Developing Workplace Policy and Procedures for Sustainability

Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
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Name_ID000000_ BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and
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Assessment Task 1 Instructions
Provide answers to all of the questions below:
1. Outline the Kyoto Protocol and Australia’s obligations under the Protocol, as well as its
current targets and the adequacy of these targets.
The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated and signed at the 3rd meeting of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC in Devember
1997 in Kyoto, Japan. Australia signed the agreement on April 24, 1998 but did
assent until February 16, 2005. The aim of the Kyoto Protocol is to mobilize the
member countries towards taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions which would in turn lead to reduction of global warming. The Kyoto
Protocol divides the member countries into two groups namely Annex 1 and Non-
Annex 1. The Annex 1 members are developed nations which are subject to
binding targets to GHG output and required to report greenhouse inventory along
to supporting information on annual basis. This furnishing of annual report would
show that the compliance of the countries concerned with the Kyoto Protocol. The
furnishings of the documents would also show that contribution of the developed
markets in supporting the developing countries in reducing environment pollution.
The Non-Annex 1 countries are exempted from these compliance requirement but
may adopt the commitments to contribute towards reduction of the global
warming rate.
The obligation of Australia under the Kyoto Protocol is reduce the target GHGs
by more than 8 percent. The target GHGs to be reduced to meet the obligation of 8
percent as the Kyoto Protocol agreement are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and surplus hexafluoride. As far as
achievement of the set target of 8 percent is concerned, the graph published by the
State of Environment, Government of Australia shown below shows that the
country has surpassed its target. Thus, it can be established from the graph that the
actual target of GSG emission reduction is concerned, Australia has achieved the
target adequately.
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
2. Outline the purpose and scope of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and
Climate.
The purpose of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
(AAP) is to create a non-legally binding framework to facilitate participation of
countries to reduce environmental pollution. The scope of the AAP stands on
eight pillars. They are cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy forms and
distribution of generation of the renewable energy, mining of steel, mining of
aluminium, manufacturing and use of cement, mining of coal and building and
appliances using energy.
3. Outline the purpose and scope of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The purpose of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (EPBC Act) is to protect and reduce damage to the biodiversity and heritage
sites within Australia due to commercial activities. The scope of the act includes
protection of Australian flora, fauna, heritage sites and environmentally important
regions like the Great Barrier Reef.
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
4. Outline the purpose and scope of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation (EPBC) Act Regulations.
The purpose of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 is to protect the biodiversity of Australia through the central environmental
laws enacted by the Government of Australia. Thus, the law mandates that the
companies operating in Australia to take steps to reduce their economic impacts.
The scope of the act includes environmental assessments to be carried out by
companies before initiating operations which are likely to impact the environment,
gaining approval from the concerned government body, protect the Australian
biodiversity and manage the conservation of naturally as well as culturally
important sites. The regulations under the act in fact require companies to intimate
the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy if their
operations are likely to impact the environment. The regulations also empower the
government to initiate legal actions against the non-compliant organisations.
5. Outline the purpose and scope of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
Scheme.
The purpose of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme is to
accumulate data for accounting of emission of greenhouse gases, production of
energy and consumption of energy produced.
The scope of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme is to achieve
three objectives. The first objective of the act is to educate the Australians about
the environmental policies. The second objective of the act is to meet the targets
assumed by Australia under international commitments like the Kyoto Protocol.
The third objective is to provide a single nationwide reporting infrastructure for
reporting energy and emissions.
6. Outline the purpose and scope of the Australian Packaging Covenant voluntary code of
practice.
The purpose of the Australian Packaging Covenant voluntary code of practice
is to minimise the negative impacts of packaging of goods on the environment.
The scope of the Australian Packaging Covenant voluntary code of practice
can be divided into four parts. The first component of the scope of the body is to
recycling of wastes. The second scope is to design packaging of goods which
enable easy recycling while the third scope is to introduce more sustainable
alternatives to non-recyclable materials. The fourth scope of the the Australian
Packaging Covenant voluntary code of practice is to minimise transfer of
wastes to landfills.
