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Leading logistics consultancy, Davies & Robson, is offering a free, DIY environmental management health-check and step-by-step ‘road map’ to help small and medium-sized transport and logistics companies adopt and demonstrate improved environmental responsibility.
In addition to minimising the impact of their activities on the environment, in most organisations, the ability to meet customer’s own strict environmental criteria is increasingly a prerequisite. Combined with the efficiency gains, financial savings and improved public relations which typically go hand-in-hand with improved environmental management, in the vast majority of organisations there is a strong business case for the adoption of a formal Environmental Policy and management system.
However, according to Davies & Robson, companies who try to do too much too soon often fall at the first hurdle.
According to Davies & Robson Consultant, Andrea Harris: "Drafting an Environmental Policy as a public statement of intent in a business in which poor practices are widespread and entrenched is potentially counterproductive. Equally, embarking on the implementation of an environmental management system without the ability to bring about the required cultural and procedural change is ill-advised. In these cases, business should aim to address these issues before considering the introduction of an environmental policy or management system.
"The audit clearly establishes the current situation and informs management whether or not their current business practice and structure is sufficiently stable to support an Environmental Policy and environmental management system. as well as highlighting improvements and changes to be made."
Comprising six sections, the audit poses a series of questions encouraging companies to consider the business case for improved environmental responsibility and allowing them to identify baseline environmental conditions on site, assess environmental risks/impacts associated with site activities, identify actions to be taken to reduce risk/impact and establish an environmental management framework.
To accompany the audit, Davies & Robson has produced a comprehensive step-by-step guide to implementing an Environmental Policy and management system, from establishing an environmental task force and drafting an environmental policy to obtaining independent accreditation.
Andrea Harris concludes: "A properly addressed and implemented Environmental Policy and management system should, at the very least, be cost neutral and, in most cases, will deliver significant hard and soft benefits.
"In small and medium sized organisations particularly, such an undertaking can be a daunting prospect. However, there are a great number of no cost/low cost options for businesses looking to demonstrate and improve environmental responsibility, many of which are easy to implement and simple to manage. Companies should also bear in mind that establishing an environmental policy does not commit a business to achieve best in class environmental standards from the outset but demonstrates the business’ commitment to continually improving their environmental impact and responsibility.
"The audit enables companies to establish their readiness for such an undertaking and, having done so, the guide provides practical advice on how best to go about it."
