Preparing for a Professional Career: Environmental Issues and CPD Plan

This report delves into the pressing environmental issues stemming from human activities, such as pollution, global warming, and deforestation, which negatively impact the biophysical environment. It highlights both the positive and negative impacts of these issues, including corporate responses like sustainable practices versus the detrimental effects of industrialization and mismanagement of waste. The report defines codes of conduct, including environmental protection campaigns and carbon footprint analysis, and examines the support provided by professional bodies like UNISON in addressing environmental concerns. It also assesses the impact of these codes and bodies, considering both positive aspects like environmental safety and negative aspects such as the potential disconnect between standards and business realities. Finally, the report includes a detailed CPD plan, focusing on accountability, business code of conduct, reflection, and future learning implications to enhance professional development and ethical conduct.

PREPARING FOR A
PROFESIONAL
CAREER

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN CHOSEN............................................3
DEFINING CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RESOLVING ISSUE................................................4
DEFINING THE SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL BODIES.............................................5
SUMMON OF IMPACT ON SUPPORT AND CODE OF CONDUCT ON ISSUE.................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX 1...................................................................................................................................8
PART B...........................................................................................................................................8
CPD PLAN..................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The report aims to define the issue which can create an influence on the performance and
productivity of the organisation and will define strategies which has been taken for resolving the
issue. The report quotes how professional bodies helps to support in resolving such conflicts and
their impact on code of conduct. The project will also demonstrate a CPD plan that will quote the
area of learning, reflection of learning, future implication and action plan or strategies which will
be formed for development.
PART A
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN CHOSEN
Environmental issues are those problems which are caused by human activity on
biophysical environment and such activities create harmful effect (Glazer and et.al, 2020). Some
of the major key environmental issues are pollution, global warming, overpopulation, loss of
biodiversity, incline in waste disposal, ocean acidification, deforestation, ozone layer depletion,
acid rain and public health issues.
Positive impact
Due to rapid increase in environmental concern, many companies have taken many
environmental friendly strategies, that can reduce their impact on natural resources and overall
environment (Griner and Salmon, 2021). The organizations take responsibility of their resource
and energy consumption and reduce energy consumption by installing energy saving technology,
spread awareness through campaign, minimize use of natural resources, avoid wastage, analyze
green gas emission and choose green infrastructure and equipment’s in workplace.
For example, Unilever has been praised for their sustainability commitments and the
company has majorly focused on importance of curbing. Unilever has called deforestation the
most urgent climate change which has adversely impacted the environment and for that the
company used sustainable sources by purchasing green Palm certificates and setting of programs.
Negative effects
Environmental issue and pollution has not affected the surroundings that has created
many serious exposures which create negative impact on overall impact environment. Due to

increase in industrialization, there are various negative factors which has been analyzed and are a
major source of negative impact on the environment and are drivers of environment pollution
(LaCasce and et.al, 2019). Some of these factors are- mismanagement of waste products, dust
exposure, dangerous chemical exposure, overpopulation, burning fossil fuels and many others.
The negative actions of organizations have triggered poor air quality, climate change, let to
undrinkable water and healthy living situations and many others.
For example, companies such as Coca Cola, Nestle, PepsiCo are named as biggest
companies which are highly responsible for creating a negative impact on the environment and
are rated as biggest plastic polluters which create an adverse impact on the environment.
DEFINING CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RESOLVING ISSUE
There are various environmental protection bodies which are practicing different
strategies and policies that can be an initiative for saving the environment from different factors
such as rising population concern. The Environmental Protection Act, 1996 quotes the
environmental safety measures in law within England, Wales and Scotland which controls the
waste management and emission into the environment. The code of conduct which helps in
resolving environmental issues are:
 Environment protection campaigns- Government bodies must value the code of
conduct and organize environmental protection campaigns by which they can spread
awareness and message among consumers regarding the incline in environmental
pollution and climate change.
 Carbon footprints- Carbon footprints are another approach for identifying the carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse emissions which are a result of organisational activities into
the environment (Plant, Barac and Sarens, 2019). The organizations must be accountable
for identifying and evaluating such emissions made by their companies and create
important plans and policies which can control and monitor the emissions of these gases
and carbons into the environment.
There are several other code of conduct which are also followed by the professional bodies
some also involves- recycling waste, treatment of waste, planting more trees, use of renewable
sources and many others.

DEFINING THE SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL BODIES
The support available for professional body for protecting the concerns in rising issue in UK is
one of the largest public service trade union which is UNISON. The headquarter of UNISON is
in London, UK and it is operating with 1.3 million members of trade unions and 1300 branches
all around UK and 12 regional offices which makes the organisation as one of the largest public
service trade union. The company performs numerous duties and follows all rules by which they
can accomplish their objectives and the major objective of UNISON is standing up against rising
environmental concerns in UK. By delivering the message and fighting against environmental
concerns, the company majorly focus on improving the environmental situation and contributing
towards climate changes (Preparing for the professional world, 2015). UNISON has formed
several strategies by which they can promote ecofriendly and green environment in workplace,
carbon footprint by which they can reduce carbon emission and has worked with Carbon Trust
for following this strategy. UNISON has also organized various campaigns and collaborated with
different companies by which they can spread awareness and organize campaigns like- Stop
Climate Chaos by which they can promote and contribute to focus on increasing environmental
issues and climate change.
SUMMON OF IMPACT ON SUPPORT AND CODE OF CONDUCT ON ISSUE
From the above information, it can be seen that the code of conduct and professional
bodies has positive as well as negative impact these impacts are mentioned below:
Positive impact
 Environmental protection and safety- The code of conduct and professional bodies
supports in facing challenges that can be raised due to climate change, pollution in the
environment by following green measures and follow strategies which can promote
protection of environmental safety (Prepare for your future career, 2021). The
professional bodies and code of conduct assist in addressing the issues of climate change
and pollution in the environment by implementing green measures and taking action that
promotes environmental safety.
Negative impact

