Environmental Impact Analysis
Environmental sustainability is about making decisions and taking actions on those matters which will impact on the capability of the world to continue supporting human life. All companies large and small should have an understanding of the impact their business is having upon the environment and the people within it. Establishing a business case is an important part of assessing how viable environmentally sustainable practices are. If there is not a business case behind adopting a practice then it is not reasonable to consider it as an option.
There are a number of points that make establishing a business case for environmental sustainability. One obvious point is the reduction of the energy being consumed during the normal course of the business operation. There are, however, a number of others.
The size and type of the organisation will determine the amount of time that has to be devoted to completing the analysis. The basic elements to be considered, however, remain constant and can be broken down into the following headings :-
- Management
- Site and buildings
- Energy and Water
- Waste
- Transport
- Materials
Within each of these categories there will be a series of subsets to drill down and identify those elements which have an environmental impact and these subsets will be industry dependent.
Performing a cost benefit analysis using the outcomes of the environmental impact analysis will enable the business to compare the benefits of the practices identified against the cost of implementation. An additional spin off could be the generation of a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new customers and investors. Both of these groups are aware of the social and environmental issues and their decision to either purchase or invest can be influenced by the environmental profile of the business.
Of greater importance is the fact that implementing environmental sustainability does not adversely affect the business’s ability to generate profit. In fact the converse is probably true as in the longer term the reduction in running costs and increased competitiveness should generate greater profits.
To investigate how an environmental analysis could impact on your business why not contact us. We have associates in all parts of the country who can assist you with you sustainability requirements Or just call 0333 444 8542 for a no obligation discussion.
