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Chapter 8: Questionnaire

Provided by the International Finance Corporation

Emissions/Discharge
Insurance
Paper
Raw Materials
Solid Waster Management
Transport & Distribution
Water

Energy
Laws and Regulations
Process/Design Operation
Site/Building
Storage On Site
Waste
Water Use/Discharge

Energy Sources/Use
Packaging
Product Design
Solid & Hazardous Waste
Bulk Storage
Waste Disposal


Questionnaire for Establishing Priorities for Objectives and Targets

The following questionnaire is a checklist  for establishing priorities and building an action plan. While it may not include all specific business activities of a company, it provides areas for consideration. Review the questions in each section carefully and identify how the products, activities, and services of your company could significantly impact the environment.

Emissions/Discharge

YESNO

Have all sources of emissions to water, air and land been identified? Besides obvious sources, there may also be more diffuse sources, such as drying or surface cleaning operations which need to be assessed.

YESNO

Have all potential sources of air emissions been identified? Have all direct (i.e., stack) and indirect (i.e., fugitive) sources of emissions been identified?

YESNO

Have all stacks, vents, and exhausts and associated air pollutant sources been identified and located?

YESNO

Have the emissions being released into the environment by the organization's operations been identified, quantified and minimized?

YESNO

Can all emissions, including any low concentration contaminants, be quantified? Is the company aware of the physical and chemical characteristics of these emissions?

YESNO

Are emissions monitored and are detailed records kept? Have the appropriate authorizations been secured for these emissions? Do these emissions consistently meet legal requirements?

YESNO

Reducing one form of emission may result in increases in other emissions. The overall environmental impact of any planned emission controls must always be fully considered.

YESNO

Have any detectable odors, solid particulates, liquid droplets or mists been detected in the air?

YESNO

Is monitoring equipment installed to allow detection?

YESNO

Have developments in process and abatement technology been reviewed to establish the best available techniques to minimize emissions?

YESNO

Are current legal requirements being met? Is the organization aware of any likely future standards?

YESNO

Have targets been set to reduce emissions? If so, have measures to achieve these targets been identified?

Definitions: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)

These are gases created by the operation of the transformation process. For example, when spray painting a bicycle, most of the paint lands on the bicycle or the backdrop. The paint that does not land on the product is called overspray. However, some of the paint goes into the air where it can escape into the atmosphere. These gases can be dangerous or poisonous. In general, VOCs are thought to be precursors of air pollution. VOCs are also found in adhesives, sealers, solvents, and paints.  HAPs are considered toxic, and in high concentrations can cause illness in people, animals, and adversely affect vegetation through exposure.

Energy

YESNO

Is energy used efficiently?

YESNO

Have ways to reduce consumption been investigated?

YESNO

Is energy consumption regularly reviewed?

YESNO

Are energy efficiency practices encouraged?

YESNO

Are employees trained in energy conservation?

YESNO

Are energy bills/usage monitored by individual departments or the company centrally?

YESNO

Are buildings designed and insulated to reduce energy loss and promote energy efficiency?

YESNO

Is the efficiency of heating and air conditioning systems monitored?

YESNO

Is lighting energy efficient in design and operation? Is the use of natural light maximized?

YESNO

Are electrical appliances the most energy-efficient type available?

YESNO

Has the installation of integrated energy management systems been investigated? These can control heating, lighting, air conditioning and electrical loads.

YESNO

Are transport and distribution functions efficient in their fuel use?  What are the parameters determining "efficiency"?

YESNO

Are emissions from energy sources on site, such as boiler houses and generators, controlled?

YESNO

Can the organization reduce its use of energy derived from fossil fuels?

YESNO

Have alternative energy sources (such as methane from landfill gas, refuse-derived fuel or combined heat and power systems),  if available, been reviewed?

Note: Some of the waste created by the transformation process can take the form of the inefficient use of energy, such as electricity. If there is a machine that requires more energy to operate than other available options, the excess energy consumed can be considered as  "waste".

