Environmental Audit of BRAC Head Office

Transcription

1 Environmental Audit of BRAC Head Office Emma Child April 1998 BRAC, Research and Evaluation Division, 75 Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka 1212 Tel , , , Fax , ,

2 Environmental Audit of BRAC Head Office Introduction Over two years ago, BRAC established an Environmental Cell within its Research and Evaluation Division in an attempt to ensure BRAC s development programmes are environmentally sustainable. Work to date has focused on environmental evaluations of existing rural development and other programmes, environmental training of BRAC staff, and research into environmental issues and possibilities for BRAC activities. BRAC is a large NGO based in Dhaka with over 800 field offices. In addition to disseminating environmental information and recommendations to the field level where much of BRAC s initiatives are implemented, it is important to recognise and minimise the environmental impact of the centralised Head Office in Dhaka. Background to Environmental Audits Similar to the well-known principles of a financial audit, an environmental audit systematically examines the practices and activities of an organisation with respect to environmental impacts, and identifies possible measures to minimise the impacts. Essentially, they identify ways to be more effective and efficient from an environmental standpoint. These environmental audits can be quite specific by focusing on one type of activity, or quite broad to include all of the organisation s functionings. They differ from formal environmental impact assessments (EIAs) by examining operational practices rather than a certain project or programme. Some of the most important and recurring principles behind environmental audits are the 3Rs, that is, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These are listed in order of decreasing preference or efficiency. Reduce aims to minimise the use of something at source. Re-use aims to use something more than once, either for repeated or different purposes, before disposal. Recycle aims to transform something into something else useful, as an alternative to disposal. Environmental Audit Framework Most activities at Head Office are centralised management work (as opposed to project or programme implementation), and therefore concerned with the consumption of material goods, particularly paper. In addition to the office work, other activities at BRAC Head Office include the cafeteria and staff transportation. In addition to these functions, the actual building that the staff work in is also a significant subject of an environmental audit.

3 In order to systematically examine the environmental components of Head Office s operations, a framework has been developed according to the types of environmental implications and the relevant activities. These are: Material Use office paper cleaning materials cafeteria supplies Waste Production solid waste (paper, packaging, kitchen waste) liquid waste (sanitary) Energy Use electricity for lights, air-conditioning, computers, etc. gas in cafeteria cooking water in bathrooms and cafeteria fuel in transportation Following is an examination of the activities and infrastructure of BRAC Head Office according to this framework. The relevant activities are identified, the relevant environmental audit principles given, the environmental inputs and outputs listed, the recommended alternatives or mitigation measures explained, and the main implementing departments of BRAC identified. Recommendations cover equipment or infrastructure, operational practices, and organisational policies.

4 MATERIAL USE Most of the staff activities at the office directly involves the use of material goods, particularly paper. The environmental principles underlying this section are the minimal use of materials (especially disposable goods), the use of environmentally-friendly products, and the re-use of materials. Materials Used (quantities are approximate): photocopy and laserprinter paper (offset, size A4) - 15,000 sheets per month duplicating paper (cyclostyle) - 250,000 sheets per month computer paper (continuous feed) - 200,000 sheets per month writing-pad paper pads per month (4,500 sheets) letterhead paper - 20 pads per month (2,000 sheets) envelopes (4 sizes) - 15,000 per month office supplies - pens, staples, computer disks, etc. (see appendix for example of one month supply) packaging material building cleaning supplies - 20 L Finis liquid (Phenyle, an insecticide), 5 L Mortein (insecticide), 20 kg Beam/Jet detergent for floors, 3 L Harpic liquid detergent for toilets, 75 L liquid soap for handwashing, 220 rolls toilet paper (all montly figures) cafeteria supplies - cutlery, glasses, plates, napkins, meal tickets, etc. Type of Material Paper (writing, photocopy, computer) Environmental Environmentally- Friendly Products Re-use Re-use Recommendation Use paper supply that is made from post-consumer recycled waste, or made from non-wood source such as water hyacinth 1 Institute a process (deposit box) for re-using the second side of used paper as writing paper for office staff. Produce the various administrative forms (e.g. travel All Staff 2 / BRAC Printer 1 At this time it appears that this is not available in Bangladesh, beyond the handmade/handicraft level of production. However, used paper in Dhaka is separated from garbage and sold for industrial-level production of products other than paper (e.g. hard book covers). 2 Environment Research Group

