I’ve just completed our companies 2008 Sustainability Report. It’s basically a year-end assessment of how we did meeting the goals and objectives we outlined in the Green Action Plan that I created upon coming to the company.
So, it’s been a little over a year for me at this position as a Sustainability Coordinator. I can reasonably say that, if you’re tacklling sustainability issues at your company and have illusions that you will turn the company around in
quickly and make it super eco-friendly and environmentally conscious all at once, you’ve got news coming. But don’t despair! Changing course is often a slow process, especially with a company that has a bottom line and a wide range of people that need to get on board with projects. Every little thing you dream up and implement really does matter in the long run. It’s a marathon… not a sprint.
A few major things will shape your first year of monitoring and reporting - understanding these things will give you a basis from which to springboard ideas and projects that will actually work.
1) Spend time amongst all the facets and processes of the business. Having a strong sense of how the company operates, the role it plays in the business chain, and the way in which day-to-day business is done is critical. This will give you a sense of how to frame alternative methods of business operation, etc.
2) Go to great lenghts to understand the RIGHT decision-makers involved in various processes. Getting the right people on board with sustainability initiatives means success or failure - not to mention time saved by targeting reductions through the right department/individuals.
3) Be committed to data collection. A LOT of data collection. You can’t start setting benchmarks against foundational data that doesn’t exist. That is to say that coming up with some of the resource/emissions reduction goals, would be a shot in the dark when you don’t know what your benchmarking from.
So how did we do this year? Here’s our blurb that will come out in some magazines and publications this spring…
“As part of our commitment to sustainability and to the Food Trade Leadership Association, CCOF member Heath and Lejeune recently completed their 2008 Sustainability Report. After a year of implementing their Green Action Plan, highlights include a 40% total waste reduction, reduced energy consumption, green waste composting initiatives, an a higher percentage of organic produce sourced locally. In addition the company has become more involved in local and national sustainability partnerships and strengthened it’s emphasis on workplace wellness and employee trainings and workshops.”
Our 2009 report can only go up from there… go us!
Say it!