corporate social responsibility
It’s not enough for companies to simply manage their business. Companies also need to manage their reputation. Corporate Social Responsibility has become increasingly important, particularly for organisations that are public, have international operations or work closely with governments.
A company that suffers reputational damage risks a decline in customer base, low staff morale, costly litigation and lost revenue. By contrast, an organisation that is a proper corporate citizen, transparent and accountable in its dealings, can enhance its bottom line, lower its risk exposure and achieve true sustainability.
ENVY can assist your organisation to effectively manage its reputation, increase profitability, manage risk and enhance stakeholder relations. Our specialists have the skills to:
- Reformulate operating principles and vision statementsÂ
- Research both social and technical solutions
- Facilitate community relations programs and initiatives
- Broker and coordinate sponsorshipsÂ
- Devise stakeholder engagement strategies
- Manage publicity and media relations
- Manage issues and crises
- Develop sustainability performance indicators
- Audit and report on environmental and occupational health & safety performance
- Educate and train staff
corporate advisory & capital markets
Captial raising, growth by acquisition or selling all or parts of a business can be stressful. Miscalculations are costly. Knowing who to trust and/or how to negotiate with your own external advisors – let alone how to nagivate through to a successful outcome – is challenging.
If you’re thinking about raising capital, selling or diversting, ENVY may be able to help. Our team has years of experience in corporate advisory and capital markets, but we take a different approach to other advisors, and unlike many, we do not like charging retainer fees for doing so!
environmental & csr reporting
Global trends point strongly toward investors and stakeholders measuring corporate performance in a manner that includes community and environmental issues through indicators such as sustainability indices and Triple Bottom Line reporting.
Reasons for reporting can be generally classified into two categories: voluntary/market driven and mandatory/legislative. There are many specific drivers including:
- A desire for good corporate citizenshipÂ
- Moral and morale driver decisions for Triple Bottom Line reportingÂ
- Investment funds want to screen for CSR, ecological footprints, HR and OH&S track-records, etc
- Section 299(1), Corporations Act 2001 regarding Directors’ reporting obligationsÂ
- The National Pollutant InventoryÂ
- State and Federal reporting requirements for various items such as emissions and electricity
- The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
Our consultants have multidisciplinary experience and qualifications in engineering, environment, stakeholder communication, business operations and business management. Our specialists can assist you to:
- Establish key performance measures, goals and assessment criteria
- Identify targets, audiences and associated information needsÂ
- Collect, analyse and verify performance against your goals
- Formulate links to other established corporate measures through strategic, financial or operational analysis
- Constructively undertake stakeholder consultation and input
- Formulate CSR reporting that is accurate, readable and conciseÂ
- Inform and educate specific stakeholder groups including socially responsible investors
waste management and auditing
We take pride in our knowledge and experience in all facets of the waste management industry, from waste minimisation and diversion practices at the point of generation, through to collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of wastes generated.
Our consultants have held senior managerial roles within manufacturing and service industries, as well as in State and Local Government. They are recognised as having a high level of expertise in waste auditing, management and implementation.
Our specialists use a comprehensive system, from initial needs analysis, strategy development, implementation and follow-up. The program is in modular form, allowing clients to control the pace and resourcing of the projects. The services offered in this area include:
- Waste audits
- Waste management plan development
- Strategic review and analysis
- On site facilitation
- Diversion strategies
- Development of support materials
- Facilitation of industry groups
- Secure, environmentally friendly document disposal
- Public place waste management strategies
- Waste management education programs
energy management and auditing
Our energy consultants belong to the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia and are proud to be bound by its ethical code. Our consultants will work with you to create an effective Energy Management Programme that can be managed, monitored and reported internally. The energy management plans will comply with the requirements of AS3596-1992.
In a comprehensive energy audit our specialists will undertake a number of services including:
- Establishing Energy Performance Benchmarks for internal tracking and comparison with other operations that we have studied
- Providing comprehensive data on energy usage to reduce costs and facilitate more favourable energy purchasing arrangements
- Establishing and analysing general trends in energy usage for each fuel type
- Establishing energy performance benchmarks for major items of plant and for individual processes
- Establishing energy targets based on the energy benchmarks and best practice techniques
- Quantifying the size of avoidable waste and hence savings in greenhouse gas emissions
- Providing full financial analysis of energy cost reduction projects
Additional skills for an audit may be needed. These would be used as appropriate and include: fuel analysis, co-generation analysis, control systems, lighting systems, compressed air systems, steam and boiler systems, general heat recovery, waste to energy systems, motor controls, power systems and renewables.
