Environmental performance

As a leading environmental organisation, EPA continues to strive to improve the environmental performance of its own operations and activities. The consumption of electricity and water in EPA's offices, paper use by EPA staff, the generation of office waste, the use of chemicals in the laboratories and energy consumed by the travel of EPA staff across the State are all targets for improvement.

Through our environmental policy we are committed to continually improving the environmental management and performance of our office, laboratory and field-based operations.

To identify, manage and reduce the impact of our activities, an environment committee was established in 1998.

This page has information about the following topics:

• Environmental management system
• Environmental policy
• Environment committee and subcommittees
• Contact details

Environmental management system

In 2004 EPA introduced an Environmental Management System (EMS) consistent with the Victorian Government Environmental Management System Framework and the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems, IS014001.

The EMS provides a structured and systematic framework for managing and improving environmental performance. The key focus areas of the EMS are:

• building and transport energy consumption
• water consumption
• paper consumption
• waste generation and
• green purchasing.

In 2005 an EMS Co-ordinator was appointed to oversee the implementation of the EMS and coordinate the activities of the Environment Committee.

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Environmental policy

In delivering our mission, EPA aspires to be a world leader in environmental performance when undertaking our office, laboratory and field-based operations. We view this as an investment in both the future of our operations and our environment.

We will strive to avoid environmental impacts resulting from our operations. Where impacts cannot be avoided, we will reduce, responsibly manage or offset those impacts. Specifically we will seek to:

• avoid the generation of waste and emissions
• reduce the consumption of resources including energy, water and materials.

We will achieve this through the use of traditional tools, such as our Environmental Management System (EMS), as well as through emerging tools such as life cycle approaches and ecological footprint calculations.

In order that our EMS continues to meet international standards, and demonstrates continuous improvement, we will:

• identify and monitor our significant environmental impacts and establish objectives and targets to minimise these
• exceed all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements
• undergo periodic independent EMS audits
• regularly review and report on our environmental management and performance, both internally and externally.

EPA will consider environmental impacts when we purchase products and services and we will encourage our suppliers and contractors to meet high standards of environmental management and performance.

Drawing on our experience we will strive to lead by example, promoting global best practice and driving sustainable outcomes in our operations, in our client organisations and in our community.

Mick Bourke
EPA Chairman

November 2005

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Environment committee and subcommittees

In 1998 EPA established a cross organisational environment committee to:

• implement Environmental Improvement Plans
• develop and implement actions to improve EPA's environmental performance, and
• monitor and report on EPA's environmental performance.

Between 1998 and 2005 this committee developed and implemented a range of actions that resulted in improved environmental performance, including:

• reduction in energy consumption of 37 per cent by moving our head office and South Metro office to buildings with higher energy efficiency
• purchase of 14 per cent renewable energy
• separate collection of recyclable and compostable waste in all offices
• reduction in paper consumption of 24 per cent through initiatives such as duplex and multi-page printing
• purchase of office printing and copying paper that is made from 100 per cent recycled material, and
• purchase of fuel efficient vehicles where suitable for the task required.

The committee is currently made up of more than 20 representatives from across the organisation, including:

• the Director responsible for the EMS (Chair)
• the EMS Coordinator
• the three Environment Subcommittee leaders
• members of each of the subcommittees.

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Subcommittees

There are three Environment Subcommittees responsible for the management of key environmental issues:

1. Energy
2. Waste
3. Water.

A large part of the subcommittees work is to assist with the development and implementation of Environmental Management Programs (EMPs) - the practical building blocks that make up the EMS. Each EMP includes:

• an action plan to achieve a particular objective or target for environmental performance
• who is responsible for achieving the objectives or targets and
• when they need to be achieved by.

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Contact details

For more information regarding EPA's environmental performance, please contact the EMS Co-ordinator.

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