 Standards do not address the business realities- The professional bodies and code of
conduct do not reflect the reality of business, where different organizations may adhere to
different standards and codes of conduct, resulting in the ineffectiveness of various
enterprises' green practices (How to prepare to be a professional, 2021).
CONCLUSION
From the above project report and quoted information, it can be concluded that due to
incline in environmental issues this has led to many harmful health issues. Due to incline in such
concerns, it is very important to regularly monitor and form strategies that can control such
actions which are the reactions of business operations. Therefore, organisation must regularly
check the pollution level and use of resources which can support in controlling the pollution
level that has been occurred due to business operations. The report defines valuable code of
conduct and professional bodies which support organisation in creating positive impact on
environment and ensure environmental sustainability from their operations.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Glazer, S and et.al., 2020. Preparing for a Career. Mastering the Job Market: Career Issues for
Master's Level Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. p.37.
Griner, A. and Salmon, A., 2021. Preparing to Be a Professional.
LaCasce, A and et.al., 2019. Preparing fellows for graduation: Perspectives on career
guidance. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book. 39. pp.609-614.
Plant, K., Barac, K. and Sarens, G., 2019. Preparing work-ready graduates–skills development
lessons learnt from internal audit practice. Journal of Accounting Education. 48. pp.33-
47.
Rowley, J., Munday, J. and Polly, P., 2017, September. Preparing future career ready
professionals: A portfolio process to develop critical thinking using digital learning and
teaching. In International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (pp. 702-
707). Springer, Cham.
Wybo, J. L. and Van Wassenhove, W., 2016. Preparing graduate students to be HSE
professionals. Safety Science. 81. pp.25-34.
Online
Preparing for the professional world, 2015 [Online] Available through <
https://www.geneva.edu/blog/uncategorized/professional-preparation-12-12-2015>
Prepare for your future career, 2021 [Online] Available through <
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/nest/prepare-for-your-future-career-with-these-on-campus-
resources/>
How to prepare to be a professional, 2021 [Online] Available through <
https://www.herzing.edu/blog/how-prepare-be-professional>

APPENDIX 1
PART B
CPD PLAN
AREA OF
LEARNING
REFLECTION OF
LEARNING
FUTURE
IMPLICATION
ACTION PLAN
Accountability and
responsibility-
Accountability and
responsibility are
elements of business
ethics which ensures
that all individual
must participate and
focus on positive
working scenario and
all employees are
equally accountable
and responsible for
appropriate execution
and performance
while performing
their assigned job
roles and activities.
In relation to the
module, I was not
aware regarding the
accountability and
responsibility of a
person in workplace.
With the help of the
learnings, which I
gathered from this
module supported me
in understanding that
an individual must be
responsible,
accountable and
aware of green
practices in
workplace, discipline
and performing
business function in
ethical code of
conduct.
With the help of
taking accountability
and responsibility of
my work, it will be an
effective approach for
my future career that
can improve my
knowledge and I
would be able to
continuously function
and perform all the
work that has been
assigned. By
practicing such
strategies, it will help
me in taking
responsibility of the
work which has been
done by me and such
strategy will help in
resolving ethical
issues that can arise
in workplace.
For improving my
accountability and
responsibility skills, I
will focus on
determining the
effectiveness of the
results of my
performance and will
engage in teamwork
(Rowley, Munday
and Polly, 2017). By
working with the
team, it will be an
effective approach for
learning and
improving practical
knowledge and
enhancing confidence
that will lead to more
accountable and
responsible decisions
and performance. As
accountability and
responsibility will

help the business in
evaluating standards.
I will enhance the
skill before
completing my 3rd
semester.
Business code of
conduct- The code of
conduct is legal
foundation and
ethical norm which
regulates practices
and standards that are
performed by
business.
With the help of this
module, I was able to
improve my
knowledge by
learning about code
of conduct and its
importance for a
business. This
module has helped
me in understanding
the code of conduct
that can ensure
positive working
culture.
As I want to have a
corporate
professional job, the
knowledge of code of
conduct followed by
business will be an
effective source of
understanding the
ethical policies,
behaviors and code of
conduct followed by
organizations.
For improving my
knowledge regarding
the business code of
conduct, I will focus
on the feedback
which has been given
by my seniors and
colleagues and will
practice and improve
my knowledge of
business management
and ethics in
workplace by
working with teams
and through self-
evaluation by the end
of my 2nd semester
(Wybo and Van
Wassenhove, 2016).