Other energy services provided include:
- Contract renegotiation
- Energy Rating Schemes
- Accreditation to provide energy ratings for buildings using NatHERS energy rating software
- Specialist energy analysis, innovative energy management, project design and implementation
- Energy management information and training
- Identification of economic and sustainable energy improvement opportunities
- Greenhouse friendly programmes including the Greenhouse Challenge Program
telecommunications management and auditing
Our consultants identify errors in telecommunications bills and obtains refunds from telecommunications suppliers. As examples, our consultants identified errors in Telstra bills for:
- one of the big four banks totalling $2 million including annual savings of almost $500,000
- a leading automobile manufacturer totalling $2.4 million including annual savings of over $300,000
- GIO Insurance totalling $1.5 million including annual savings of over $400,000
- Mayne Nickless totalling $693,000
- Woolworths totalling $535,000 including annual savings of over $150,000
If your organisation has not had a professional telecommunications audit performed recently then there will certainly be the potential for annual savings and one-time credits from your telecommunications suppliers. There are two types of savings identified by a telecommunications audit:
- Annual savings arising as a result of cancellation of services that are non-existent, being incorrectly charged or not needed
- One time credits for overcharges
We are very confident that your organisation would benefit from such an audit and we are willing to put at risk our fees to prove that this is the case.
sustainability strategies
Sustainability means addressing society’s needs and wants in a way that balances economic, environmental and social concerns. It also means having attitudes and values that respect natural and societal capital while contributing to the generation and distribution of economic wealth. Explicit consideration of sustainability issues is becoming increasingly recognised as the most effective path to delivering long-term success for any enterprise.
Incorporating strategies for sustainability should be contemplated in all business planning, new investments initiatives and major developments.
ENVY has a demonstrated ability to assist clients in strategic and practical thinking as a means of incorporating sustainability into decision making. Our team can help you:
- Reformulate operating principles and vision statementsÂ
- Engage stakeholders
- Develop business strategies
- Research technical and social solutions
- Facilitate leadership and cultural change
- Develop sustainability performance indicators
- Audit and report on performance
- Train and educate your staff and extended stakeholders
Our consultants have undertaken various sustainability projects for utility providers, councils, government departments and corporations of all sizes.
ISO 14001 accreditation
As an international standard on environmental management, ISO 14001 is credible a method for companies and governments to assess the compliance quality of their suppliers. Moreover, ethical and socially responsible funds will look to ISO 14001 accreditation as a positive when assessing investment opportunities.
ISO 14001 provides a framework for the development of both the environmental management system (EMS) and the supporting audit program. Our consultants can assist your organisation in achieving ISO 14001 accreditation by working with you to develop an appropriate EMS.
education and training
We have specialist consultants focused on enabling businesses to realise the maximum potential of their greatest assets, their people.
The programs are designed to meet the client’s particular needs and to match the learning capabilities of its employees.
Our consultants add value to the programs through the use of actual experiences and through their ability to relate practices and concepts to the workplace. The sessions are highly interactive allowing participants to gain from sharing of experiences and open discussion of issues raised.
Training programs can be tailored to any organisation’s needs. Programs have already been developed in a number of areas and for a number of industries such as:
- Environmental, energy and waste management education and training
- Environmental Health Officer training
- Food Manufacturing
- Services
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Light Manufacturing
- Retail
- Information Technology
- Local and State Government Agencies
- Building Management and Services
community engagement and workplace donation programs
Staff morale is an important issue at all times. More and more, employers are looking for non-financial methods of increasing morale and building employee loyalty.Â
Workplace donation programs are a simple and cost effective method of achieving this goal. Donation programs allow staff to give to registered charities through their workplace payroll program. Often, the employer will match the funds donated to encourage more giving. The ATO has set guidelines that allow staff to have their donations deducted through payroll. Aside from the above benefits, the funds donated can be in the employer’s name thus further raising its corporate image.
