Making Sustainable Practices 'Business as Ususal'
Often you will find that sustainable practices appeal at the beginning, but eventually old habits are slipped back into, and the motivation to repeatedly 'fix' things wains. Here are my tips to make sure this doesn't happen in your organisation. These could be applied to a recycling programme, energy efficiency programme or anything else.
This article is provided by Karyn Owen, Venture Southland. For more tips on this and other topics, visit www.sustainablesouthland.co.nz see Quick Tips on the home page.
Quick Tips
Review
Before you put a new system in place, study the existing system and how people use it.
Plan
Design the new system to make it easy for people to do the thing you want them to, and more difficult to do the undesirable old habit. For example, put in more easy to access recycling bins and reduce the number of rubbish bins. Give each person their own paper recycling tray, and put a lid that requires lifting on the rubbish bin.
Test
Run a trial of a new system in one area first, or ask people to test it works like you think it will.
Champion
Designate people to implement the new system, delegating tasks appropriately. e.g. Just because you set up the recycling system doesn't mean you are the person who needs to phone up the collectors each time it needs emptying. It might be appropriate to ask your accounts person to monitor energy use, given they will receive the necessary data on the invoices.
Communicate
Tell people (staff and customers) what you are doing and why. Give them an open channel to give feedback, or suggested improvements.
Audit
Schedule a regular walk around to check that everything in your system is in place.
Set a target
Set a goal, or target for your new system and celebrate the milestones towards achieving it.
Measure
Build your target and on-going measurement towards it into your usual organisation reporting mechanism so that it is an on-going matter to be monitored.
Communicate
Include information on how the system works in your workplace induction programme so that new staff are educated, too.
Review
Review your system and if any factors have changed, which mean you need to review it, suggest you look at it annually.