5 and expense claim forms, message pads 3 ) using the second side of used paper. 3 Recommendations for re-use of second side of paper extend to forms that stay within the organisation rather than externally-circulated papers, in the interest of any privacy issues.

6 Type of Material Environmental Recommendation Photocopy paper Reduce Use double-sided photocopying by staff responsible for photocopying duties, such as on RED floor. Envelopes Re-use Multiple-use envelopes for internal mail. Re-using envelopes received for external by attaching label over old address. Label would be printed with BRAC return address and blank space for new addressee. 4 Packaging material Re-use Reuse of received packaging material for packages being sent out by staff responsible for packing duties. Cleaning supplies Environmentally- Use of natural alternatives to Friendly Products chemical cleaning products 5. Paper cups for cafeteria soft drinks Paper meal tickets for Bengali food Environmentally- Friendly Products Environmentally- Friendly Products Use glasses, as is done for water. Use re-useable plastic chits 6. Floor Peons All Staff Floor Peons Cleaning Staff Canteen Canteen The office products used by office and support staff and their associated environmental impacts could be greatly reduced by simple alterations of staff practices and by the organisation s procurement policies. These activities would require minimal effort by staff on a day-to-day basis, and minimal effort on a centralised level to support the changes (e.g. provision of paper re-use receptacles, envelope slips). In reducing paper use, there is also a significant opportunity to reduce costs, as approximately 1.2 million Taka is spent yearly on paper at Head Office. Staff would be informed of practices to be implemented through an environmental bulletin. Such a bulletin could also be circulated subsequently to report on the effects of the changes, such as 4 See appendix for mock-ups of envelope re-use. 5 For example, water/vinegar mixture for window cleaning, baking soda for scrubbing. 6 Currently the date is written on each paper ticket, which would not be possible with plastic chits. If the purpose is to distinguish different days to prevent use of tickets other than on the day purchased, different coloured plastic could be used. However, it is felt that this practice is negligible, and preventable by allowing only one ticket to be purchased per day by staff.

7 levels of paper and cost reductions achieved. Information and specific instruction to office peons, such as those responsible for photocopying, would be provided. Some of the recommendations could be instituted through BRAC s development programmes such as the Urban Development Programme (UDP), and could be closed-loop systems feeding back to Head Office. The most obvious mechanism is with the use of environmentally friendly paper products made from recycled materials. The paper disposed of at Head Office could form the inputs of a paper recycling and production activity in the city implemented by urban poor targeted by the UDP, the products of which would then be bought by BRAC. A similar process, although not closed-loop, would include the piloting of a non-wood fibre paper production programme supported by REP and/or UDP, the products of which would be purchased by BRAC. This section is closely linked with the production of waste, discussed below, as the reduction of materials used and disposed of goes hand in hand. WASTE PRODUCTION The production of waste is linked to materials used in two ways: minimising the use of materials will result in less waste, and re-using what would otherwise be wasted also ultimately reduces the amount of waste to be disposed of. Inherent in this section are the principles of alternative uses and recycling to divert material from the waste stream, as well as environmentally-friendly disposal. Waste Produced is basically of three types (paper, food, and liquid wastes): used paper (all types and envelopes) - taken by cleaners and dumped in open garbage piles on street left-over prepared food from cafeteria food waste from kitchen - collected in bucket and taken to open garbage pile on street liquid and sewage waste from washrooms, kitchen - taken by pipes hooked up to municipal sewage and wastewater lines (separate systems) Type of Waste Office Paper (duplicating, photocopy, computer, note paper) Environmental Recycle Recommendations Institute a system of paper disposal in office, separate from garbage disposal, with labeled receptacles and All Staff Cleaning Staff

8 instructions on acceptable types of paper 7 7 See above discussion on selling waste paper as input to recycled-content paper-making enterprise. Alternatively, paper, collected as separate from the rest of the waste stream in the building, could be sold or given to outside parties.

