Environmental DAVID INMAN
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MAKES GOOD SENSE FOR RAIL
Words: David Inman
Often tenders require proof of environmental performance and a good way to do this is by monitoring quantitative factors, such as carbon or waste. If your organisation is not currently recording these, now is a good chance to start.
Setting today’s environmental scene in rail
In today’s supply chain, environmental credentials are becoming requested more by clients and customers. Looking at the current Link-Up Core Audit module, whilst approval to the international environmental management systems (EMS) standard ISO 14001:2004 is not mandatory, the environmental requirements closely match the requirements of this standard.
Having accredited certification to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001:2004 by a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited organisation can help:
• Protect your business and staff from breaking the law, which can result in prosecution and bad publicity.
• Reducing wastage and improving efficiency of resources.
• Securing favourable premiums from insurers because of the reduced risk of insurance claims brought about by a good environmental record.
• Develop the business by attracting customers who require their supply chain to have an EMS.
• Promoting sustainable development by providing the development needs of today whilst securing the needs of future generations.
Today’s rail industry is still growing, but even so long after the privatisation of British Rail, the industry has caught up to environmental management techniques, but how does a business begin its journey of sensible and effective environmental performance?
32 RailCONNECT Sustainability misunderstood
The word ‘sustainability’ is often used as an overarching description of all things environmental, but this distorts the actual meaning of the word in the context in which it is intended. The mainstream definition, although there are others, in its widest used meaning is defined by the Brundtland Report, namely ‘development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. This uses all 3 points of sustainability, namely:
Environmental, Social and Economic
as drivers for each other and to deliver sustainability.
Referring this to most responsible businesses, we want to strive for performance in all three factors of sustainability.
Brundtland (Sustainability defined) SUSTAINABILITY ECONOMY SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
Plan for your environmental success
Looking in particular at the process of effective environmental management, the essence of ISO 14001:2004 follows a ‘Plan, Do, Check & Act’ method.
In effect we want to:
Plan our works which interact, in both positive and negative ways, with the environment. Do this work. Check our performance. Act upon any items requiring improvement.
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