By Kristy Bohling (Financial Education Consultant)
An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) helps guide your ‘green' decision-making and short-term goals. This plan will identify action items and a timeline that are realistic and feasible given your budget and level of commitment to greening your business.
Before you start planning, and all through the planning process, talk to your business partner(s) and employees. Discuss the benefits of sustainable practices as they relate to the business, the environment, and individual employees. Relate the benefits of going green to your employees' interests. For example, if you know your employees like gardening and cycling, talk about the benefits they will experience if the company starts a compost pile to create fertilizer or cuts down on emissions to improve the air quality.
Next, follow these five steps to create a, realistic, focused Environmental Management Plan tailored to your business' goals, capabilities, and needs.
1. Identify Incentives
Make a list of applicable laws, incentives, benefits, and costs that may encourage improving energy efficiency and offering green products or services in your work space.
2. Specify your overarching goal(s)
With your employees and co-workers, establish a general statement of a desired outcome(s) to be achieved through your business' EMP.
3. Write down your policy
Once you have your goals, incorporate them into an overall description of your commitment to improving the energy and environmental efficiency of your business. Write your commitment down and clearly delegate responsibilities to all involved in the business! You can use a chart like the one below to organize each action item, the benefits and costs, and possible problems and solutions.
| Responsibility/Action |
Benefits/Incentives |
Costs |
Who it Involves |
Problems/Non-compliance |
Solution |
| EXAMPLE: Turn off lights when not in use |
Improve energy efficiency, decrease monthly electric costs for the business |
None, but remember to turn off the lights! |
Every employee turning off lights when they no longer need them |
People forget to turn off the lights |
Using scratch paper, make signs to post above light switches to remind people to turn lights off |
4. Establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Targets
Break down your plan to include specific targets so you can see your progress toward each goal. In other words, specifically state how you will measure your goals Here is an example:
|
Activity
|
Specific Goal
|
Indicator
|
Date
|
Target
|
Who?
|
Achieved?
|
|
EXAMPLE: Turn off lights when not in use
|
Decrease electric bill by only using lights we need to work
|
Compare electric bill before and after we are more conscience of and act more on turning off unnecessary lights
|
3/5
|
Signs made from scratch paper posted above light switches reminding people to turn off lights
|
Employee 1
|
Yes
|
|
3/19
|
At least 2 people in office remember to turn off lights when they are finished in the storage room and restroom
|
2 Employees
|
Yes
|
|
3/31
|
Compare March electric bill to February's - bill should be $15(?) lower
|
Business Owner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Track and Communicate Your Achievements
Use these charts to record your progress towards your goal. Post them for all employees to see and periodically update everyone to encourage people to keep working toward your goal(s). Involve everyone in your business in the greening process.
With an Environmental Management Plan, a sustainable business will be more within your reach!
Click here to download our Environmental Management Plan tip sheet.
For more information on Environmental Management Plans for your business, see business.gov's environmental planning and EPA's small business guide to environmental management.