ISO 14001 - What Data to Use to Set Targets for Natural Resources Use

[June Ang]

I appreciate any advice. Thanks.

One of our environmental objective is to reduce the use in natural resources such as energy, paper and water. I've collected the data on the usage of these resources for year 2001. These data will set as our baseline for us to set the target for year 2002.

My question is : how can i make use of these data to set my target??? What other factors i should take into consider when setting the target??? Is there any analytical method that could be used to set the target???

I'll propose the env objectives and targets for my top managemnet. I believe that they will sure ask for WHY and HOW i come out with these O & T. But, I don't have idea on how to set the target as i do not know how can i ensure that the target we set is reasonable and is achievable.

Can i have your advice?

[db]

June, I have several clients that have used paper and electricity usages as aspects. What I recommend is to describe the usage in terms of dollars.

Also tie the usage into units of production. That way, as production increases/decreases it will not give false readings with respect to the aspect. For example if you wish to set a target of reducing your electrical usage by 10% per month, and sales doubles, it may be impossible to achieve that goal regardless of how much conservation you apply. On the other hand if your sales drop in half, you could meet the target and yet waste even more electricity. By tieing the target to production (or sales) the natural production swings will have less effect on the target.

Hope that helps.

[Randy]

db has a good solution for you. Remember, there are no specifics when doing O&T's.

I'll get back with some figures for you that may help.

[June Ang]

Thanks!

As the target we going to set for water, electricity and paper is only for office operation. The "production rate" could be linked with these usage will be more on something like "number of tender submission per month". And there is one "funny" thing that i've observed for my company, i found that a lot of files and paper have been used is purposely to satisfy the requirements of ISO 9000.
and yet i request for their support by using the slogan "SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT"......



Anyway, i know that this is where the ISO 14000 can play a part here and help us to find out the weakness of the existing ISO 9000.

It seems like i should make the target as something like " xxx dollar per one unit of production/tender submission". Right? Yes! I think i got it.

[Randy]

You're pretty much right on June. Develop your own numbers and then set your target

[June Ang]

I'm curious and interested to know that how the "target" we set for an "objective" will affect the "means" for achieving the O&T if the O&T is as follows:

Objective : To reduce paper usage
Target : 20% reduction compared to previous year

With regards to the above O&T, i'm curious to know that in what aspect or how a target we set will affect the means or the action plan that we going to carry out?

Means : Reuse paper, use 2-sided paper, e-communication system etc.

If the target do not affect much the means that we are going to carry out, can we start to implement first without a lead of target?

Thanks.

[Randy]

The "means" will effect the reaching of your target. The "means' as I understand your use, is the method to get where you want to go.

When setting your Target you can use any method or "means" tha you want. Another word for this would be "procedure".

The specifics you gave are all good ones and you can also include using re-cycled paper products.

Foe information on environmentally friendly products for the office go to www.greenseal.org. You will find a Link called "PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS". Click on it and scroll down until you find:

Compact Fluorescent Lighting
General Purpose Cleaners
Lawn Care Equipment
Luminaires, CFL Downlight
Luminaires, Linear Fluorescent
Occupancy Sensors
Paper, Alternative Fiber
Paper, Copy
Paper, Printing and Writing
Paper Towels
Quick Serve Food Packaging, Rigid
Room Air Conditioning

These are products that have been identified as having reduced environmental impact.

I don't know about availability in Singapore, but you can check.

[cheahga]

Hi DB,

Quote:
"June, I have several clients that have used paper and electricity usages as aspects. What I recommend is to describe the usage in terms of dollars. "

Just some question I have, probably you can help us.

You recommend your clients to describe the usage in terms of dollars that is in relation with the unit of production, may I ask what is the intention of using dollar value? Would it be better to use back the unit of measure applicable to those aspect identified?

The concern we have over at our area is that what if there is a fluctuation of price in the utilities like papers, water, electricity that causes the increase/ decrease in the overall performance, how would we justify such causes to the auditors?


I.e.: in 1999, assuming usage of water was averagely 2 million gallons/ production unit in a month. Unit of price for that particular year was $ 0.10 per gallon. That comes out to be $ 200K/ production unit.

In 2000, unit of price for water increases to $ 0.20 per gallon and we manage to reduce our usage to 1.5 million gallons/ production unit averagely in a month, therefore that comes to $ 300K/ production unit.

That mean we have increased our usage describing in dollar value
but we actually decreases our usage.

Please advice us on this.

Really appreaciate your feedback over this.

thanks,
regards