations, monitoring industry and enforcing compliance,

* Buy from ISO 14000 certified retailers and manufacturers with in-place programs for soil, groundwater, surfacewater, and air regulations in third world countries that are protective of human health and the environment (to US Environmental Protection Agency standards),

* Use recycled products,

* Conserve resources (e.g., water),

* Replace inefficient equipment that consumes energy,

* Encourage and support state and local government (cities, counties) to establish and implement environmental sustainability policy, guidelines and regulations for organizations that desire to conduct business in their jurisdictions,

* Join organizations in your specific industry that assist you in implementing environmental sustainability for your services and products

* Work toward Best Management Practices (e.g., recycling).

The objective of any EMS, leading to environmental sustainability, and the goal of environmental consulting firms, is to reduce our carbon footprint on the earth. Hopefully, I’ve been successful in raising your consciousness, awareness and credibility about what “green” means. Now it’s time to act! Then after your company creates and implements an EMS program you may be proud to represent that your company is “green”.