Implement and Monitor Environmentally Sustainable Work Practice

This study material provides insights on implementing and monitoring environmentally sustainable work practices. It covers topics like resource usage, environmental impacts, and improvement strategies. It also includes a case study and practical examples.

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BSBSUS401:Implement and monitor environmentally
sustainable work practice

Case Study Template BSBSUS401
Task one: Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage
*Please note if you conduct this assessment on your home office you must also include how you could apply your answers to a mid-size
organisation.
Provide a brief overview of your workplace or home office (a short paragraph is sufficient).
I work as an Accounts assistant in a mid-sized accounting firm where there is lots of paper is being consumed in our daily operations. All client datais
kept in hard copy files and folders. Though there are provisions for soft copy invoices and statements, invoices and statements are issued physically
also, as per client's requirements. Moreover, daily administrative expenses are corded in vouchers.
Provide a half-page description of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). You can directly access the objectives of the
Act at http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+156+1997+cd+0+N
(If you live in another state, use the legislation applicable to your state).
Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO) is an Australian Act aiming to protect the environment from excessive use of natural
resources. The scope of the Act basically revolves around the environment in New South Wales and surrounding in order to protect, restore and
enhance the quality of the same in most sustainable and time and cost-effective manner. The Act also aims to ensure that the community gets
optimum value out of the green practices by the businesses in terms of low pollution, carbon emission, waste management and use of renewable
energies. Finally, it may also be construed that the Act intends to improve the administrative and legislative efficiency in thecountry regarding
environmental policies and respective measures (Legislation.nsw.gov.au, 2018).
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The Act is applicable to the business as discussed herein in the sense that the consumption and usage of paper in the office is being regulated by
the Act and the management must abide by the guidelines and legal pronouncement as contained in the Act in the regard.
Conduct an environmental review of paper usage in your workplace or home office by filling in the audit report on the following page. This report will
identify the environmental impacts of using paper; the average monthly consumption; current purchasing practices; and any non-compliance.
AUDIT REPORT
Resource Audit of Paper usage (or electricity, fuel, chemicals, etc.)
What work processes and data did you
analyse in order to conduct this audit?
(staff surveys, documentation, invoices)
Work processes observed:
Routine operations in respect of book-keeping and record-keeping; billing; processing and
reviewing the client's work of preparation of financial statements after taking a printout of the
client's data and documents etc.
Actual Data analysed:
Bank reconciliation statement, bank statements, audit report, invoices and vouchers etc.
Environmental impacts The environment may be affected by the wide and excessive usage of paper as the paper is
primarily produced and processed from the cutting trees which are one of the primary sources
of greeneries and green energies. In other words, excessive paper usage leads to
deforestation which adversely impacts the environmental balance and biodiversity.
Stakeholders The person who may influence the sustainability practices within the given organisation is the
owner cum proprietor of the business. He may need to be convinced and motivated for
sustainable use of papers in the office as stationery and only then green approach may be
successfully implemented within the workplace.
Resource consumed per month (use
average) Approximately 1 ream of paper contains 500 sheets and estimate has shown that the
business consumes 100/150 sheets on a daily basis. Conceding 20 working days in a month,
5 reams of paper will be required each month for the business.
Purchasing practices Presently the accounts manager buys paper from 2/3 vendors, as and when available and
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necessary. The practice may be improved by way of implementing a strategic and well-
planned sustainable procurement policy which will ensure green practices as well.
Paper (or another resource) usage non-compliance (or bad practice) with sustainable business practices
Describe the problem Explain why it does not comply with
sustainable practices
Non-compliance (or bad practice) 1: Presently, the firm uses normal paper
which may not be produced using
recovered paper fibres.
The Act mentioned above suggests that the
papers processed not out of recovered paper
fibres may consume more woods and hence
there remains the scope for consumption of
green energies and hence deforestation.
Non-compliance (or bad practice) 2: The vendors presently are not assessed in
terms of their own sustainability practices in
relation to their procurement and
processing.
If the vendors' processing and procurement
operations are not in line with the relevant
legislation and directives, the same may
tantamount to the violation of laws and
regulations in this regard.
Non-compliance (or bad practice) 3: Also, the packaging of papers is not
verified presently to check whether it meets
the standards as stipulated by the Act in
this regard.
The packaging should consume recycled
material and if the vendors’’ packaging process
is not in conformity with the standard, that again
may vitiate the basic purpose of sustainable
practices.
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Task two: set targets for improvement
Looking at your audit report, including three areas of improvement. You must include possible strategies and actions to achieve the improvements;
realistic objectives and targets to improve paper resource efficiency; and key personnel that assist in setting achievable improvement targets.
