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Chapter
3
6.
Environmental Performance Analysis
The parameters
chosen to quantify and track environmental performance of
organizations are called environmental
performance indicators. The following factors might assist
on how to define such indicators:
- figures
that report the most significant impacts;
- figures
that could be quantified;
- figures
that could best be normalized to allow for changes in volume
of work or production; and
- figures
that are commonly adopted in the respective profession,
trade and business.
These
indicators could cover both internal green housekeeping measures
as well as the activities and programmes of the bureau or
department. Figure 6.1 provides some examples of typical environmental
performance indicators under different key environmental aspects.
Figure
6.1 - Examples of performance indicators
| Environmental
Aspects |
Typical
Environmental Indicators |
Energy
and Resource Use
- Material,
water, other renewable resources
- Energy
|
- Weight
of raw materials per unit of production
- Volume
of water conserved per head of staff compared to the
previous year
- Reduction
in materials per unit of production
- %
substitution by sustainable or non-damaging materials
- Amount
of energy consumption per year or per head
|
| Pollution
Prevention
|
- Total
weight of discharges per unit of production
- Weight
of effluent of a specific substance per unit of production
- Percentage
of days on which discharge consent was exceeded
|
|
|
- Total
volume of emissions per unit of production
- Total
weight of particulates
|
- Waste
(toxic, hazardous and solid wastes)
|
- Total
volume of waste
- Weight
or amount of a specific waste per unit of production
- %
of waste recycled, treated and disposed
- Toxicity
rating
|
Environmental
Management
- Environmental
audits
- Environmental
management system
|
- Ranking
of effectiveness of implementation of programmes
- Number
of sites/divisions included under the environmental
audit programme
- Frequency
of carrying out audit (internal/external)
- Number
of sites with environmental management system
in place with reference to any international standard
(e.g. ISO 14001)
|
Operations
or Programmes
- Land
and renewable resources disturbed, restored
- Population
and widelife affected
|
- Rate
of losses
- Population
protected
|
| Purchasing
and Contracting |
- %
of organization's supplier base that has a written
environmental policy
- %
by value of organization's total dollars spent which
is placed with suppliers with pre-contract environmental
information
|
| Education
and Training
|
- Number
of staff attended environmental training courses
|
Compliance
- Compliance
situations
- Non-compliance
situations
|
- Percentage
of compliance
- Number
of non-compliance situations
- Volume
of spills
- Average
time to solve non-compliance issues
|
| Environmental
Expenditures |
|
Technology
- Investment
- Waste
reduction
|
- Dollars
spent on improved technology (infrastructure/equipment)
to address pollution problems
- Effectiveness
of new systems (e.g. comparative emissions performance
before and after investment)
- Level
of investment to meet higher specification of products
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With reference
to each performance indicator, the environmental performance
analysis compares environmental performance against the environmental
policy, objectives and targets/milestones through the use
of financial, operational, scientific or other relevant statistics
and data. When objectives or targets are not met, reasons
for the failure and proposed corrective action plans might
need to be discussed. The environmental performance analysis
might include one or more of the following dimensions:
- an
analysis of performance against certain benchmarks which
could range from what have been set under the environmental
policy, targets/milestones to trend analysis or even compliance
with laws and regulations. (See examples in figures 6.2
and 6.3);
- an
analysis of performance by line of business and/or by location;
- the
number and extent of environmental incidents and corrective
actions;
- discussion
of activities that offset environmental damage (including
regeneration of renewable resources and restoration of sites);
and
- environmental
programmes with staff, suppliers, contractors and other
stakeholders.
Figure
6.2 - Analysis of performance against environmental policy
areas and targets
| Environmental
Policy Areas |
1996/97
Target |
1996/97Performance |
| Energy
and Utilities Management |
- Reduce
water consumption per passenger by 3% on 1994/95
base by 31 March 1997
|
- Replace
100% of halon portable fire extinguishers by
31 March 1999
|
|
ACHIEVED
A saving of 7.6% was achieved. A comprehensive leak
detection survey of Heathrow's water services infrastructure,
which took place in the Spring of 1996 following
an unsettled winter, revealed that ground movement
had caused the fracture of a number of water mains.
Work was undertaken to repair all leaks. A control
system was also installed on all main water supply
meters to the airport to alert both the water company
and the airport water services department of future
leakage and any unauthorised water use. |
ON
GOING
To date 50% of portables have been replaced and
156 extinguishers remain. |
|
| Waste
Management |
- Achieve
an additional reduction in waste disposed to landfill
of 15% per passenger (1994/95 base) by 31 March 1999
|
The
amount of waste sent to landfill increased slightly this
year on last year. This is mainly due to reduced markets
for recyclable items. |
| Procurement
and Materials |
- Establish
a system for environmental assessment of BAA Heathrow
suppliers at the tender stage of the procurement process
by 31 March 1997
|
ACHIEVED |
| Water
Quality |
- Ensure
that all discharge consent are met
- Establish
and maintain a database for the reporting and recording
of all spills (landside and airside) by 31 March 1997
|
ACHIEVED
FOR PERIOD (continuous target)
ACHIEVED
A new operational safety instruction has been issued
which establishes a system for reporting spills. This
has only recently been implemented and so the formal
database has not been set up. Paper copies of all spillage
reports are currently held on file.
|
| Aircraft
Noise |
- Work
with airlines and air traffic control to achieve 85%
of departing aircraft on track by 31 March 1997
|
ACHIEVED
89%
We commissioned a comprehensive and systematic analysis
of all major airlines and aircraft type combinations to
establish records of both good and bad noise and track
keeping performance. Studies were undertaken with airlines
with good track keeping records to determine whether they
apply methods which can be shared with other carriers
to improve their own track keeping performance. Improvements
from 50% to 95% on track have been recorded by some airlines. |
Figure
6.3 - Analysis of performance against historical data to show
general trend
(Extracted
from Kirin Brewery Company Limited, Japan: " 1997 Kirin
Brewery Environmental Report", p.24)
As reference,
Annex 6 provides more examples
to illustrate how environmental information could be reported
against various policy areas, objectives and targets.
When it
is not possible to provide data to support performance claims,
full narrative disclosure is encouraged. (See example in figure
6.4)
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Figure 6.4 - Narrative disclosure of performance progress
towards sustainable development |
|
The
department recognized the need to reduce solid waste
going into landfill sites and, during the year, started
a facility which burns wastes generated from operations.
The burning process generates energy in the form of
steam, which is based in operations and, when processed
through a turbine, can generate up to 9.9 megawatts
of electricity. The operation of the facility will significantly
reduce the department's reliance on landfill sites to
store some of its waste and will not release any toxic
air pollutants.
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Annex
7 shows a summary table that could be used to present
the linkages among the various environmental impacts, their
related targets and the performance reported against those
targets.
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