Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainability Planning: How to Create and Implement Sustainability Plans in Any Business or Organization

206 Pages·2008·6.9 MB·English

by  Darcy Hitchcock

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The Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainability Planning
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The Step-by-Step Guide
to Sustainability Planning
How to Create and Implement Sustainability Plans
in Any Business or Organization
Darcy Hitchcock and Marsha Willard
with foreword by Alan AtKisson
publishing for a sustainable future
London • Sterling, VA
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First published by Earthscan in the UK and USA in 2008
Copyright © Axis Performance Advisors, Inc., 2008
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-84407-616-1
Typeset by Domex e-Data Pvt. Ltd, India
Printed and bound in the UK by TJ International, Padstow
Cover design by Yvonne Booth
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Earthscan publishes in association with the International Institute for Environment and Development
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hitchcock, Darcy E.
The step-by-step guide to sustainability planning: how to create and implement sustainability
plans in any business or organization / Darcy Hitchcock and Marsha Willard ; with foreword by
Alan AtKisson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-84407-616-1 (pbk.)
1. Management – Environmental aspects. 2. Sustainable development – Planning
3. Business planning I. Willard, Marsha L. II. Title.
HD30.255.H584 2008
658.4’095–dc22
2008033048
The paper used for this book is FSC certified. FSC
(the Forest Stewardship Council) is an international
network to promote responsible management of
the world’s forests.
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Contents
List of Figures, Tables and Boxes ix
Foreword by Alan AtKisson xiii
Acknowledgements xv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations xvii
Introduction xix
Who should read this book? xxi
How this book is structured xxi
Definition of terms used in this book and process xxiii
Sustainability plans versus assessments –
what’s the difference and which do you need? xxiii
Sustainability assessments xxiii
Sustainability planning xxiv
When you need both xxv
Resources: Broad sustainability assessment tools xxvi
Tailoring a planning process to your needs xxvi
Fast track to a sustainability plan xxvii
Variations on the process for more advanced organizations xxix
1 Preparing for Change 1
Concepts and case examples 1
Keys to success in any organizational change initiative 1
Special considerations for sustainability initiatives 6
What to do before creating a sustainability plan 7
Resources 10
Methods and instructions 10
Readiness assessment 11
Lessons from the past 11
Stages of implementation assessment 12
Champion assessment 13
Strategies for system change 14
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vi THESTEP-BY-STEPGUIDETOSUSTAINABILITYPLANNING
2 Refining the Business Case 17
Concepts and case examples 17
Right action, wrong reason? 19
Why organizations pursue sustainability 20
Resources for making the business case 21
Methods and instructions 22
Worldwide trend cards 22
SWOT analysis 34
Long-term sustainability strategy 34
3 Creating the Vision of Sustainability 37
Concepts and case examples 37
Hierarchy of frameworks and tools 40
Long-term visioning 44
Tips for establishing a vision 45
Resources 47
Methods and instructions 47
Framework-based visioning 47
Threats and opportunities 48
Backcasting 49
New business models 51
4 Identifying Impacts and Priorities 53
Concepts and case examples 53
Multilevel approach to analysing impacts 54
Look beyond the obvious 54
Reveal new sources of process inefficiency 54
Go beyond your gates 55
Tips for getting the most out of your impact analysis 55
Resources for reporting and metrics 56
Methods and instructions 56
High-level impact assessment 56
Aspect- and impact-weighted criteria assessment 59
Process mapping 62
5 Developing Sustainability Metrics and Reports 65
Concepts and case examples 65
Fundamental principles 66
Should targets be realistic or audacious? 69
Linking your metrics to your framework 69
A shortlist of critical metrics 72
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CONTENTS vii
Data traps to avoid 72
Narrow down your list of metrics 73
Tips on designing graphs 73
Resources related to reporting and metrics 75
Methods and instructions 77
Sustainability scorecard 78
Metrics worksheet 78
Sustainability report template 79
