Principles of management

Goal of becoming more environmentally efficient(topic3)

Sowjanya sampathkumar

Fy-bfm

Roll no- 50

H.R college of commerce and economics

What is environment sustainability?

Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking action that are in the interests of protecting the natural world, with particular emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment to support human life. It is an important topic at the present time, as people are realising the full impact that businesses and individuals can have on the environment.

Currently, environmental sustainability is a topical issue that receives plenty of attention from the media and from different governmental departments. This is a result of the amount of research going into assessing the impact that human activity can have on the environment. Although the long term implications of this serious issue are not yet fully understood, it is generally agreed that the risk is high enough to merit an immediate response. Businesses are expected to lead in the area of environmental sustainability as they are considered to be the biggest contributors and are also in a position where they can make a significant difference.Businesses can potentially cause damage to all areas of the environment. Some of the common environmental concerns include:

damaging rainforests and woodlands through logging and agricultural clearing

polluting and over-fishing of oceans, rivers and lakes

polluting the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels

damaging prime agricultural and cultivated land through the use of unsustainable farming practices

Environmental sustainability forces businesses to look beyond making short term gains and look at the long term impact they are having on the natural world. You need to consider not only the immediate impact your actions have on the environment, but the long term implications as well. For example, when manufacturing a product, you need to look at the environmental impact of the products entire lifecycle, from development to disposal before finalising your designs.

Steps to reduce waste, a business can

save money on supplies conserve natural resources and energy reduce current waste disposal costs and hedge against increased

disposal costs in the future give customers what they want: "green" products and environmentally

conscious businesses avoid adding to the environmental burden caused by producing and

disposing of unnecessary materials boost employee morale by giving staff members an opportunity to

work together on an environmental project reduce the risk of future liability associated with the disposal of solid

wastes.

How to Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

Reducing Waste Production

The most direct way to cut your disposal costs is with source reduction: that is, by reducing the amount of waste your business produces. You have less to get rid of if you purchase and discard less material. By analyzing your business' waste stream, you will probably discover that you can eliminate much of the waste your business produces. 

Reusing Waste Material 

A cost-efficient method of reducing waste is to reuse products in their present form. It is usually cheaper to clean or repair products so that they can be reused rather than to buy new or recycled ones.

Recycling

Many of the products that cannot be eliminated or reused can be recycled. Energy and natural resources are saved and environmental pollution is reduced when products are made from recycled rather than new materials. Your business can also cut disposal costs greatly by recycling.

Simple Ways to Reduce paper Waste

Here are examples of some easy ways to reduce the amount of waste that your business produces. Most of them involve simple changes in procedures and work habits.

Using Less and Reusing More

Communications

Use email instead of paper or faxes whenever practical, both for internal memos and for communications with clients and customers.

Don't print email messages. Put the words "Don't print this email unless you really need to" at the bottom of all emails.

Print less: Keep mailing lists current. Don't print more copies than you need or order extra on outside print jobs.

Reuse what you can. Stock your fax machine with paper already printed on one side; reuse oversize envelopes and boxes; re-use one-sided "draft" paper in your printers.

Printers and Copiers

As printers and copiers need to be replaced, reduce the number of printers you buy to save money, energy and office space. Purchase units that can print on both sides of a sheet of paper. Then set all computers and copiers to default to double-sided printing.

Save and collect 8.5 by 11 inch paper that's been printed on one side, restack it neatly, designate a paper drawer on each printer (or as many printers as practical) for this paper, and use it to print drafts.

Adjust the house style on word processing programs to use a slightly smaller font and slightly wider margins.

Work on drafts electronically, using "edit" and "comment" word-processing features, instead of working on paper.

Incoming Mail

Cut down on the number of periodical subscriptions you buy. Survey to see who subscribes to what, then trim duplicates and work out a sharing system. One way to share information is to circulate the table of contents for each periodical.

Reduce the amount of unwanted mail your company receives. The National Waste Prevention Coalition provides a postcard to send to mailers to have your name removed from lists:http://www.metrokc.gov.

