Making the case for environmental improvements

If your programme of environmental improvements is to work, one of the key roles for you and any environmental champions is to persuade staff to regard environmental change as an ongoing process, not a one-off measure or gimmick.

You'll need to set short-term targets and long-term objectives, and devise straightforward, practical ways of monitoring their success. Make sure you use SMART objectives - ie they are:

• specific
• measurable
• attainable
• realistic
• time-bound

You may be able to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to report on your environmental improvements to both internal and external audiences. Environmental KPIs enable businesses to measure their environmental impact - see how to set environmental performance targets.

Collect data systematically and encourage everyone to do the same. Decide in advance how the data you collect will be used, and ensure it is circulated to everyone who needs it - see how to produce environmental reports for your business.

Make sure you provide regular feedback on the progress of environmental improvements as this will help to motivate staff. For example, if you have been asking everyone to turn off equipment or machinery when it's not in use, let them know how this has reduced power consumption, plus the financial and environmental benefits.

Re-evaluate environmental improvements regularly

Of course, not everything goes right immediately - and some things may not work at all. Plan to re-evaluate regularly. Be prepared to change and adapt, and if necessary draw a line under an idea that was a non-starter or has run out of steam. Re-planning and re-evaluating can be a positive step, not a failure.