But involvement doesn’t need to stop with financial donation. We help you establish and develop morale-boosting programs that allow for volunteering andcommunity outreach. We also try to make sure that you receive feedback from the community groups you help.Â
We work in conjunction with non-profit groups who have proven track records in creating, implementing, managing and evaluating community programs that:Â
- Are staff owned and managed
- Engaging and morale-boosting
- Dovetail with your strategic goals
- Provide you and your staff with choice
- Create a line of sight between your contribution and the difference you are making
- Respect staff time
- Provide you with an independent, objective partner to select and manage projects to be supported
environmental auditing, due diligence and impact assessment
environmental audit
Environmental audits are an important tool for management when striving to enhance an organisation’s performance, or when benchmarking is required. An environmental audit will identify the current standard of performance and provide for the identification of actions that may be required to redress any shortcomings. Our consultants can:
- Design and conduct thorough environmental audits
- Train personnel in auditing techniques and procedures
- Help develop action plans and timetables to remedy operational or policy deficiencies
- Develop and implement an audit program targeting different aspects of the business over time
- Report to senior management or appointed Board members the findings of an audit and recommendations for future actionÂ
due diligence
Due diligence strategies are now a key component of good corporate governance and risk management. Organisations need to identify and manage their environmental and occupational health and safety risks. Risks need to be foreseen and strategies adopted to manage them effectively. Senior management need to benchmark operational and compliance performance and keep abreast of best practices.
For organisations considering a merger or acquisition, a due diligence assessment of the environmental and health and safety performance of the company under consideration is a vital step in pre-purchase deliberations. Such an exercise enables identification of various risks and liabilities, and provides valuable information to assist purchase price negotiations. Our specialists can:
- Identify and assess the significance of an organisation’s environmental risks
- Assist in developing strategies to eliminate or minimise risks
- Conduct formal audits
- Train personnel in practices designed to enhance the management of identified risks
impact assessment
Most development proposals require an environmental impact assessment of some sort. Such assessments can range from extensive Environmental Impact Statements, to Reviews of Environmental Factors, to standardised forms for determining the significance of impacts. Some assessments can be carried out by an experienced environmental generalist, others require a multi disciplinary team lead by an experienced project manager. Assessment services provided include:
- Environmental impact statements (EIS)
- Reviews of Environmental Factors
- Statements of Environmental Effects
- Project management of multi-disciplinary teams and environmental approval processes
- Independent reviews for technical and statutory adequacy of EIS’s
- Submissions Reports which assess submissions made on EIS’s
- Environmental performance of options
- Preparation of Development Applications and supporting documentation
ecological studies
With natural areas decreasing and pollution coming to the forefront of global issues, ecological studies are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Development proposals often require an environmental impact assessment of some sort which in turn entails an assessment of the potential impacts on flora and fauna. Some proposals could have such an impact on species that a species impact statement may be mandatory.
In many instances, the development of formal plans will assist with the enhancement and conservation of ecological systems. Such plans can have a variety of forms such as development control plans, local and regional environmental plans, land management plans and plans of management for natural areas.
Our consultants are capable of carrying out ecological studies in respect of:
- Biodiversity conversion
- Natural ecosystems
- Fauna and flora impact assessment
- Management of natural areas
- Wildlife and vegetation corridors
- Ecologically sustainable development
- Land and water management plans
- Species impact statements
- Environmental management plans
stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder engagement means ensuring that those who hold a stake in your activities have an appropriate and value-adding level of information or involvement in your decisions, processes or operations. Stakeholders can include – but are certainly not limited to – the local community, business or industry, various levels of government, internal stakeholders, owners and the media.
Our specialists offer a range of strategies for effectively engaging your various stakeholder groups:
- Engaging internal stakeholders – producing staff communications, coordinating workshops and meetings, facilitating education and training, increasing staff morale and loyalty through community programs
- Engaging the community – forming community advisory panels and steering committees, facilitating workshops and public meetings. Coordinating feedback mechanisms such as surveys and questionnaires, arranging events including open days and site visits, producing newsletters and other publications, creating public displays, brokering sponsorships of community organisations and events, maintaining a positive presence in the local media
- Engaging business – coordinating involvement with industry associations and events, arranging seminars and conferences, placing editorial in trade publications and industry newsletters, facilitating education and training
- Engaging government – assisting with tender and approval processes including promoting your socially responsible and sustainable initiatives, identifying and applying for government awards, involving government representatives in workshops, meetings and seminars
- Engaging the media – establishing good relations with the media, providing effective and newsworthy information to the media