Improving sustainability in the workplace

Be able to identify an area of a business in need of improvement in terms of sustainability. 

Area of business could be a specific process or processes or relate to the actions and behaviours of a particular team, a function, a part of the supply chain or a site.

Sustainability: responsible interaction with the planet to avoid depleting natural resources and to increase the chances of future generations being able to meet their daily needs.

Sustainability could be in relation to waste creation and disposal, pollution, energy type and use, water, choice of materials, design of products, and policies such as for business travel.

Evidence as appropriate to project focus: e.g. rates of recycling; impact of single-use plastics on environment; intensive farming practices associated with a product; comparison of environmental impact of current energy source with alternative greener energy.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Review strengths and weaknesses of a specific workplace in relation to sustainability. 

• 1.2

  Outline the evidence that a selected aspect of the workplace needs improvement in terms of sustainability. 

Be able to identify processes, practices or resources to support improvement in terms of sustainability. 

Improvements could focus on reducing waste, reducing or preventing pollution, adopting cleaner energy, conserving water, using sustainable materials, making their products sustainable, changing policies to promote sustainability.

Ways to measure impact could include, depending on focus of project, carbon footprint, energy consumption, product recycling rate, supply chain miles, waste reduction rate, water consumption.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Explain how new or revised processes, practices or resources could improve sustainability in the chosen area. 

• 2.2

  Describe ways to measure the impact of proposed new processes, practices or resources. 

Be able to develop and present a project plan to support improvement in terms of sustainability. 

As appropriate to the project.

Project rationale should explain how proposed changes will:

• reduce the use of finite resources and/or increased use of renewables
• rely less on practices that cause damage to the environment

Benefits to the business: improved brand image; cost reductions; compliance with current regulations and preparedness for future tighter regulations; attractiveness to new employees and investors; morale of staff.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Create a project plan including actions, deadlines, responsibilities and outcome measures. 

• 3.2

  Present clearly the project rationale, aims, proposed actions, timescales and intended outcomes. 

• 3.3

  Explain the benefits to the business of taking the proposed, more sustainable approach.