Office Kitchen

Stock the kitchen with reusable mugs, plates, bowls, and utensils to discourage the use of paper and plastic disposables. Consider cloth napkins, or use paper towels with high postconsumer recycled content.

Encourage employees who carry in lunches to use reusable bags and napkins.

Encourage the use of tap water instead of bottled water.

Recycling More

Distribute recycling bins for paper to every workstation and make sure the cleaning crew knows what they're for.

Post signs in centralized areas to encourage reuse and recycling, and to educate staff on what can and cannot be recycled.

Buying Better Paper

Buy paper with the highest percentage of postconsumer recycled content available, never settling for less than 30 percent for uncoated paper or 10 percent for coated stock.

After maximizing postconsumer recycled content, consider paper that contains other recovered materials, such as preconsumer recycled content or agricultural residues. (See the Common Vision document for other priorities in paper purchasing.)

Insist on "processed chlorine free" (PCF) paper. (What's PCF paper?) Always avoid paper made from 100 percent virgin pulp. If you do buy paper with virgin fiber content, be sure the virgin fiber

comes from sustainably managed forests. Look for paper products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). If FSC paper is unavailable, ask your paper supplier to provide you with "Chain of Custody" information on the origins of the fiber in the paper products you purchase, and ask if the manufacturer of the paper has a policy to protect endangered forests. (Their policy should meet the criteria laid out here.)

Create a corporate purchasing policy that clearly outlines your goals and preferences for paper buying.

On printed materials, include a line about the environmental characteristics of the paper you use.

If you have a choice, buy products wrapped in the least packaging. Buy in bulk or in larger containers.

You and your business can also help reduce waste by influencing your customers behavior. Here are some ideas

Teach your customers about the importance of reducing waste. Effective tools for getting across the message include promotional campaigns, brochures and newsletters (printed on recycled paper), banners, newspaper advertisements, product displays, store signs, and labels.

Encourage reuse of shopping bags by asking customers if they have their own bag, complimenting customers who reuse bags, providing a financial incentive for reuse, and implementing a promotional campaign.

Offer customers waste-reducing choices alongside their waste-producing counterparts. Examples include 

items sold in bulk durable, reusable cloth products, such as diapers, coffee filters,

towels, and napkins solar-powered items, such as watches, calculators, and flashlights rechargeable batteries products packaged in recycled and recyclable materials razors with replaceable blades durable picnic dinnerware high-quality merchandise repairable merchandise

Reward your customers with a rebate when they return grocery bags, containers for bulk items, or coffee mugs and soda cups to be refilled.

Keys to a Successful Waste Reduction and Recycling Program

Developing an effective waste reduction program for your business involves three main steps: planning, laying the groundwork, and carrying out the program as part of your business' daily activities. Here are the tasks to be carried out at each step.

Planning and Preparation

Study the waste stream and the costs associated Develop a waste reduction proposal and gain the support of your

management team. Assess employees' interest and encourage their support.

Laying the Foundation

Select a waste reduction and recycling coordinator. Set goals. Decide on waste reduction measures, procurement policies, and what

will be recycled. Locate markets for waste materials, or select a recycling service. Identify sources of recycled products. Design a waste collection and storage system.

Getting the Program On-Line

Educate your staff. Promote and implement the program. Establish monitoring and evaluation procedures.

Buying Recycled Products

Collecting recyclable items is only the first step in recycling. The loop is not complete until these items are made into new products and purchased. By purchasing products that are (1) manufactured from recycled materials, (2) recyclable, and (3) packaged in recyclable materials, you will help create a stable market for recycled items. Look for the following items made from recycled materials the next time your company purchases supplies:

office, copier, and computer paper stationery and envelopes tissue, hand towels, and toilet paper cardboard and paper board containers packaging materials lubricating and motor oil plastic carpeting, lumber, screens, and downspouts construction

materials asphalt.

Purchasing used, refurbished items instead of new ones helps, too. Look for

recharged laser printer cartridges retreaded tires support. Used and refurbished office furniture or machinery.

Bibliographywww.google.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.paperwastagereduction.com

www.nsrdc.com

www.socialcause.com

www.citibank.com

Remarks