7. Outline the purpose and scope of the Australian Ecolabel Program voluntary code of
practice.
The purpose of the Australian Ecolabel Program voluntary code of practice is to
provide certification of environmental sustainability to the products carrying the
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
labels. The scope of the Australian Ecolabel Program voluntary code of practice
spans across three types. The type 1 category consists of a multiple third party
program that entitles companies to use eco-labels on their products. The type II
certification provides companies using the same to provide information on
environmental sustainability of the products concerned. The type III certification
allow companies to provide environment related data regarding the products
concerned based on pre-determined key performance indicators. The data
furnished on the labels are provided by a qualified third party entity based on life
cycle assessment. The life cycle assessment is verified by another third party
company.
8. Identify one internal information source and one external information source that can be
used to plan and develop a company’s sustainability policy. For each source, explain how
this source can be used to develop the sustainability policy.
One internal source of information which can be used to plan and develop
sustainable policies of business organisations is inventory record. The inventory
records of organisations show the amount of inventory of different types procured
and the amount of the inventory mobilised into manufacturing operations. The gap
between the two figures would show that a portion of the inventory has been
wasted. For example, a dairy company procures 1000 gallons of liquid chocolate
to manufacture a drink which is premium chocolate product. The inventory
records shows that 990 gallons of liquid chocolate can be mobilised into the
manufacture of products. This means that 10 gallons of liquid chocolate are
wasted and are disposed off. This means that the manufacturing activities of the
company at current levels of operations leads to addition of 10 gallons of liquid
chocolate which cannot be reused. In other words the business organisation is not
sustainable. An external source of information which can be used to plan and
develop sustainable policies is official website of the Department of Environment
and Energy, Government of Australia. The official website of the Department of
Environment and Energy provides information about the environmental laws
which companies in Australia have to incorporate in their sustainable policies.
9. Explain the key steps in a policy development process.
The following are the key steps of policy development process:
Determining the agenda:
The agenda show the problems which have necessitated formation of the policy.
The agenda also mentions that aim which the policy implementation aims to
achieve.
Formulation of the policy:
The bodies making the agenda at this stage recognise the different policies which
can be formulated to meet the issues recognised. The apex managers discuss and
consider the recognised policy options to recognise the most appropriate policy.
Adoption or decision making:
This is followed by adopting the final set of policies which the policy making
body choose for adoption. For example, the management board of a certain
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
company recognise the challenge which is dwindling profits. The body considers
between three available solutions which it can use to boost its profits. The first
strategy is increasing promotion. The second strategy which the management can
consider is introducing innovation versions of the existing profits while the third
strategy is introduction of new products. The management after considering these
three options recognise that the strengthening of promotion of the current products
as the most feasible policy.
Implementation of the policy:
The fourth stage of policy development process is implementation of the policy
adopted. This stage requires participation of the lower level steps as well.
Monitoring and reviewing of policies:
The last stage of policy development is monitoring and reviewing of policies. The
management takes steps if the adopted policies fail to meet the target.
10. Explain the main components of a policy document.
The main components of a policy documents are the aim which the policies aim to
achieve, the policies and then steps which would be taken if the policies are
breached. The aim component defines that objectives which are sought to be
achieved by the policy. The policy component consists of the different policies
which would be used to secure the aim. The third component of the policy
documents mention that steps which would be taken by the policy maker if the
policies are not adhered to.
11. Outline policy development practices that may be used in response to resistance to the
introduction of policies.
The apex management of the organisations may form policies to respond to the
resistance to policies among employees. The resistance management strategies
which the companies would formulate should enable the involvement of all the
employees across departments and designations. The flowchart below shows that
policies which the management of companies should take to minimise the
resistance of employees to new policies. First of all, the apex management bodies
should form policies and communicate the same to ththe e departmental heads
(blue arrow). The departmental heads would in turn communicate the policies to
the employees they lead (blue arrows). The subordinate employees would be able
to communicate their feedback regarding the policies to the departmental heads
which the latter would communicate to the apex management (green arrows). The
management would consider the feedbacks of the lower level employees to form
the final policies. The final policies would be communicated to the departmental
managers which they would communicate to the employees reporting to them.
