The first step is to have a Sustainability Action Plan or Policy for your business. At its heart, a sustainability policy is an organisation’s commitment to practices and standards that cover all areas of sustainability.
Having a sustainability policy can have positive financial impacts. It may help streamline business processes, which may create less waste and reduce energy use. A sustainability policy can also increase your standing with stakeholders, and improve your brand recognition, giving your organisation a competitive advantage.
A sustainability policy provides a roadmap for your business and will help create a stronger reputation with environmentally conscious consumers. It describes your organisation’s commitment to sustainable development and the strategy, approach or road map to achieving these goals.
What is a policy?
A policy is a predetermined course of action. Policies identify key activities and guide decision-makers on how to handle issues as they arise. No matter the industry, every business needs policies and procedures to operate effectively and successfully. Together, they guide your business and reduce the risk of liability. In addition, they promote consistency across the business for both employees and customers.
A sustainability policy can be as short or elaborate as you wish. Its purpose is to outline your commitment to practices and standards designed to promote environmentally and socially responsible operations. It can serve as an overarching organisational guide, and/or be specific to individual events. For example, the policy may include turning off the air conditioner in the office on nights and weekends, and it can also include asking suppliers and sponsors to use minimal packaging for their deliveries.
There is no right or wrong way to write a sustainability policy. It will be a document outlining your course of action, and/ or it can be an overview of the actions that you have undertaken and what you have in place. Try to make your sustainability policy reasonable and achievable to ensure that you are able to reach your goals and build on your successes in a positive way.
Considerations
There are several questions a business should ask itself when creating a sustainability policy. The policy is going to outline a clear commitment to practices that will promote sustainability across all operations, so engaging people in key positions throughout the company will provide a rounded view of both the business and what is important to its stakeholders.
Then ask:
- Where do our operations potentially affect the environment?
- What are the measures and activities we can implement that will reduce our environmental impact?
- List business commitments. E.g. Increase composting amounts each year, invest in EV vehicles in 20XX or develop and implement a soft-plastics recycling scheme.
- A list of requirements. For example: Only work with businesses that have a sustainability policy.
- Determine who the policy applies to (staff, vendors, temporary staff, etc)
- How will our business measure its sustainability performance? e.g., compare energy usage, cost for landfill, petrol usage. Include realistic time frames and practical steps and strategies as to how these can be achieved.
- Identify the person in your organisation that will ensure compliance with the policy.
- How will our business monitor and review the policy (For example: Review and update the sustainability policy annually)
Local Policy Examples
The following are examples of local businesses that have implemented and published a sustainable business policy.
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Teresea Grigg
