25.06.14
Delivering environmental sustainability
Nigel Leehane, managing director of CRA Europe, gives advice to rail businesses on operating sustainably and the practical advantages of doing so.
Effective application of the principles of environmental sustainability equips businesses to respond to environmental threats and take advantage of opportunities to improve performance. There is evidence that organisations with effective environmental sustainability strategies and implementation programmes can:
• Achieve substantial reductions in operating costs
• Improve compliance
• Reduce risks to the business from external environmental conditions
• Improve relationships with stakeholders
• Minimise environmental impacts and associated business risks
• Enhance reputation
In order to take advantage of these benefits, businesses must appreciate the how their activities impact on the environment, and the associated consequences. This understanding should consider the interests and concerns of stakeholders and address potential environmental issues in the value chain. Once this is accomplished, organisations will have the knowledge needed to align or integrate environmental and overall corporate strategies, so that business decisions reflect real environmental costs and benefits.
The fulfilment of strategy, through the implementation of specific improvement initiatives and environmental management processes, requires the support and collaboration of everyone within the organisation, including senior management, environmental specialists, function managers and operational staff.
All employees need to appreciate how the roles they have to play can contribute to delivering improvement. The new IEMA ‘All Jobs Greener’ training courses provide an excellent means of raising awareness of environmental sustainability for staff at all levels. CRA Europe, with its practical experience of working with organisations to achieve change, is delighted to now be able to offer these courses to its clients.
Merger with GHD
Earlier this year CRA forged an intention to merge with GHD, one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and environmental consulting companies. GHD’s UK business delivers strategic planning, technical infrastructure and management solutions and consists of skilled multi-disciplinary railway engineers, project managers, transport planners and asset management professionals.
The merger, effective July 2014, will be one of the largest to have occurred in the engineering and environment industry and will see the two firms combining resources to offer enhanced services to their respective clients.