This involvement of lower level employees in the entire process would result in
reduction in the resistance to the new policies from their side.
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Management forms policies
Finance department
head Marketing department
head
HR department head
Finance
department
executives
Marketing
Department
executives
HR departmental
executives
Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
Figure 1. Flowchart showing employee resistance to policies
management
(Source: Author)
12. Outline why a company may choose to implement an environmental management system
(EMS), and outline at least three key components of an EMS.
Companies should choose to implement environmental management systems in
order to gain higher levels of sustainability. Sustainability of operations has
emerged one of the requirements which business organisations have to achieve in
order to sustain in the market. The governments of different countries like
Australia have enacted environmental laws. The business organisations operating
within counties are mandated to comply with the environmental laws. Breaching
environmental laws attract legal risks towards the concerned companies. In fact it
can also be pointed out that international bodies like European Union have also
adopted environment policies to encourage environment sustainability. Non-
compliance with the environmental laws attract negative market images to
concerned companies which in turn repel investors and customers thus resulting in
capital and revenue risks. Thus, implementation of environmental management
systems enable companies to minimise several risks. The three key components
of EMS are Creating, Planning and Doing of EMS related operations.
13. Outline at least three key components of an EMS.
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
The three components of EMS are creation of EMS strategies, planning to
implement them and actually implement them. The management of companies in
order to establish a strong EMS should create environment management
strategies. The strategies should be parts of the core corporate governance
strategies of the company concerned. The management bodies of the companies
concerned should form strategies to implement the EMS strategies. The
implementation should take place with the involvement of all the employees of the
organisations concerned. The implementation of the environment management
systems should take place under the supervision of the apex management.
14. Outline how a business can use environmental sustainability indicators and two examples
of indicators that can be used.
Business organisations can use environmental sustainability indicators to measure
the level of achievement of sustainability. The two indicators are carbon footprint
and waste generated amounts. For example, if the total amount of raw materials
channelized into a manufacturing facility is 100 tons and the amount of raw
materials becoming finished goods is 80 tons, the waste generation amount is 20
tons in 2017. Similarly in 2018, if out of 100 tons channelized into manufacturing
operations and 90 tons of raw materials become part of the finished goods, the
waste generated is of 10 tons. Thus, it can be pointed out that waste generated
amount in 2018 has decreased by 10 tons compared to 2017. This means that the
company has achieved high amount of sustainability. Similarly, in 2017 if the
carbon dioxide out from the manufacturing was 100 tons and the amount fell to 95
tons in 2018, the carbon footprint of the company dropped by 5 tons.
15. Outline how a business can use life cycle management procedures to assist with
implementing sustainability practices.
Business organisations can use life cycle management to recycle wastes to reuse
them in the production process to the possible extent. The manufacturing
companies should procure environmentally sustainable raw materials to
manufacture products. This would enable the company to channelize the wastes
generated from the manufacturing process into generation of energy which refers
to waste to energy process. The companies in order to the package their products
should use appropriate packaging which can be reused more than once. This
would enable them to reduce wastes and gain sustainability.
16. Outline at least two barriers to introducing policies and procedures, and strategies that
can be used to address each of the barriers you identify.
Two barriers in introducing policies are legal and technological barriers. The
business companies should introduce policies aligned with the laws in force. This
would enable the management remove the legal barriers to policy making and
implementation. Similarly, in order to deal with technological barriers, business
organisations should consider the technological aspects of the policies to be
introduced. For example, the management of the companies in order to facilitate
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Your Name | ID0000000 | BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
real time acquisitions of customer data, adopt the policy that all the front line
employees as well as managers interacting with the customers should feed the
details of the customer requirements and feedback to the central data base of the
company,. The company should first assess the capability of the present
technology in use to feed data directly to the central data base. The management
should recognise the requirements of upgrade the technology and should take
steps in the direction. This would mitigate the technological barrier to
implementation of new policies.
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