Improving resource efficiency in the workplace is one of the most effective ways a company can reduce their environmental impact and minimise waste. It is also an opportunity to increase profits and lower costs by using the resources they have available to their full potential.
What is resource efficiency?
Resource efficiency is what exactly it says on the tin, it involves maximising output from using minimal resources or improving the output of existing resources.
Resource efficiency can come from a broad range of sources but primarily focuses on energy, materials, waste, and water.
What are the benefits of resource efficiency?
From a range of perspectives there are multiple benefits of resource efficiency; primarily benefits come with increased cost effectiveness of business processes, improved competitiveness, reduced environmental impact and an overall improved corporate image.
Resource efficiency can help with adherence to legislative requirements, such as the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
How do you improve resource efficiency?
The methods in achieving greater resource efficiency fully depends on the undertakings of your business.
The main method is to implement an environmental management system (EMS), such as ISO14001:2015.
Running an EMS will help you to recognise areas for continual improvement and provide structures for monitoring and reviewing your environmental performance.
Such an EMS is adaptable to any industry or size of organisation and requires the business to assess and minimise all environmental aspects and impacts.
There are also a number of more specific targeted methods that can be used to increase resource efficiency:
- Apply the waste hierarchy:
- The Waste Hierarchy is a ranked system that can be applied to waste with prioritisation aimed at prevention of its creation, reusing materials and recycling over other recovery methods and disposal.
- Reduce energy consumption:
- Energy efficiency can be a big win in improving resource efficiency whilst also cutting costs. Replacing lighting with LED or automatic lighting systems can ensure that lighting energy is only used when entirely necessary in an energy efficient manner.
- Use staff engagement:
- As with any business practice engagement with employees by providing awareness and operating procedure training, alongside behavioural change programmes is essential to ensuring improved resource efficiency filters down throughout the organisation.
How can WA Management help?
WA Management offer Environmental Awareness and Resource Efficiency online training courses to help your organisation reduce its environmental impact.
We also provide a range of services to help companies reach their net zero goals – learn more here.