CASE STUDIES
Comprehensive Sustainability Audit at the Royal College of Art
Through undertaking a comprehensive sustainability audit at the Royal College of Art, revising their environmental policy and setting objectives and targets the College has been able to raise the profile of sustainability issues and help maintain the performance of the College in the People and Planet Green League.The sustainability audit was designed to engage key members of staff, provide a baseline for current performance, identifying opportunities for improvement and to cover specific criteria from the Green League questionnaire. The comprehensive audit covered:
- Waste management
- Energy management
- Water management
- Construction
- Sustainable procurement
- Biodiversity
- Community involvement
- Emissions and discharges
- Transport
A new environmental policy was drafted with the aim of producing a concise document relevant to the nature, scale, activities and significant sustainability aspects and impacts identified. The Policy was used as a framework to set objectives and targets which will from the basis of the sustainability strategy at the College.
The work allowed the College to achieve full marks in the Green League on Environmental Policy, Objectives and Targets and full marks on comprehensive auditing in the absence of an Environmental Management System.
Testimonial
Mike Alexander, the University’s Health, Safety and Environmental Officer said "The sustainability audit was extremely useful because it was focussed on the key requirements at this stage in the development of the College’s sustainability strategy. The comprehensive list of objectives and targets which arose from the audit will form the basis for future improvements in environmental performance and help raise the profile of sustainability issues among staff and students. Senior Management were pleased that the College was able to maintain it’s position in the Green League."
BACK