Since 1970 🌍 Earth Day has been celebrated worldwide on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. At Turnstone, we believe it’s a poignant time to highlight the small changes we can make in our local communities which can make a big difference to our planet. For Earth Day, it’s all about trying to come up with new ideas and ways to look after the planet. And this applies to everyone, from life at home to every type of workplace. We should always have a growth mindset and think of new ways to innovate how we treat the environment by treating it with care and using ‘green technologies’. 🌱

Many businesses are being more and more aware of the importance and responsibility of choosing more renewable options in how they run their business. ISO 14001 is all about Environmental Management for companies, and our team will help you to ensure that this standard is being met. The ISO provides a systematic outline for helping with environmental management systems – it encompasses a wide range of policies from areas such as resource usage and sourcing, waste management, and other developments that generally focus around improving ecological sustainability. And if you need any help or guidance, Turnstone is here for you.🏆

To help you, there are a plethora of things that you can do to help at a grassroots level or implementing any company-wide procedures. At home, consider:

Conserving Water 💧: Turn off taps when not in use, re-use towels and purchase efficient appliances. Did you know that on average, a shower only uses about 33% of the water that would be needed to fill a bath?

Saving Energy 💡: Reduce energy consumption by turning off lights and appliances when not in use, using energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting. Go for renewable energy sources which are becoming cheaper and more reliable, whether it be at home or in work; for example, such as solar power which reduces your reliance on the grid and ensuring a stable supply of electricity to your home.

Transportation 🚗: Use public transportation, walk or cycle where possible. If driving is required, carpool – it’s more fun and better for the planet! And to go even further, consider driving an electric or hybrid car.

Buying local : Purchasing locally produced goods cuts down on the emissions produced when transporting goods across the world. It also contributes to your local economy. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan, but just choose sensibly – chances are your wallet will thank you too. And when you do, be sure to bring your reusable bags.

To make a bigger impact and play a significant role in greater sustainability efforts as a business, try:

Employee Training Programs: If you can get and keep your team on board with all your ideas to go green, then all the following steps will become easier and more consistently followed. Choose more interactive approaches like hands-on training programs & initiatives – perhaps promote partaking in a voluntary day of litter picking to show the impact of poor environmental care, as well as more traditional courses such as online training presentations.

Implement Comprehensive Sustainability Initiatives: Expand beyond basic environmental compliance by developing and implementing comprehensive sustainability initiatives. This may include setting ambitious sustainability goals, such as reducing carbon emissions, minimising waste generation, conserving resources, and promoting renewable energy adoption. Invest in research, development, and adoption of innovative technologies and practices that promote sustainability across throughout all stages of the supply chain. Set up a comprehensive but doable recycling program in your workplace.

Foster Collaboration and Partnerships: Engage with stakeholders across the supply chain, industry, government, and community to foster collaboration and partnerships aimed at addressing sustainability challenges collectively. By working together, businesses can leverage their combined resources, expertise, and influence to drive meaningful change on a larger scale.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS): An Overview

An EMS is a framework, typically based on ISO 14001, that companies implement to effectively manage their environmental responsibilities and reduce their impact on the environment. These systems provide a structured approach to identify, assess, control, and improve an organization’s environmental performance. Two crucial parts that must be closely observed are the need to plan any changes beforehand, and continually reviewing to look for scope to improve. This, in turn, will help to unveil any areas where you should be focusing on to arrange corrective action (if needed).

We can help you to institute environmental management systems help organisations systematically identify and manage their environmental impacts, improve environmental performance, prevent pollution, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and enhance their reputation as environmentally responsible entities. The Turnstone team wants to see you make a change this Earth Day, however small it may be – even implementing just one of these tips will help protect our planet for future generations to come. And please reach out to us if you would like guidance on achieving ISO 14001 for your business. Remember, protecting our common home is our shared duty.