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The amount of environmental work we are asked to undertake has been steadily growing to the point where we needed to create a separate business unit to handle it all.

I thought it timely, therefore, to interview our new Head of Environment (Andrew Nicholson) to discover what is behind the increasing concern of UK organisations in all things Environmental.

If you have not yet thought seriously about your organisation's impact on the environment – and even if you have – I think you will find his answers interesting and informative.

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EDP's services continue to grow with the appointment of Andrew Nicholson as our Head of Environment Business Unit.

Although we have provided environmental consultancy for years, increasing demand meant that we needed someone with the experience and enthusiasm to effectively champion the services with our customers.

"The discipline of Environmental Management is a growing one and EDP's philosophy of offering cutting-edge solutions to client needs will be a core element of what we do going forward", said Andrew.

We caught up with Andrew to ask his opinion on a number of environmental issues and to give you a better idea of the range of Environmental Services provided by EDP:

Q. Why did you choose a career in Environmental Management?

A. There's a diversity to Environmental Management that I like. The work can range from inspecting drainage systems after pollution incidents (not very glamorous) to delivering Corporate Environmental Strategy documents to Boards of Directors. It's the diversity that interests me. It's also good to know you are helping the environment as well as companies.

Q. What's the biggest change in Environmental Management you've seen?

A. That would be the increasing importance that companies now place on their Environmental Management. Environmental Management is probably as high up the business and political agenda as it has ever been.

Q. What attracted you to EDP?

A. EDP's values were the main attraction. Many consultancy firms work with their clients on 'projects' and then disappear, leaving the client to run with whatever they leave behind. EDP doesn't operate in that way. I like the way EDP develops relationships with clients, many of which are very long standing.

I was also attracted by EDP's non-commercial activities through the Bridge2 Trust, which helps people in poorer countries to become economically self sufficient. It is good to know that your day's work is not only to support your family, or even for love of the job, but you are also helping others who are less fortunate than yourself.

Q. What key environmental issues should businesses be managing?

A. That's difficult to answer because it varies from organisation to organisation. However, I believe the key challenges lie in three main areas:

• Climate Change and Carbon Management
  Whatever we believe to be the cause of climate change, we cannot dispute that it is happening and we all have a role to play in minimising its impact. I think it is great to see so much interest in carbon. Many businesses are realising the economic and environmental benefits of managing their carbon emissions.



• Waste Management
  The UK's historical reliance on landfill means we have been slow to develop alternative ways of managing waste. We are fast running short of space and still we are struggling to meet European targets to reduce waste deposited in landfill. The result is greatly increasing costs. Organisations need to look more to waste minimisation as a way of meeting their environmental and business efficiency goals.



• A More Demanding Society
  People generally are becoming more aware of environmental responsibilities, which is affecting how we act as consumers. Household names such as Virgin, Marks + Spencer, HSBC, Google, Dell and Sky are publicly stating their commitment to environmental improvement, which suggests there is real business benefit in selling 'greener goods and services'. Sound environmental management practices are an aid to business success and EDP can help you with Environmental Improvement Strategies that enable you to compete successfully within your sector.

Q. How can EDP's Environmental Services help businesses?

A. Beyond the challenges outlined earlier, the beauty of our services is that they can be tailored to any organisation, whether they already have an environmental strategy or don't even know where to start. We have extensive experience from helping many companies to improve their environmental performance. We strive to present a number of alternatives for achieving environmental goals so that each company can choose what is best for them.

Talk about financial savings from improved environmental performance is easy, but realising them in practice can be more difficult. We believe our strategies for environmental management can help you save money at the same time as being more environmentally responsible. We can help you identify energy usage and where energy wastage is taking place. We then offer advice and guidance for reducing energy consumption and associated costs.

You can also find more information on such topics as developments in environmental legislation and what's happening generally in the field of Environmental Management.

Latest Environmental News

On our Environment website, you can also read about some of the stories that are currently grabbing the headlines. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised in these stories, then give us a call on 01744 766000 and ask for Andrew Nicholson:

• Do you need to change your Environment Manager?
• Is Waste Management the latest Olympic Event?
• Will your next Car be Green Enough?
• Ship Dismantlers Payout £22,000 for Asbestos
• Boots the Chemist Fined for killing fish

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In our main article this month we make reference to a company being fined for not disposing of asbestos in a safe manner.

A similar case involved a specialist waste disposal company that obtained a permit from the Environment Agency to dispose of asbestos waste. The permit stipulated various conditions that had to be followed, including for example:

• Asbestos waste must be delivered to the site in totally enclosed containers
• Care must be taken when unloading to prevent the waste from being disturbed
• Once unloaded, the waste to be immediately covered with inert material
• Tipping limited to a single vehicle at a time.

An inspection by the Environment Agency found that the company was not adhering fully with these conditions. In spite of warnings, a second visit only a month later revealed that the company continued to ignore the requirements of the permit.

In fact, two vehicles were tipping waste at the same time and a digger was being driven over the waste, resulting in clouds of asbestos fibres being released into the atmosphere.

The company was fined £15,000 with a further £2,700 in costs. This was dwarfed, however, by £250,000 for new plant, employee training and generally improved operations at the site.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency stated,

"A PPC Permit requires the holder to store and dispose of waste in a responsible manner, and to minimise the risk of harm to the environment and human health. On this occasion this was clearly not done and we are pleased the court has recognised the seriousness of ignoring these requirements with this fines."

You can read more details of this case on the Environment Agency website at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/1769795?lang=_e

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Legal Monitor Sub Headings

Now we are at the end of January, it is timely to remind you that the next standard release date for introducing changes to UK health and safety legislation is fast approaching (6th April 2008).

Perhaps the biggest change, which every organisation needs to be aware of, is the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act. This was approved in 2007 but for the most part only comes into force in April 2008.

With so much notification, you should now be fully aware of its provisions, and how it affects you.

If you are at all unsure, then you need to give us a call and arrange an appointment with one of our consultants – even better, ask for David Skews to come and brief your whole board – it will only take a couple of hours of your time.

View more anticipated legal changes. Then decide if they affect you and what changes you need to make by way of preparation.

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