Energy Sources/Use

YESNO

Has energy consumption during production been minimized?

YESNO

Can more environmentally-sound energy sources be used?

YESNO

Have the least environmentally damaging sources of energy been selected? There may be opportunities to use combined heat and power, land fill gas, solar power, waste derived fuel, wind energy and other sources.

YESNO

Have possibilities for energy recovery been maximized? Options include heat exchanges, recirculating cooling or process water or improving plant insulation.

YESNO

Are energy usage and costs monitored, and have efficiency or reduction targets been set? Furthermore, can this be done for individual departments?

YESNO

Are there opportunities to use high efficiency motors and variable speed drives?

YESNO

Are the factory and office premises designed to maximize energy efficiency? Have they been insulated?

YESNO

Could equipment be upgraded to improve energy efficiency?

Insurance

YESNO

Is there any area in which full environmental indemnity may be difficult or impossible to obtain?

YESNO

Is there any area in which insurance companies may place limits or exclusion on liability coverage?

Note: EMS implementation may help facilitate negotiation with insurance companies.

Laws and Regulations

YESNO

Is the company required to comply with environmental laws and regulations? The company should be active in all areas which laws and regulations are addressed.

YESNO

Are any of the company's activities not in compliance with legal requirements?

YESNO

Are there specific areas of the company with particular environmental pressures from legislative requirements or/ and laws?

Packaging

YESNO

Is packaging minimized in products for transportation or sale?

YESNO

Is packaging material recycled or reused?

YESNO

Could the organization's suppliers and customers be encouraged to recycle used packaging?.

YESNO

Can the company's packaging be reduced? Can its products be distributed and sold in bulk or loose? Can packaging be designed to be reused, refilled or recycled?

YESNO

Can new/other packaging materials be used to facilitate waste disposal?

YESNO

Can consumers be encouraged to reuse or recycle packaging through bottle bank collections and the reuse of plastic bags and refillable containers?

YESNO

Has the company considered or implemented a "take back" policy on the packaging of its products?

Paper

YESNO

Can paper use be reduced or made more efficient by means such as greater use of electronic mail, voice communications or changes in office practices?

YESNO

Can more recycled paper be used in offices?

YESNO

Are there opportunities to reduce costs by using recycled paper?

YESNO

Have possibilities for recycling waste paper been investigated? Would it reduce waste disposal costs?

YESNO

Are different types of waste paper separated for reuse and recycling?

YESNO

How many internal and external business forms does the organization have? Are they all necessary?

YESNO

Are employees encouraged to do more double-sided photocopying?

YESNO

Are internal circulation lists based on a need-to-know basis, particularly where long or costly documents are concerned?

Process Design/Operation

YESNO

Are the environmental impacts of manufacturing processes minimized during normal operations and periods of maintenance, testing or shutdown?

YESNO

Are processes designed to minimize energy, water usage and raw material consumption?

YESNO

Does the organization recycle or reuse energy, water and materials where practical?

YESNO

Are appropriate environmental monitoring systems in place throughout these processes?

YESNO

Are the best available techniques used to prevent environmental damage? Are technological developments reviewed regularly to identify possible improvements?

YESNO

Are processes designed and operated to minimize effluents, emissions and solid waste?

YESNO

Are effective environmental procedures in place to cover periods of abnormal operation, such as maintenance or testing?

YESNO

Could processes be designed to be waste-free?

Note: Suppliers frequently use packaging material such as cardboard, paper, plastic strapping, plastic wrapping film, wooden pallets or plastic foam. In many cases, these items are landfilled.

Product Design

YESNO

During product design, are the actual and potential environmental impacts considered and minimized? Do these considerations extend from supply and production through use to ultimate disposal?

YESNO

Are the company's products subject to current or proposed environmental legislation? Can these legal requirements be met?

YESNO

Are products designed to minimize the energy and raw materials required to make them? Has the potential for using recycled materials been maximized?

YESNO

Can the product be designed in a way that would reduce the environmental impact of the production processes and minimize waste production?

YES

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