Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A well written sustainability policy should be able to be integrated seamlessly with your
companys other goals and activities. Ideally, you want to make those connections,
between your sustainability policy and your companys other policies, so that others dont
have to seek them out.
While you are the one who is doing the research and writing the policy for sustainability,
you probably dont have the authority to approve and implement that policy. That
authority will probably be vested in the board of directors or upper management in your
company. Your responsibility is to research and develop the policy, it is theirs to approve
or disapprove.
DEVELOP POLICY THAT REFLECTS THE ORGANISATIONS
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF BUSINESS
PLANNING AND AS A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
As youve been studying and preparing recommendations for the companys
sustainability policy, youve probably developed some ideas of what needs to be included
and how it needs to be presented. This policy you are creating is the companys primary
way of stating their commitment to sustainability as an integral part of the business.
Government agencies, other companies, employees and the community at large are going
to look at this policy as a declaration of your companys commitment to sustainability.
Your policy must strike a balance between environmental needs, societal needs and your
companys economic needs. If any one of these three parts are not treated in the right
balance, the policy will be doomed to fail.
Points to remember while making a sustainability policy
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Keep it simple one page should be enough, if it is clear and succinct it will
communicate the necessary information to your stakeholders
Keep it real strategies and objectives should be achievable and measurable
Link it as much as possible to existing mission, vision and values (sustainability
should be a way for the organization to achieve value for all stakeholders,
investors, customers, employees, community etc.)
Align with other policies sustainability policies can often overlap with
businesses OH&S policy or quality management standard. Highlight this point in
your sustainability policy and ensure that two separate policies dont contradict
each other
Dont reinvent the wheel many sustainability policies are available on the
internet, use these as a template to create one that is applicable to your own
business
Targets
Set clear understandable goals that are measurable and realistic so everyone is able to be
committed and achieve the goals. Targets may include:
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Time lines
Time lines determine dates for a wide range of activities; agreed time lines with
stakeholders provides them with realistic time lines for implementation. Time lines
include dates for:
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project start
implementation of communication strategy
target dates for achievements
training schedules.
Resources
Determine resource requirements (physical, human and financial) and the type, style,
quantity and time required. Agreed requirements provide ownership and commitment for
acquisition of the necessary resources. Document the:
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the specific outcomes expected goals for the organization, deliverables for a
work area and key performance indicators for those implementing the strategies
the range of activities to be undertaken to achieve the goals
the responsibilities assigned
any interrelationships with other parts of the organization in terms of the impact
of the initiatives.
the specific outcomes expected goals for the organization, deliverables for a
work area and key performance indicators for those implementing the strategies
the range of activities to be undertaken to achieve the goals
the responsibilities assigned
any interrelationships with other parts of the organization in terms of the impact of
the initiatives.
Although you now have a sustainability policy, that doesnt mean that you have created
the procedures necessary to implement that policy. In some companies, policies and
procedures are combined into one. However, they are better conveyed, if they are
separate sets of documents.
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Policies are created by the board, and determine the direction of the company.
Procedures are created by workers, and demonstrate how specific tasks that are
necessary for that direction will be accomplished
Implement and maintain work practices which are safe and reduce the risk to
health of our employees, the environment and the community
Ensure contractors adopt and implement HSEC standards at least equal to those of
ABC at our sites
Identify, assess and manage risks and hazards to employees, contractors, the
environment and our host communities;
Set and achieve performance targets and continual improvement year on year
Ensure business activities uphold ethical standards and fundamental human rights
including taking into account the views of the local indigenous communities.
Ensure all employees are aligned with our Zero Harm aspirations and take their
HSEC performance into account when considering promotion.
Environmental Commitments
The Companys operations are to be conducted in compliance with all applicable
environmental laws and regulations. Further, the Company seeks the continuous
improvement of environmental performance through setting and reviewing conservation
targets and progressively establishing company-wide standards.
The Company is committed to undertaking its activities with full attention paid towards:
ensuring that all contractors of the Company follow the same environmental
standards.
Environmental stewardship is the responsibility of all Company personnel and
contractors.