How do you evaluate and improve the environmental aspects and impacts of your products and services?

1 Establish an environmental policy

An environmental policy is a statement of your commitment to protect the environment and comply with relevant laws and standards. It should reflect your environmental goals and values, and provide a framework for setting objectives and targets. You should communicate your policy to your employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, and review it regularly to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.

2 Conduct an environmental aspect and impact analysis

An environmental aspect and impact analysis is a systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of your products and services. You can use various tools and methods, such as checklists, matrices, flowcharts, or life cycle assessment, to collect and analyze data on your inputs, outputs, and activities. You should consider both direct and indirect aspects and impacts, as well as normal and abnormal operating conditions. You should also involve your employees, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders in the process, and document your results and assumptions.

3 Implement an environmental management system

An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of policies, procedures, and practices that help you manage your environmental aspects and impacts, and improve your environmental performance. An EMS can help you plan, implement, monitor, and review your actions to achieve your environmental objectives and targets. You can follow an internationally recognized standard, such as ISO 14001, or develop your own customized system, depending on your needs and resources. An EMS can also help you demonstrate your compliance, reduce your costs and risks, and increase your customer satisfaction and reputation.

4 Monitor and measure your environmental performance

Monitoring and measuring your environmental performance is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of your actions and identify opportunities for improvement. You should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect your environmental aspects and impacts, such as carbon footprint, waste generation, energy efficiency, or water consumption. You should collect and analyze data on your KPIs regularly, using appropriate methods and tools, such as meters, sensors, audits, or surveys. You should also compare your results with your objectives and targets, and with external benchmarks and best practices.

5 Communicate and report your environmental results

Communicating and reporting your environmental results is important to inform and engage your stakeholders, and to demonstrate your accountability and transparency. You should communicate and report your results in a clear, accurate, and timely manner, using various channels and formats, such as newsletters, websites, social media, or reports. You should also highlight your achievements, challenges, and plans for improvement, and solicit feedback from your stakeholders. You should also follow relevant guidelines and standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), to ensure the quality and credibility of your communication and reporting.

6 Review and improve your environmental processes

Reviewing and improving your environmental processes is a continuous cycle of learning and innovation that helps you maintain and enhance your environmental performance. You should review your processes periodically, using internal and external audits, evaluations, or reviews, to identify strengths and weaknesses, gaps and opportunities, and risks and impacts. You should also implement corrective and preventive actions, based on your findings and feedback, to address any issues or problems, and to prevent recurrence or occurrence. You should also seek new ways to improve your processes, such as adopting new technologies, practices, or standards, or collaborating with other organizations or experts.