Report 98/62
Environmental Workbook
November 1998
Contents and executive summary (read online)
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Contents
1 Executive Summary
Introduction
Foreword
The Review Process
2 Management Arrangements
Strategy
Objectives & Targets
Operation Controls
Environmental Training
Procurement
Energy & Water Conservation
Liabilities
Communication & Perceptions
3 Environmental Pollution Control
Air
Liquid Effluents
Waste Management
Material Storage & Spill Control
Noise
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Materials containing Asbestos
Radiation Sources
Emergency Plans
Transport
4 Social Review
Background
Methodology
Establishing the Value Base
Defining the Stakeholders
Establishing Social Performance Indicators
Collecting the Data
Writing the Accounts
Auditing the Accounts
Publication
Results
5 Worksheets
Appendix 1 - Self Assessment Questions
Appendix 2 - The Tallories Declaration: University Leaders for a sustainable Future
Appendix 3 - Copernicus: The University Charter for sustainable Development
Appendix 4 - Prescribed substances and Processes
Executive Summary
Foreword
This workbook, provided by HEFCE in partnership with CVCP and SCOP, is designed as a practical aid to help institutions review and improve their own performance on environmental issues. It is especially appropriate that it should be published now when the Government is urging the higher education sector to respond to the challenge of sustainable development, and the National Union of Students have placed sustainable development as one of their top priorities.
The workbook provides many examples of good practice across the sector and a series of self assessment questions, recognising that higher education institutions will be at different stages in the development of their environmental poicies and practices.
Professor Peter Toyne
Chair of CVCP & SCOP Environmental Advisory Group and Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
Introduction
This workbook is intended to help institutions review their environmental performance. It is based on studies carried out at six higher education institutions by ESAS - the University of Sunderland 's environmental consultancy and training unit. ESAS were commissioned by the HEFCE, and the review was supported by CVCP and SCOP.
- Falmouth College of Arts
- Surrey Institute of Art & Design
- University of Bath
- University of Cambridge
- University of Sunderland
- University of Sussex.
Conducting such a review will enable institutions to:
- assess their compliance with current regulations
- prepare for future changes in legislation
- benchmark their current performance against good practice.
The University of Sunderland explored some aspects of social review, which is also included within the workbook.
The workbook is divided into four sections:
1. The review process
2. Management arrangements
3. Pollution control
4. Social review.
It includes questions for institutions to ask themselves in assessing their current performance, and it gives examples of good practice from the institutions involved in the study.
The Review Process
The audit needs to be thorough, objective, documented at each stage and as independent as possible. The process is not intended to be judgmental, and this factor needs to be communicated at all stages. The purpose is to gather facts to capture the state of environmental performance at a point in time.
This enables plans for improvement to be made from a recorded baseline.
The audit can be carried out by a single individual. However, in larger organisations, and to encourage wide ownership of the audit technique and the overall process, it is advisable to form an audit team from representatives of different sections. One individual, perhaps the environmental co-ordinator for the institution, should act as team leader and plan and manage the audit process.
The process for carrying out an environmental review is the same as for any other type of review, namely:
A Establish the client who has authority to direct the review and accept the finished product in terms of quality. For day to day purposes, the client should be an individual, but may be supported by a working group or committee.
B Agree clear terms of reference.
The audit process will only be successful if it is clearly and genuinely supported by senior management. It is important that audit scope, scheduling and reporting arrangements are widely discussed and endorsed by senior management and effectively communicated before proceeding.
C Supply appropriate resources.
These may either be bought in or provided in-house. Reviewers will need to be competent auditors with previous experience, and may require specific training in environmental legislation and practice.
D Brief staff involved in the exercise on the purpose, process and reporting of the review.
E Construct a detailed project plan with appropriate milestones.
F Inform the client of major issues as they arise during the review.
G At the end of the review, prepare a draft report and an action plan for the client. This should then be discussed with relevant managers and a final version agreed.
H Present the final report to the committee or governors ' group responsible for the institution 's environmental performance. The audit is not a judgemental process, so it is important that evidence of good performance is also reported as part of the audit findings. The committee or group should seek assurance in due course that the action plan has been implemented.
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