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Property of U.S. Enviranmmtal
protection Agency Ubrary MD-108
JUN 1 9 1990
V
1200 Sixth Avenue/Seattle, WA 98101
Dear Corporate Citizen:
As you know, environmental protection is everyone's
business. We in Region HI of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency want to share with you our observations
regarding what some progressive companies are doing to protect
our planet. This booklet outlines some of the activities and
includes the names and telephone numbers of key EPA personnel
for you to contact for further information.
I hope this information is useful and would like to hear
from you regarding successes that your company has had in
protecting the environment.
Sincerely,
Edwin B. Erickson
Regional Administrator
U.S. EPA LIBRARY REGION 10 MATERIALS
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Corporate Commitment to Environmental Protection
Your Challenge for the 1990s
(How Many Can You Check?)
~ Issued A Corporate Policy Statement That
Demonstrates A Commitment To Environmental
Protection As A Top Priority
~ Established Corporate Goals To Reduce Pollution
Within Specific Timeframes
~ Established A Senior Management Position With Responsibility
For Environmental Issues
~ Provided Dedicated Staff And Training For
Environmental Programs
g Initiated A Reward System For Employees For Innovations
In Environmental Protection
0 Conducted Environmental Audits To Increase Awareness
Of Environmental Concerns
~ Institutionalized Pollution Prevention Practices By
Changing Processes To Eliminate And Recycle Wastes
~ Reduced Total Energy Usage
~ Supported Environmental Education Efforts
In The Workplace And Community
~ Donated Sensitive Lands To Conservancy Organizations
~ Formed Public-Private Partnerships To Address And Solve
Environmental Issues
Printed on Recycled Paper U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III
841 Chestnut St; Phila., Pa 19107
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Corporate Commitment to Environmental Protection
Your Challenge for the 1990s
Global warming, protection of the ozone layer, coastal degradation,
hazardous waste management, and loss of wetlands are but a few examples of
the complex environmental challenges that face our society. While there may be
considerable debate on how best to solve some of these problems, jone thing is
certain: everyone contributes to pollution problems. Therefore, we need
everyone's best efforts to find acceptable solutions to these problems. Many
leading corporations have joined the pollution fight in two very important ways:
(1) controlling their own problems within the corporation; and (2) lending their
considerable leadership talents to addressing environmental challenges outside
the corporation. Below are some steps that progressive companies have taken to
promote corporate excellence in environmental protection. They have:
fesued A Corporate Policy Statement That Demonstrates
A Commitment To Fru/imnmantai Protection As A Tod
Priority. ~
A growing number of companies (and government organizations) have
demonstrated a "top-down" commitment by communicating both Internally and
externally that environmental protection is a top priority of the organization. For
example, within the federal government, the Commandant of the United States
Marine Corps has written to all military and civilian managers about their
environmental responsibilities.
2. Established Corporate Goals To Reduce Pollution
Within Specific Timeframes.
Some companies have established specific corporate goals such as reducing the
amount of toxics produced and released to the environment each year.
3. Established A Senior Management Position With
Responsibility For Environmental Issues.
Providing a senior level"champion" for environmental issues helps to ensure
adequate funding for environmental projects, training, and staffing. It also
encourages environmental protection considerations in major corporate decisions.
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4. Provided Dedicated Staff And Training For Environmental Programs.
Experience has shown that raising employee awareness increases the
organization's overall success in protecting the environment.
5. Initiated A Reward System For Employees For Innovations
In Environmental Protection.
Rewarding employees for innovative efforts often results in better
environmental protection and cost savings.
6. Conducted Environmental Audits To Increase Awareness
Of Environmental Concerns.
Companies are using comprehensive environmental audits to raise awareness of
Federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, plans, and permits.
Contingency plans to respond to environmental emergencies are also developed
to ensure the safety of workers and the community.
7. Institutionalized Pollution Prevention Practices Bv
Changing Processes To Eliminate And Recycle Wastes.
