Nobody likes writing company sustainability insurance policies. It’s onerous to know the place to start-especially if this is step one in what you hope to be a sustainability technique.

For those who haven’t seen the earlier blogs on insurance policies, try the first and second one. I’m additionally assuming you’ve began some sustainability initiatives and have accomplished a sustainability audit. For those who haven’t, these will increase and refine your sustainability technique and make your insurance policies far more efficient.

Following up on the earlier weblog on insurance policies , let’s take a look at the sorts of insurance policies relevant in your online business and which to deal with first. I’ll share some coverage examples with info finest practices and the place they’re relevant. 

I name the subsequent three insurance policies “Your Primary Three,” if you happen to do nothing else, attempt making a coverage to handle these three useful resource decisions. Decreasing waste, water or vitality will prevent cash and have interaction your workers. Choose probably the most interesting possibility and begin there. 

In my view, every firm might use the entire insurance policies under. However, I do know you’re savvy and I’m making an attempt to assist and be real looking. So, begin with the primary three and work your approach down.  The remaining are extra “superior” or are straight associated to governance. Let’s take a look at the Large Three first.

Take a look at the earlier weblog for methods to write useful resource discount insurance policies. Right here’s why every of those insurance policies is a crucial a part of sustainability. 

Company Waste Coverage

Each firm makes waste. Sure, even if you happen to don’t make a product, you make waste. Give you a coverage round to acknowledge and scale back waste created. This might embrace lowering paper, making an attempt to determine methods to scale back packaging or organising a meals waste administration system within the workplace. For those who assume, I can’t recycle ____, try TerraCycle. They’re an superior firm engaged on recycling every little thing. 

Company Water Coverage

Water is a scarce, invaluable useful resource. Arrange a coverage to trace and scale back water use. A coverage could be as uncomplicated as researching water-reducing sinks and bogs and setting a financial savings purpose to buy these choices. Analysis or discover different methods to cut back water in your amenities and use analysis to develop a coverage. 

Company Power Coverage 

No query, you’ll be able to scale back the quantity you spend on vitality, and avoid wasting vitality within the course of. There are such a lot of assets to determine what it is advisable do to avoid wasting vitality, relying in your supplier, geographic location and trade. I like to recommend checking first along with your vitality suppliers, fuel and electrical energy and HVAC and see what they suggest. Then, arrange a coverage to cut back. 

Often known as “name your lawyer for these insurance policies.” We’ve talked earlier than about how essential it’s to have governance and govt buy-in for sustainability. Governance insurance policies help this dedication. 

Many corporations have the beginning of a few of these insurance policies. Double-check and add them if you happen to don’t. Then, name your lawyer and ask if there’s the rest wanted. 

Now, you’re in all probability pondering it’s insane to attempt to write all of those insurance policies within the subsequent few weeks. I perceive you might have different objects in your agenda. So be at liberty to bookmark these for later and begin them when you might have a second. I nonetheless assume the useful resource discount insurance policies, the Large Three, are crucial to get carried out first. Then, throw a calendar reminder for 3 months from now to get these subsequent ones carried out. 

Alternatively, if you happen to’re in a giant coverage push, consider how nice it should really feel to get all of those carried out! Don’t overlook to assign duties and to make use of your workforce to get these checked off. 

Environmental Buying Coverage

Is your non-product associated buying reflecting your environmental targets? For those who’re buying workplace provides or requirements from lower than sustainable corporations it is likely to be time for a reframe. Begin by gathering the entire objects outdoors of any product provides (from provide chain) you buy and work out how they’re supporting the surroundings. This coverage ought to embrace targets for environmental buying, dedication to the continuing analysis of distributors and a class to enhance within the subsequent 12 months. 

Stakeholder Coverage

For those who’re lively in your neighborhood, function in a number of cities, are in a government-oversight heavy trade (like tech) or need to enhance an present sustainability technique, develop a stakeholder coverage. AccountAbility is the gold customary for stakeholder engagement info. A stakeholder coverage ought to embrace the way you work together with these in your neighborhood, any enterprise stakeholders, commitments to enchancment and the way your operations have an effect on the larger neighborhood. To be taught extra about stakeholders, try how and why to attach with stakeholders. 

Provide Chain 

Provide chains are tremendous particular, tough and a massively essential a part of an general sustainability technique. Provide chain insurance policies might fill a whole weblog submit. I like to recommend wanting on the UN World Compact or B Corp web site for express directions for a strong provide chain. You must have a provide chain code of conduct at a minimal. These web sites will enable you develop one and discover the most effective practices in your provide chain. 

Company Sustainability Coverage

Some corporations wish to have an general arching assertion on the surroundings or sustainability. That is firm desire however if you happen to’re holding a lot of your insurance policies inside, having one exterior dealing with dedication might help appeal to workers or clients. 

This needs to be fairly simple if you happen to’ve written different insurance policies. I’m hesitant to share particular examples, however I’m a fan of Cisco or Adobe. The mixture of “Motion Assertion” with specifics is highly effective. 

These are the fundamentals for the sorts of insurance policies you ought to be working in the direction of and beginning with. I can’t suggest the Large Three insurance policies sufficient. They’re an important place to begin to get workers motivated, see how sustainability works and get momentum constructed up. 

Subsequent up, we’re going to speak about methods to get workers to observe your insurance policies and the easiest way to speak insurance policies internally and externally. 

Associated: Is it time for a materiality evaluation?

What insurance policies do you have already got in place? Something you’d add to this listing? I’d like to know within the feedback under. 

Need assistance writing your sustainability insurance policies? Attain out, we might help!