The HOSPA Board:
Governance History
Employee Engagement
My Carbon Footprint
To create a truly environmentally-conscious business, everyone needs to understand their personal impact on the planet (both at work and at home).
Businesses are made up of humans – whether that is 5 or 5000. Training should be provided not just on work-based activities but to educate all employees on their personal environmental footprints and how they can effect change in all aspects of their lives.
Over-consumption and unnecessary purchasing is a major environmental factor here. So, for starters, here are some basic questions that everyone can and should be asking before hitting any ‘buy’ button. This can apply for work procurement and personal consumerism.
PRODUCTS
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Do we need this?
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Who made it?
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How was it made?
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What is it made of?
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What is it wrapped in*?
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How will it be transported?
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How will it perform throughout its life?
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What does it say about me (or to our customers)?
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Where will it end up?
SERVICES
Purchasing also includes service providers. So these should also be added to your assessment.
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Who else do they work with (and what does that say about them)?
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How do they serve society?
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How do they help to preserve the planet?
*Note on Packaging
Packaging comes in many shapes and sizes: boxes, bags, cans, foam pellets, shrink wrap, tubes, paper, etc. – all designed to protect a product and keep it pristine or fresh. When considering packaging in your supply chain, make sure you cover the various types:
Primary packaging: the wrapping or container handled by customers
Secondary packaging: larger cases, boxes or bags used to group goods together for distribution, ease of carrying or displaying in shops
Transit packaging: pallets, boards, plastic wrap and containers used to collate products into larger loads for shipping
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​Content adapted from The Ethical Business Book. More @ ethicalbusinesblog.com
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