Corporate leaders have found a number of ways to reduce the amount of
pollution produced by and released from their facilities. Methods
include changing processes, eliminating waste streams, and recycling
waste. The benefits of these actions include reduced liability for
waste disposal, less environmental monitoring, and significantly reduced
operational costs.
8. Reduced Total Energy Usaoe.
In addition to saving money, reductions In energy usage protect the
environment In many ways. The less energy we use, the less chance
there Is for environmental harm. The more fossil fuels extracted,
the greater the possibility of environmental problems such as acid
mine drainage. Increasing the transportation of oil increases the
likelihood of oil spills. The generation of energy from fossil fuels
contributes to the acid rain problem and global warming. While no
one energy user is solely responsible tor these problems, energy
conservation will help lower the overall environmental Impacts.
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9. Supported Environmental Education Efforts In The Workplace
and Community.
Public education at all levels from elementary school through universities is an
essential element of this country's environmental protection efforts. Some
companies provide direct environmental education programs and others support
various non-profit organizations. Human resource management approaches may
need to be changed to encourage and reward employees who participate as
teachers in their communities. EPA's education effort includes the Center for
Environmental Learning (CEL) whose purpose is to promote environmental
education, improve the public's understanding of current and emerging policy
issues, and increase opportunities for the public to communicate with EPA.
10. Donated Sensitive Lands To Conservancy Organizations.
Some companies are finding it financially advantageous and socially responsible
to provide for long-term protection of sensitive areas by donating them to various
conservancy organizations, by contributing funds to those organizations in
support of their programs, and by directly managing lands as preservations.
11. Formed Public-Private Partnerships fP3) To Address And
Solve Environmental Issues.
Some companies are forming partnerships with government organizations to own
and operate facilities; supply services; and guarantee markets in such areas as
waste disposal, water supply, wastewater treatment, and studies of environmental
problems.
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CORPORATE EXCELLENCE
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Listed below are reference materials
and EPA Region III contacts for copies of
these documents and/or related information.
POLLUTION PREVENTION Contact: James Hornby (215) 597-8327
Pollution Prevention Program (Fact Sheet)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region III)
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Pollution Prevention News
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pollution Prevention Office
401 M. Street; S.W.
Washington DC 20460
Waste Minimization
Environmental Quality with Economic Benefits
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M. Street; S.W.
Washington DC 20460
EPA/530-SW-87-026
October 1987
Printed on Recycled Paper
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CORPORATE EXCELLENCE
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Contact: Bonnie J. Smith (215) 597-9076
Center for Environmental Learning (Fact Sheet)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region III)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS Contact: Catherine Mastropleri (215) 597-4149
Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Strategy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Administration and Resources Management (PM-225)
401 M. Street; S.W.
Washington D.C. 20450
July 1989
CONTINGENCY PLANS Contact: Karen L Brown (215-597-3184)
Chemicals in Your Community
A Guide to the Emergency Planning and Community Rlght-to-Know-Act
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M. Street; S.W.
Washington D.C. 20460
September 1988
Title III Fact Sheet
Emergency Planning and Community Rlght-to-Know
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M. Street; S.W.
Washington D.C. 20460
August 1988
Printed on Recycled Paper
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CORPORATE EXCELLENCE
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT INFORMATION Contact: James Hemby (215) 597-8327
The McGraw-Hill Environmental Auditing Handbook:
A Guide to Corporate & Environmental Risk Management
Author: Harrison, L
Publisher: McGraw PUBLISHER DATE: 03/84
Conducting an Environmental Audit
Author: Blumenfeld, Mark
Executive Enterprises Publications
Publication Date: 1989
Environmental Audits
Author: Cahlll, Lawrence B.-Edltor; Kane, Raymond W.-Editor
Environmental Auditing Series
Publisher: Qoverment Institutes PUBLICATION DATE: 03/87
Environmental Auditing:
A Tool to Help Industry Identify and Manage Environmental Risk
Cooperative Environmental Management Message (CEM Message)
EPA-016
September 1,1989
Printed on Recycled Paper
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