Enviro-Mark News Issue 3, March 2009
In this issue:
Editorial
A Black & Decker customer doesn't want a drill - a company executive announced to colleagues one day - they want holes.
Here at Enviro-Mark we are very mindful that you want more than an environmental management system (EMS). You want assistance to reduce your environmental impacts, save money, ensure legal compliance and grow your business through impressive environmental credentials.
As part of a focus on the value we provide, we have launched an entirely new website (www.enviro-mark.co.nz) with more extensive information about our programme and its benefits. You have told us that one of the most valuable ways we can help meet your environmental goals is through training, so we have increased our schedule of training workshops and drop-in sessions.
We are also planning a series of free seminars; the first on 'how to beat the waste levy' and 'how to promote your environmental credentials'.
At the end of the day, we can provide the tools, the step-by-step approach and the training, but it's the enthusiasm and commitment of you and your organisation that is most critical to achieving results.
The Enviro-Mark customer we have profiled in this edition, Soar Printing, provides an excellent example of the benefits possible from embracing environmental management. Achieving cost savings of $150,000, Soar Printing is also growing its business - and the business of its customers - with its credible environmental focus.The interesting point about Soar Printing - and indeed many of the successful Enviro-Mark customers I talk to - is they have ended up realising benefits that weren't anticipated when they started out on their journey.
When you buy a Black & Decker drill, you know you get holes. With Enviro-Mark, there is a lot more on offer.
Charlie Bartlett
Enviro-Mark Programme Manager
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Enviro-Mark Member News
The Enviro-Mark team welcomes these new members:
- Printcraft81 Ltd
- MSO Design
- Marketing Impact Christchurch & Auckland
- Ice Construction Ltd
- Maori Television
Congratulations to these members for recently achieving Enviro-Mark Diamond certification:
- Alliance Group - Nelson
- Fonterra Brands NZ Ltd Takanini
Congratulations to these members for recently achieving Enviro-Mark Gold certification:
- Remarkit Solutions Ltd
- Spicers Paper NZ Ltd - Wellington
- Placemakers - Invercargill
- Wellington Business Forms
- Booker Spalding
- David Robertson Decorators Ltd
Intuitive New Website
Take a look at our new Enviro-Mark New Zealand website. After a comprehensive review of the information you require to develop and promote your EMS, we have completely redesigned the site with a real focus on intuitive access.
The more contemporary looking site is easier to navigate your way around and has everything you need to know about Enviro-Mark, and the road to improved environmental management. We have explained the key benefits of the programme, with relevant comments from established Enviro-Mark customers.
Telarc SAI Auditing
We are pleased to announce that from May 2009 Telarc SAI will become an approved Enviro-Mark auditor.
At this stage we expect Telarc SAI to conduct Wellington-based audits from May, and that other areas will be added later in the year. Details are still to be confirmed.
Telarc SAI is New Zealand's leading environmental auditing agency with thousands of hours of auditing experience and an eight-person strong environmental auditing team. The company undertakes most of New Zealand's ISO 14001:2004 audits, so it's a real benefit to our programme to have Telarc SAI on-board.
All our existing auditors (Paul Barrett, Jes McNicol and Mike Farrier) will continue to provide audits as before.
New Enviro-Mark Certificates
As part of our new Enviro-Mark 'look', we have redesigned the certificates for each of the five programme levels.
From now on, all members achieving a new level of certification will be issued with the new certificates.
If you choose to display the certificates representing all the Enviro-Mark levels you have achieved, and you would like all your certificates in the new design, please contact us.
Free & Exclusive Seminars
With our focus on increasing the value we provide, we have scheduled the first in a series of free seminars on relevant environmental topics.
While our training workshops are designed to help you achieve Enviro-Mark certification, the seminars will be informative discussions on key topics where we have expertise. These topics may or may not relate directly to the Enviro-Mark programme.
The first seminar, held in Auckland on 12th March, was on how to beat the $10 per tonne waste levy that will apply to all waste you send to landfill from 1st July. The feedback from the seminar, attended by more than 40 members, was very good, with many people describing it as a practical and informative discussion on waste reduction.
The second seminar, to be held in Christchurch on 1st April, will provide advice on how to promote your hard-earned environmental credentials to grow your business.
Seminar invitations will be sent to all local Enviro-Mark members or you can go to our website for more information.
Training Workshops and Drop-in Sessions
If there is one thing that our most successful Enviro-Mark customers have in common it is a commitment to training.
While Enviro-Mark provides all the tools and resources to guide you on your environmental performance journey, it is our training services that provide the impetus to get you to your destination faster.
With this is mind, we have increased our schedule of heavily subsidised training workshops and free drop-in sessions in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.
The next workshops are being held in Christchurch next week - Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th March - register now!
