Governance
An Environmental Steering Group supports the Board in developing the policies and management system, and integrating environmental awareness in our business processes and practices. It meets at least quarterly. The members are senior managers and the group is chaired by Lawrence Christiansen, supply chain director.
We regularly benchmark our performance and discuss topical issues with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
During 2004/05 we have reviewed and improved our Environmental Management System (EMS), based on consultation within the business and with external stakeholders.
We carry out risk assessments and environmental audits at various levels across the company, to assess the effectiveness of our EMS and identify operations for improvements in performance as well as in the management systems.
The company Risk Manager is responsible for the delivery of environmental audits, supported by the Environmental manager.
Stores carry out self-assessments including local environmental impacts such as waste, noise and litter.
Management systems
We have reviewed and reinvigorated our environmental management system (EMS) in 2004/05.
An EMS is a formal, documented system which enables a company to manage the environmental aspects of its operations in a consistent and systematic manner. It helps us to identify and evaluate key environmental risks and opportunities and manage them effectively.
Our EMS is governed by our environmental policy statement, which sets the overarching goals and commitments and identifies roles and responsibilities of the Environmental Steering Group and senior managers.
The management process begins by identifying relevant issues, risks and opportunities, based on legal and other requirements which are understood through stakeholder dialogue. We review the outcomes at least annually. The Effects Register sets out the relevant issues. It was first developed in 1998 and comprehensively updated in 2002.
We draw up a "long list" of issues, based on the UK government's sustainability indicators, the indicators developed by the Global Reporting Initiative, our expert knowledge and retail sector guidelines.
We decide priorities using a Significant Issues Assessment Process, informed by legal requirements, policy commitments and stakeholder concerns. This helps us to identify issues that have a high environmental impact and are significant for Sainsbury's.
We take each priority issue and identify all the activities connected to it and the departments which have an influence on or responsibility for it. We identify an "issue owner" who is responsible for developing a management plan, including targets and key performance indicators (KPIs). Progress is monitored quarterly, with headline indicators being reported to the Environmental Steering Group and the highest level indicators reported to the Board.
Policies
Our environmental policy statement is our overarching statement of goals and our commitment to reduce our impact on the environment through a programme of continuous improvement. Our policy was first issued in January 1990 and updated in 1998. In 2004/05 we began reviewing the policy statement.
The Environmental Steering Group (ESG) has begun to review this policy to ensure it is still appropriate, and that it reflects and supports our corporate goal and values. The ESG has set a target of agreeing and communicating an updated policy by the end of 2005.
Sainsbury's Bank has adopted the environmental principles of HBOS (www.hbosplc.com) our joint venture partner in the bank.
Our policy is to:
- Quantify and monitor all environmental impacts of the business, including new projects, and set specific targets;
- Comply with current legislation and, where practical, seek to meet future legislative requirements ahead of relevant deadlines;
- Integrate environmental objectives into relevant business decisions in a cost-effective manner;
- Require all colleagues to address environmental responsibilities within the framework of normal operating procedures;
- Minimise waste, seek to recover as much as is economically practical and ensure the remainder is disposed of responsibly;
- Develop appropriate emergency response plans for major incidents in order to minimise their environmental impact;
- Influence suppliers of services and own-brand goods to reduce their impact on the environment;
- Enhance awareness of relevant issues among customers, colleagues and others who have an interest in our business;
- Publish information on environmental performance.