Use the following table:
IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
Paper Usage
Area Possible actions/strategy Objective Who is involved? Measurable target
(this should have a
%)
Target date
Improvement
strategy 1
Paper
Paper Quality The paper should use at least 75%
recovered paper fibres and for that,
the vendors' procurement policies
should be reviewed
To improve the
quality of the
paper used should
Accounts
manager
90% [ at least 90% of
vendors’ paper will be
reviewed and
confirmed]
1 month
Improvement
strategy 2
Policies
Vendors’ Policy The vendors’ sustainability
practices, if any should be reviewed
To improve the
vendors’
sustainability
practices
Accounts
manager
90% [ at least 90% of
vendors’ paper will be
reviewed and
confirmed]
1 month
Improvement
strategy 3
Packaging
Packaging The vendors' packaging policy
should be reviewed. Since
packaging is a critical component in
the entire procurement system the
To improve the
packaging policies
of the vendors
Accounts
manager
90% [ at least 90% of
vendors’ paper will be
reviewed and
1 month
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same has been separately
strategised.
confirmed]
Task three: Implement performance improvement strategies
a. Before you implement your sustainable recommendations regarding paper usage, you are required to consult with other
stakeholders. Write one paragraph on how you will seek suggestions and ideas about environmental and resource efficiency
management from key personnel in your workplace or specialists. These suggestions enhance your own ideas for improvement.
As the Accounts assistant, my role is to support the Accounts manager in his work. Since the Accounts manager is primarily responsible for this
implementation of the plan, I will accompany him. However, before the implementation, there should be a discussion with the managing director of
the business in this respect and the necessary policies and strategies will have to be vetted by him. Besides, there will be a need for discussion with
the technical expert and employees of the business also (Greeningtheblue.org, 2018).
b. To apply the Waste management hierarchy in the workplace you need to demonstrate how your performance strategies will be
implemented and who is responsible for their implementation. Use the ‘improvement in sustainability practices’ table in the
template.
Place the most preferred action first to the least preferred. Include tools and describe strategies that will measure and monitor the
effectiveness of the recommended practices. (E.g. key personnel, training, support, communication methods) by filling out the Implement
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Improvements in Sustainable Paper Practices table on the following page:
© NSW EPA http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastestrategy/waste-hierarchy.htm
IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSTAINABLE PAPER PRACTICES
Paper Usage (or another resource)
Area of an
improvement
strategy
How it will be
implemented (What are
the steps needs to make
your improvement
happen)
Who is
responsible?
Methods to
communicate to
work team
Tools/s or
strategies to
measure and
monitor usage
Implementation
date
Comments
Improvement
Strategy 1
Paper
Paper Quality The vendors’ policy may
need to be evaluated and
they will be asked to
submit their papers based
Accounts
manager
Email Technical expert
may be hired and
the person will
check one sheet
1st February
2019
Owner will oversee
the entire process
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on the responses found
from the questionnaire
distributed to them.
from each ream of
papers so ordered
to verify the
authenticity of the
vendors’ claim.
Improvement
strategy 2
Policies
Vendors’ Policy The vendors’ policy may
need to be evaluated and
they will be asked to
submit their papers based
on the responses found
from the questionnaire
distributed to
them(Lindroos, 2015).
Accounts
manager
Email Owner of the firm
will go through the
details and in case
required, the
technical expert
should be
consulted.
1st February
2019
Owner will oversee
the entire process
Improvement
strategy 3
Packaging
Packaging The vendors’ policy may
need to be evaluated and
they will be asked to
submit their papers based
on the responses found
from the questionnaire
distributed to them.
Accounts
manager
Email Owner of the firm
will go through the
details and in case
required, the
technical expert
should be
consulted.
1st February
2019
Owner will oversee
the entire process
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c. To promote your sustainability practice, you must conduct a cost analysis for your manager.
(Add under improvement strategy what the unit you are measuring represents e.g. ream, bin, tablet, wattage, litres, etc.)
YEARLY COSTING ANALYSIS FOR PAPER (or another resource)
Improvement strategy ORIGINAL
USAGE
units
ORIGINAL
COST
$ per unit
ORIGINAL
USAGE
TOTAL
PROJECTED
USAGE
units
PROJECTED
COST
$ per unit
PROJECTED
USAGE
TOTAL
SAVINGS (ORIGINAL
USAGE TOTAL –
PROJECTED USAGE
TOTAL)
Improvement strategy
1: Paper Quality
1,500 sheets $0.02
(Officeworks,
2018)
$30 1,000 sheets $0.03 @30 $0
Improvement strategy
2: Vendors’ Policy
600 sheets $0.02 $12 500 sheets $0.02 @10 $2
Improvement strategy
3: Packaging
400 sheets $0.02 $8 200 sheets $0.01 @2 $6
TOTAL SAVINGS $8
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 Task four: Monitor performance
Now that you have implemented improvements in paper usage, you need to evaluate, review and report to stakeholders on how effective the
improvements have been. You must include how you will review your methods (Examples could include invoices, observation etc.), whether you met
your sustainability performance outcomes, how you report outcomes (Examples could include newsletters, committee minutes), which stakeholders
will get the review report and who is responsible for writing/collating the report. Use the table below to record your review strategies and results.
REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE STRATEGIES
Paper Usage (or another resource)
Improvement
strategy
Review/monitoring
method/show will you
know if your
improvement is
successful?
Did target
meet or not?
Method of
reporting
outcomes
Who is
responsible
to make the
report?
Stakeholders
to get the
report
Required action
Improvement
strategy 1: Paper
Quality
If the technical expert
hired for the purpose
confirms that the
required compliance
criteria have been met
the strategy may be
considered to be
successful.
Based on
the feedback
of technical
expert, the
target may
be changed
(increased or
decreased).
In the given
case, the
target has
been met.
Email
communication
Accounts
manager
Owner,
operation
manager and
vendors.
Procurement will
be accordingly
performed
Improvement
strategy 2: Vendors’
If the management finds
that the vendors’ policy
In the case,
target has
Email
communication
Accounts
manager
Owner,
managers and
Vendors will be
accordingly
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Policy matches in line with the
organisational practice
of sustainability towards
the procurement, the
strategy may be termed
to be successful.
been met.
However, if
case of non-
fulfilment of
target, the
standard
may
accordingly
be changed
(increased or
decreased).
plus one to one
meeting (since the
numbers of
vendors are less)
Plus
Operation
head
vendors chosen.
Improvement
strategy 3:
Packaging
If the company owned
packaging team
confirms that the
packaging performed by
the vendors is in synch
with regulatory
requirements for the
purpose, the strategy
may be considered to be
successful.
For few
vendors,
target has
been met.
Target has
been
negotiated
vendor wise
keeping
within the
regulatory
benchmark
in the
consideratio
n
Email
communication
plus one to one
meeting (since the
numbers of
vendors are less)
Accounts
manager and
Packaging
supervisor
Owner,
managers,
supervisor and
vendors
The vendors will
be accordingly
selected and / or
they will
accordingly be
asked to modify
their packaging
polices
Task 4b
Include how you will promote your success strategies within your workplace.
How you can reward staff for following your recommendations.
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Can you suggest a system for staff to contribute their own ideas for sustainability?
Promote:
The promotion of sustainable procurement policies may be made through the awareness training and campaigning within the workplace. Email
communicating may be made from the owner of the business to all the employees for their diligent and controlled usage of paper.
Reward:
The staffs who will be following the sustainability practices may be monitored and rewarded with one day salary. Such exercise may be performed
once every three months period of time.
Contribute:
In addition, the staffs are encouraged to put forth their own idea as to how to reduce the usage of paper and increase the use of recycled material
within the workplace. The new ideas may also be awarded as mentioned before.
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Task five: Green procurement
Your manager is very happy with your recommendations and would like to enhance the image of the business by adopting a green procurement
strategy.
Design a questionnaire that you can circulate to your suppliers. This questionnaire will allow your firm to compare potential and existing suppliers
based on sustainable outcomes. You should include questions based on their products and services, packaging, and their own sustainable
practices and policies. Your questionnaire should be at least 10 questions for your organisation to assess the viability of doing business with a
supplier that also has sustainable initiatives.
Q1: Do you have a sustainable procurement policy in your organisation?
Q2: Do you comply with all the provisions of the POEO Act, where applicable?
Q3: Do you manufacture paper or procure from the manufacturer?
Q4: If you produce, do you use at least 75% of recycled paper fibres in your production process?
Q5: If you source it from the manufacturer or other vendors, do you cross-check their own sustainability policies?
Q6: Do you use recycled material in your packaging of goods and products?
Q7: Do you have a written environmental protection and prevention policy?
Q8: Do you follow the guidelines of International Labour Standards (ILO) guidelines in your production process with respect your employees’ benefits
and safety and security?
Q9: Do you ensure the compliance with respect the carbon emission arising out of your transportation system?
Q10: Do you provide employee friendly environment and sustainable work culture within your workplace?
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References:
Greeningtheblue.org. (2018). [online] Available at: http://www.greeningtheblue.org/sites/default/files/UNSP_Product%20Sheet_Stationery_Paper
%20consumables_basic%20and%20advanced_all%20regions.pdf [Accessed 19 Dec. 2018].
Legislation.nsw.gov.au. (2018). NSW Legislation. [online] Available at: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/1997/156/chap1/sec3
[Accessed 19 Dec. 2018].
Lindroos, K. (2015). Implementation of the Theoretical Concept of Green Procurement and Supplier Selection in Estonian Shipbuilding
Industry. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Officeworks. (2018). Reflex Ultra A4 Paper White 500 Sheet 5 Pack | Officeworks. [online] Available at:
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/reflex-ultra-white-80gsm-a4-copy-paper-5-ream-carton-spq09112c [Accessed 19 Dec. 2018].
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