Environmental performance

As a leading environmental organisation, EPA continues to strive to improve the environmental performance of its own operations and activities. The reduction of water use in EPA's offices, the reduction of GHG emissions and stationary energy, reduced paper use by EPA staff, the generation of less office waste whilst increasing recycling, and reduced fuel consumption 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, our Green Stars environment committee was established in 1998.

This page has information about the following topics:

• Environmental management system
• Environmental policy
• Green Stars 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:

• Waste & Purchasing  
• Water
• Energy
• Green Building

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 fulfilling our purpose to protect, care for and improve our environment, EPA aspires to be a world leader in environmental performance when undertaking all of our activities. 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 and to demonstrate environmental leadership to Victorian Businesses.  Specifically we will:

• continuously reduce our energy usage and maintain carbon neutrality
• continuously reduce our water usage
• continuously reduce our waste and strive towards sending zero waste to landfill

We will set and communicate ambitious targets and achieve these through our Environmental Management System (EMS), our Green Stars program as well as through 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
• establish and work towards objectives and targets to minimise these impacts
• 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 use sustainable purchasing principles when we purchase products and services and we will encourage our suppliers and contractors to meet high standards of environmental management and performance.

EPA will work with our staff to decrease their environmental impact. We will harness the skills and knowledge of our staff to maximise the success of our internal environmental management programs and embed leading environmental performance across our organisation.  

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

John Merritt
CEO, EPA Victoria

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Green stars committee and subcommittees

In 1998 EPA established a cross organisational environment committee to:

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

This committee has developed and implemented a range of actions that has resulted in improved environmental performance based on a 2005-2006 baseline, such as:

• 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,
• 17% reduction in electricity use through a range of energy reduction initiatives including sensor lighting, maximising the use of daylight, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, a switch-off policy for computers and appliances and virtualisation of servers,
• purchase of 100% accredited GreenPower,
• 71% reduction in water consumption through initiatives such as rainwater harvesting at two EPA sites and installation of water efficient tap fittings and appliances,
• 30% reduction in paper consumption through initiatives such as duplex, multi-page and PIN printing,
• purchase of 100% recycled office printing and copying paper, and
• 39% reduction in fuel use through the initiatives such as the purchase of fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles.

The committee is currently made up of more than 30 representatives from across the organisation, including:

• the Director responsible for the EMS (Chair)
• the EMS Coordinator
• the four Green Stars Subcommittee leaders
• members of each of the subcommittees.

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Subcommittees

There are four Green Stars Subcommittees responsible for the management of key environmental issues:

1. Energy
2. Waste & Purchasing
3. Water
4. Green Building

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.

Contact details

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

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