Consulting Firms have placed Sustainability on top of their list

| Wednesday, August 1, 2012
By Baskar Kotte


Over the last several years, many member web sites have tried to address this concept. Nevertheless in order for such websites to totally implement all sides of Sustainability, several concerns must be addressed. We seldom have an issue in spotting what really should be done; as an alternative our problem often is linked to implementation. In the case of Sustainability, a disregard of trained tools available is the main reason for inadequate implementation.

This manuscript addresses certain concepts of sustainability and how such ideas can be totally implemented with available disciplined tools like ISO standards.

1. What is Sustainability?

The Global Organization for Standardizing (ISO) refers to Sustainability as the ability to maintain or develop performance over the long term. Looked at thru a different lens, sustainability has to do with maintaining your business financially, socially and environmentally.

2. Components of Sustainability

Sustainability broadly is composed of three components:

- Business Sustainability (business/monetary);
- Environmental Sustainability; and
- Social Responsibility.

Simply put , Sustainability relates to an optimum balance of risk, profitability, social responsibility, and responsibility.

3. Sustainability in action



4. Connecting Sustainability to ISO Authentication

To gain and maintain sustainability for continuing success, an organization should tirelessly follow certain management disciplines. ISO has developed Standards for Quality, Environment and Safety, every one of which details approaches to gain long term sustainable success.

5. Which ISO Standards?

A few members of AICC have developed Sustainability mechanisms. Nonetheless these members are sometimes facing difficulties in using such methodologies.

Two kinds of ISO Standards are helpful for successful implementation of Sustainability practices: Certifiable standards and Steerage standards.

A. ISO Certifiable Standards:

Certain certifiable ISO standards have brought benefits to the corrugated changing industry, such as:

- ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Manager's System (QMS) focuses on Disciplined Problem Solving , Continual Improvement and Boosting Consumer Satisfaction; allows top management to drive improvement through synchronizing quality managing system results with business performance results
- ISO 14001: 2004 Environment Management System (EMS) concentrates on Pollution Prevention, Conservation of Energy and Natural Resources; promotes Sustained Improvement and Environmental Sustainability
- OHSAS 18001: 2007 Occupational H Management System (OHSMS) focuses on Occupational Health & Safety risk assessments related to perils with participation and consultation to drive Continued Improvement

B. ISO Guidance Standards:

ISO has developed several guidance standards, some of which have been in association with its partner, IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). The following steerage standards have been handy in successful implementation of Sustainability:

- ISO 9004:2009 Managing for the sustained success of an organization: A top quality management approach
* Provides guidance to organizations for achievement of sustained success thru a top quality management approach. This standard can be used by any organisation, without reference to size, type and activity.
- ISO 31000:2009 Risk management: Principles and guidelines
* Identifies opportunities and minimizes threats related to environmental, financial and safety risks.Risk is all about uncertainty and the consequences of doubt in achieving set goals related to safety and environment.
- ISO/IEC 31010:2009 Risk management: Risk assessment techniques
* Provides affiliations with steering on: risks related to societal, environmental, technological, safety and security outcomes; commercial, financial and economic disciplines; and social, cultural and political reputation impacts. This standard can be used to treat particular risks and to select between options.
- ISO 26000:2010. Steerage on Social Responsibility
* Stresses a transparent moral behavior in all calls related to society and the environment. This standard promotes sustainable development on health and safety and international norms of behaviour, and it provides guidance to associations of every size regarding concepts, elements and practices related to social responsibility

6. List of Sustainability and ISO Standard Connections

Sustainability ComponentsISO Standard Business Sustainability ISO 9001; ISO 31000; ISO 31010; ISO Guide 73 Environmental Sustainability ISO 14001 Social Responsibility (OH&S) ISO 26000; OHSAS 18001

7. Other Standards associated with Sustainability

Certain certifiable Chain of Custody and US Green Building Council (USGBC) standards also relate to sustainability.

A. Chain of Custody

- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
- Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

B. US Green Building Council (USGBC)

USGBC has developed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building authorization system.

Some AICC members are requiring their customers to comply with these building ratification system needs.

8. Authorization Essentiality

Critical questions:

- Have we got to accomplish certification for all certifiable standards to demonstrate Sustainability? The answer is No.
- Are we able to maintain Sustainability without having a discipline in place and have it authenticated by a 3rd party on a continual basis? The answer's It depends.

The decision is down to you. Answers to these questions depend on senior management's perspectives as well dedication to achieve and maintain sustainability over the long-run.

9. Buyers Influence on Sustainability

Major packaging purchasers are indirectly or directly influencing AICC members to stick to precise sustainability needs (e.g, Walmarts Sustainability Score Cards system).

In the end the customer is king; our buyers sign our pay check. Our enterprises are likely to help fulfill consumer demands, without reference to how many ISO standards are needed to totally implement measurable Sustainability.

10. The Rs Connection to Sustainability

Being in the Corrugated Converting Industry, we cannot close the loop on sustainability without talking about Rs. My top 5 Rs are: Remove; Reduce; Reuse; Recycle; and Renew.

Summary

Sustainability is the power to maintain your business financially, socially and environmentally. To do total sustainability, practitioners must recognise the tools that are available for effective implementation. Certifiable and Guidance ISO standards together with some customer needed tools are stated in this post for higher managers review and selection. Application of the chosen tools on continued basis across the organization in relentless demeanour will position any organisation on a sustainable path.




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