Pursue positive environmental impact

CR&S practitioners are expected to understand an organisation’s impacts on the environment and should, wherever possible, identify improvements that minimise or eliminate negative environmental impacts and promote positive environmental impact. 

In doing so, CR&S practitioners are expected to see business activity and impact through an environmental lens, and use this lens to improve an organisation’s environmental impact.

In pursuit of positive environmental impact the practitioner may have to challenge accepted behaviours, standards and practices. It will demand personal leadership and commitment, a grounded understanding of an organisation’s impacts, and excellent and creative communication skills.

Awareness

  • Understand the main local and global environmental issues, including climate change, pollution, water scarcity, unsustainable consumption and waste, and their relevance to an organisation.  
  • Identify the main environmental risks faced by an organisation and what an organisation’s strategy should be in relation to those risks.
  • Identify an organisation’s environmental impacts through the entire value chain, and how an organisation can achieve cost savings by addressing environmental impacts and market differentiation by developing environmentally sensitive products or services.
  • Know when to consult experts for technical expertise on environmental management. 
  • Keep informed regarding, and where appropriate, contribute to, the latest debate and thinking on environmental issues, and the role of business generally in relation to the environment.  
  • Understand the statutory and legal requirements around the environment and ensure compliance.

Advocacy and Advice

  • Encourage concern for the environment within an organisation and with key stakeholders outside an organisation. 
  • Develop a compelling narrative that promotes internal understanding of an organisation’s environmental impacts and the role of business in the environment. Share this narrative with key external stakeholders. 
  • Advocate opportunities for reducing negative environmental impact and enhancing positive environmental impact.
  • Encourage senior management to take a strong stance on environmental issues.
  • Provide coherent, accurate, and objective advice on environmental issues and persuade other of its applicability to the business.

Compliance

  • Comply with, maintain, support or develop (as appropriate) effective policies and procedures concerning greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, water scarcity, unsustainable consumption and waste.

Strategy 

  • Identify opportunities for reducing negative environmental impact and enhancing positive environmental impact. 
  • Develop and pursue adoption of strategies for delivering a positive environmental impact. 

Stakeholders 

  • Identify, and build strong relationships, with relevant environmental stakeholders. 
  • Consider the views of stakeholders, understand their main concerns, and their impact on the business, and engage in constructive dialogue on environmental issues.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with external organisations on addressing environmental impacts.

Communication 

  • Develop effective metrics to assess the impacts of environmental initiatives. 
  • Communicate the results of environmental initiatives internally and externally using the most appropriate and effective media.