Enviro-Mark Terms & Conditions - Logo Use
By now all members should have received a copy of our updated Enviro-Mark Terms and Conditions.
In particular, we would like to draw your attention to the back of the document which has information about the correct use of Enviro-Mark logos and programme terminology.
Credibility is a cornerstone of our programme so we are particularly keen to ensure that promotion of your membership accurately conveys your level of certification in our multi-level programme.
If you are uncertain about how you should be referring to your Enviro-Mark credentials, please refer to the Terms and Conditions document first.
Alternatively, we are happy to proof any material promoting your certification. Please send any files to enviro-mark@landcareresearch.co.nz and allow a 48-hour turnaround.
CARS Email
The six-week deadline members have for acting on Corrective Action Requests (CARs), which are sometimes included in audit reports, can roll around fairly quickly. To help you keep track of these in future we will now be sending out email reminders.
RMA Reform
The Government is hoping to streamline and simplify decision making on environmental issues through a reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The RMA replaced more than 50 other laws when it came into place in 1991. Growing concern about the effectiveness of the legislation prompted the National-led Government to announce the review last December.
A concise nine-page overview (Bill to make RMA processes simpler, cheaper, quicker), tabled in the house last month, explains how the RMA is likely to change. A Bill will go through the Select Committee process before being debated by the House about August. Submissions are due 3rd April 2009.
Member Profile: Soar Printing
Like all good journeys, the road to improved environmental performance can offer some pleasant surprises. Auckland company, Soar Printing has been surprised by cost savings of over $150,000 per year, the ability to attract new customers and benefits to staff morale. We talked to Marketing Manager Craig Brown about the journey.
Why did Soar Printing decide to focus on its environmental management?
Soar Printing is a family-owned business, established in 1920, that has always been at the forefront of technology and service improvements in printing. Five years ago key staff were considering the future challenges the organisation might face and we identified the need to improve our environmental performance. I think many companies want to be seen to be doing the right thing, but we wanted to bring about genuine improvements and were excited by the possibilities.
So how did you go about that?
We were introduced to the Enviro-Mark programme. We could see how the five steps and the tools would guide our programme. Our environmental approach quickly became a big part of our business and continues to drive our culture today.
You've achieved Enviro-Mark Diamond certification now. Tell us about some of the improvements you have made along the way.
We track everything from water use, power, fuel, consumables and much more. We align ourselves with like-minded suppliers where possible and make sure the products supplied to us are as environmentally friendly as possible. Our recycling plan is important. We have reduced our waste to landfill from 90% to 10%, and achieve rubbish savings of up to $1000 a week. The most exciting thing is we now get money back for our recycled rubbish. So finding solutions saves on tip and collection fees but actually being paid for our effective handling of waste is a huge bonus and part of our revenue stream. All up, we are saving more than $150,000 per year, mostly though waste management and energy savings.
Any other benefits apart from cost savings?
It has opened doors to new customers. Companies are very interested in this kind of approach and often the conversations take you away from selling a service or product. It helps build understanding and relationships and makes selling the service or product easier. We can show the customer how we can assist them to get the right message to their audience. Smart companies can get some real mileage by taking the lead in this area. Internally, our environmental programme has really united the team. We take pride in our environmental performance and each month we look forward to seeing the results to see if we have done better.
What are the environmental challenges of choosing and operating printing presses?
We look at the lifecycle of printing technology: for example, how it was made, power consumption and any harmful chemicals it will use, and what will happen at the end of its life. We have just purchased the most advanced printing technology, the Anicolor press. We can save customers up to 390 sheets of paper waste to make ready each job. As well as being good for the environment, this advanced offset press is saving our customers a fortune. The best part is the Anicolor uses considerable less paper, ink, power and consumables. Our customers feel good about placing their print business with Soar Printing because jointly we were helping the environment and they are saving money by doing so.
What about inks and paper?
We use soya and vegetable based inks. Two years ago we became certified for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) which means our customers are assured the paper we use is from sustainable recourses and traceable right back to the forest it originated from.
What challenges to implementing an EMS have your encountered along the way?
Initially there was a lot of hard work and we needed to change the thinking of our staff and to a degree our suppliers. But we had commitment from management and resources were made available. As we obtained certification for each level it gave the company greater drive to achieve more and reach the next target. Now we have an induction book that steps new employees through every aspect of our business, what is expected of them in their role, and it also gets buy-in to the environment programme, health and safety and so on.
What has been the key to your success?
Communication and getting buy-in from all parties, starting from the top. Without the financial commitment and support it would not have gone anywhere. Sheer drive and determination kept us on track in the first part and as the benefits started to come to light our staff could see this was well worth getting in behind. Things happen automatically now but we don't get complacent, we are always looking for new ways.