6 Developing an Implementation Strategy and Choosing Projects 83
Concepts and case examples 83
Developing a long-term plan to reach sustainability 83
Making decisions regarding where and how to start 85
Developing a system for choosing projects 85
Managing the load 88
Tips for choosing projects 89
Resources 90
Methods and instructions 90
Long-term project plan 90
Opportunity finder 94
Stakeholder assessment 94
Weighted criteria chart 97
7 Developing Effective Management Systems 99
Concepts and case examples 99
Four elements of a management system 99
How do an EMS and SMS differ? 101
Signs that you need a better management system 102
Different ways of achieving the same ends 102
Tips for creating a management system 106
Resources 106
Methods and instructions 108
Sustainability policy 108
SMS improvement opportunities 109
SMS process summary 110
Gap analysis 110
Formal management review 114
8 Determining the Structures Needed to Manage the Effort 115
Concepts and case examples 115
Sustainability director/coordinator responsibilities 115
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Steering committee responsibilities 117
Teams 119
Resources 124
Methods and instructions 125
Sustainability structure 125
Responsibility list 126
Team pre-launch 127
Team review agenda 129
Critical incident analysis 130
9 Informing and Involving Employees 131
Concepts and case examples 131
Sharing information 131
Eliciting input and participation 134
Training on sustainability 135
Special challenges regarding the topic of sustainability 137
Tips 138
Resources 140
Methods and instructions 141
Communication plan 141
Training plan 143
Lesson plan 143
Everyday choices 143
Impact assessment 147
Personal sustainability assessment 147
References 153
Appendix 1 – Troubleshooting Tips 157
Appendix 2 – Team Pre-launch Handout and Worksheet 163
Index 169
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List of Figures, Tables and Boxes
FIGURES
I.1 Steps to creating a sustainability plan xxii
1.1 Steps toward sustainability 7
2.1 Climate change impacts 23
2.2 Climate change sources 24
2.3 Fisheries 27
2.4 Forests 28
2.5 Population projections 30
2.6 Human impacts on nitrogen 31
2.7 Species extinctions 33
3.1 Hierarchy of sustainability models 40
4.1 Impact assessment diagram 58
4.2 Sample process diagram 63
5.1 Sample graph with two axes 74
8.1 Common structures for managing sustainability 116
TABLES
I.1 Questions you will want to answer xx
I.2 Sample fast-track agenda: Day 1 xxviii
I.3 Sample fast-track agenda: Day 2 xxix
I.4 Sample fast-track agenda: Day 3 xxx
1.1 Points of entry 4
1.2 Implementation strategies 9
1.3 Overview of methods for preparing for change 11
1.4 Stages of implementation 12
1.5 Champion assessment 13
1.6 Places to intervene in a system 14
2.1 Overview of methods for preparing for change 22
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2.2 Sample SWOT chart (for a fictional gas utility) 34
2.3 Strategies for three timeframes (for a fictional
oil-drilling operation) 35
3.1 The Natural Step imbedded in the triple bottom line 43
3.2 Overview of methods for creating the vision 48
3.3 Sample threats and opportunities worksheet from
Veco (an engineering firm involved in oil and
natural gas exploration projects) 50
4.1 Overview of methods for identifying priorities 57
4.2 Sample scoring worksheet (based on The Natural Step) 60
4.3 Weighted criteria matrix 61
5.1 Common metrics tied to The Natural Step framework 70
5.2 Common metrics tied to the triple bottom line 70
5.3 Common metrics tied to impact assessment 71
5.4 Overview of methods for metrics and reporting 77
5.5 Metrics worksheet (area: greenhouse gases and energy use) 80
6.1 Cost-benefit categories 87
6.2 Quick win–big win 90
6.3 Company-wide goal plus departmental projects 91
6.4 Overview of methods for implementation 92
6.5 Sample sustainability project plan 93
6.6 Opportunity finder 95
6.7 Sample stakeholder assessment 96
6.8 Sample weighted criteria chart 97
7.1 Tasks of a sustainability management system (SMS) 100
7.2 Self-assessment: Do you need a better management system? 103
7.3 Phases of development for planning 104
7.4 Phases of development for implementing 105
7.5 Phases of development for monitoring 106
7.6 Phases of development for reviewing 107
7.7 Overview of methods for creating a management system 108
7.8 SMS worksheet 109
7.9 Sample SMS process summary 111
7.10 Gap analysis worksheet 113
8.1 Types of teams and when each is useful 121
8.2 Overview of methods for developing structures 125
8.3 Sample responsibility list 126
8.4 Team review worksheet 129
9.1 Learning strategies and recommended exercises 139