9 Type of Waste Environmental Recommendations Cafeteria food left-overs Alternative Use Donate extra prepared food at end to day to kitchen and cleaning staff Cafeteria food waste Alternative Use Donate kitchen wastes (vegetable matter only) to neighbouring slum farmers for compost Canteen Canteen ENY USE The use of energy constitutes the third major area of environmental considerations for Head Office. This section is based on the principles of reducing energy use, increasing energy efficiency, and using alternative renewable energy sources. Energy Used: electricity - lighting, computers, various machinery (photocopier, faxes, printers, etc.) water - bathrooms, kitchen gas - kitchen fuel for transportation - vehicles use leaded petrol and octane, and high speed diesel 8 Energy Used Environmental Recommendations Electricity for lighting Reduce Use of low-energy tubelights 9 Electricity (for lighting, computers, etc.) Fuel in BRAC commuter transportation (buses and microbuses) Reduce Alternative Source Alternative Source Turn on only those lights necessary, given natural lighting Use solar power for building electricity generation 10 Use of natural gas powered vehicles for inter-city and commuter transportation All Staff Logistics Transport 8 Approximately 9 million Taka is spent per year on petrol and diesel for BRAC transportation. 9 There are two types of bulbs used in the building, including 4,500 40W tubelights and W fluorescent bulbs. These are replaced at a rate of 350 and 50 per month, at a cost of 95 Taka and 300 Taka each, respectively. 10 This would also serve as a good pilot for similar solar generation for other centralised BRAC buildings such as the CDM, TARCs, and Aarong stores.

10 Energy Used Fuel in BRAC vehicles used for field travel by HO staff Environmental Reduce Recommendations Coordination between different individuals and programmes in planning field trips All Staff Transport Conclusion The recommendations made in this environmental audit entail changes to behaviours of office staff (e.g. paper and envelope re-use), current building logistics and maintenance procedures (e.g. garbage collection/disposal, cleaning), and procurement procedures (e.g. paper supplies, form printing). Many of these changes are minor in nature and require minimal effort and resources. Some of the issues addressed here appear to be minor procedures or practices, but cumulatively the environmental effects can be significant, and have been addressed here specifically because of the ease of the solution. Implementation of the recommendations made here would initially require the efforts and cooperation of a number of departments within the organisation, such as, Logistics, Canteen (Service), Transport, and potentially UDP. The Environment Group will provide any additional assistance to these departments needed, as well as play the key role in information dissemination to Head Office staff to ensure the implementation of the changes. The Environmental Group would also be responsible for the follow-up and monitoring of the recommendations. Many of the principles followed in the audit, specifically reduction and re-use principles, are additionally attractive because of their resultant cost savings for the organisation. In the case of paper reduction, these costs could be significant. Other suggested measures may require increased spending, while some others may constitute a capital cost outlay but in the longer term be financially profitable. Further cost-benefit analyses could be done on these recommendations, particularly the solar energy electricity source for the building and conversion of city vehicles to natural gas powered. However, it should be kept in mind that environmental responsibilities of good corporate citizens should not be based solely on financial profitability considerations, and that valuation of shared natural environmental assets is really not possible in financial calculations. The positive effects on the natural environment and city livability of the above recommended changes would be significant. Implementation of these changes to BRAC Head Office infrastructure, operational practices and policies would be an excellent step toward demonstrating BRAC s commitment to environmental sustainability.