Why a business should set environmental actions and targets Setting action plans helps businesses to:
plan ahead identify roles and responsibilities set timescales identify any financial implications reflect on achievements Members and leaders of the eco active business network have signed up to improve the environmental performance of their businesses.
We believe in step by step improvement, so we ask you to set and deliver at least two new actions per year.
Each year one environmental action or target must focus on reducing carbon emissions or energy use. The second action can be from another environmental area, for example:
waste water transport biodiversity procurement community involvement education and awareness or staff training Environmental actions should be integrated within the business plan. This will make sure:
everyone is aware of what you are doing it becomes normal behaviour it isn't seen as an added extra The eco active business network are offered training and events to help identify and meet targets.
Upcoming eco active business network training and events Tuesday 8 November Understanding the Carbon Neutral Roadmap I n-person event, booking method to be confirmed Wednesday 23 November 12:15pm to 1:45pm Sustainable procurement
In-person event Eco active businesses can
book a ticket on Eventbrite Wednesday 7 December 7:30am to 8:45am
Quarterly eco active business breakfast and networking session
In-person event Eco active businesses can Wednesday 14 December Setting environmental targets In-person eventbook a ticket on Eventbrite
Ideas for actions to reduce carbon emissions or energy use Understanding when and how a business uses energy is the first step in reducing energy use. Eco active have developed a free energy monitoring excel spreadsheet that could help you record what you are using.
We provide regular training on monitoring, email ecoactive@gov.je to find out more.
Biodiversity - Pollinator patch A local office has converted their outside area into an urban garden, with a pollinator patch and bug and bee hotels. This could be an action for any company with an outside space, or a company could sponsor a community pollinator patch.
Monitoring use and staff culture Before you can set reduction targets you need to understand current energy consumption. The case study also shows how they use their data to influence behaviour change in their staff to bring about reduction.
If the business doesn't currently monitor resource use such as energy or water this would make an ideal action.
LED lighting Lighting typically accounts for 15% of an office's energy use. The case study on LED lighting shows the energy savings that a local company achieved by installing LED lighting into their office.
A range of refurbishments have been made to a residential care home. These have increased energy efficiency and comfort for the residents. The improvements made would be relevant to many other commercial buildings as well as private homes.
Ideas for transport and travel actions and targets Develop a work place travel plan
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Before you can take any action to change the way staff and clients travel, you need to understand what happens at the moment. The most effective way to do this is through creating a
workplace travel plan .
Once a plan is written, it needs to be reviewed each year to reflect the changes in your business. The plan will help you to identify changes you can make that will make it easier for people to change the way they travel.
Encourage active travel Active travel includes
cycling, running and walking or other active modes of travel. It means you are using your own energy rather than relying on fuelled vehicles.
There are lots of benefits for active travel, including:
reduced costs improved physical and mental health improved fitness lower carbon emissions becoming more environmentally friendly Travelling for businesses There are changes you can make to help the business reduce the costs of travel. COVID-19 has helped businesses to rethink travel and find different ways of doing businesses that don't involve as much travel.
For example:
developing teleconference facilities planning routes combining journeys having pool bikes using lower engine size vehicles using electric or hybrid vehicles making sure your vehicles have proper maintenance providing driver training incorporating travel policies into wider company policies
eco driver training Eco driver training is available to members and leaders of the eco active business network.
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Eco driving does not involve making any changes to vehicles instead it is a driving style that reduces fuel bills, cuts carbon emissions and lowers accident rates. Adopting Eco driving can reduce a vehicles miles per gallon (MPG) by up to 15%.
Apply for eco driver training
Ideas for waste and recycling targets Carry out a waste audit
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Before you can take any action to reduce your waste or change how you dispose of it you need to understand what happens at the moment.
The most effective way to do this is by carrying out a waste audit
Once you have carried out your waste audit you can then identify the changes that you cane make. Tips for reducing, reusing and recycling your waste are available. To find out what can be recycled visit the
recycling finder . Waste audits should be carried out regularly to reflect the changes in your business. Once you have done this you can then look at how to reduce your waste, reuse it or recycle it.
Plastic Free Jersey Jersey has been certified by Surfers Against Sewage as a Plastic Free Community. To retain this certification we need businesses, schools and other community organisations to continue to remove or significantly reduce single-use plastics. Visit Plastic Free Jersey to register the business or find out more on the
Plastic Free Jersey webpage .
Reducing the risk of negative environmental impacts Some business activities have a negative impact on the environment. You need to understand which business activities are high risk. You can manage risks better by adding environment impacts to risk assessments. It is important that your staff know what the risks are and what they need to do to meet business requirements.
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