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Environmental Management

Product Stewardship Part 1

November 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Adding governance to your stewardship strategy

The following is the first part in a two-part series that examines the subject of product stewardship. This issue is taking on a whole new significance in light of emerging global regulations based on the precautionary principle and management's push to develop new products in expanded markets.

Engagement at the Top

October 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

EHS governance takes on new dimensions when business executives and the board of directors seek a second opinion

The accounting scandals, perp walks to prison, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) have sent shock waves throughout the ranks of boards and executives. Has this significantly improved environmental, health, and safety (EHS) and social responsibility governance at the top? Unlikely. What will it take to get executives and the board fully engaged?

Reaching Out

October 1, 2005By Merrie Spaeth

Managing public opinion about your business's effect on water supplies is becoming increasingly important

Water is the hot issue of the next 25 years. You know it, I know, but the American public doesn't. Why should they? American households spend less than any other industrialized nation for their water use. In fact, every year they spend nearly twice as much on carbonated and caffeinated beverages as they do on treating drinking and wastewater.

Finding the Better Way

September 1, 2005By Michael Whitehead, MS

More businesses are taking a proactive approach to prevention and compliance

I've been an environmental consultant for almost 20 years, and I've owned my own company for 10. Over the years, "Environmental Compliance Audits" have been one of the hardest products to sell to industrial customers.

Manager's Notebook: Act Locally; Benchmark Globally

September 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

It's time to broaden your search for EHS best practices

Companies devote a lot of resources to benchmarking, and for good reason; the return on investment can be enormous. Why reinvent the wheel when battle-tested best practices are free for the asking? The United States has dominated environmental, health, and safety best practices for decades, but that is changing rapidly. Prescriptive regulations and fears of legal liability may be holding back U.S.-headquartered corporations from developing the next generation of corporate social responsibility best practices.

An E&O Eye Opener

July 1, 2005By John G. Nevius, Robert E. Frankel, Esq.

A guide to help environmental professional's errors and omissions insurance policies

In our litigious society, professionals of all kinds are keenly aware that their expertise and professionalism cannot always protect them against being sued. For environmental professionals, the uncertainty and variability associated with the natural environment compounds the risk of litigation -- and, therefore, elevates the importance of liability insurance.

Manager's Notebook:Map Your Value Proposition

July 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Strategy maps can reveal how EHS contributes to the business

EHS professionals know from experience that their efforts impact the company at many levels. For example, a switch to a non-toxic substitute may reduce raw material costs, decrease worker exposure, improve worker morale, reduce customers' disposal costs, improve the brand's image, and so on.

Manager's Notebook:Global Drivers

June 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Dealing with the next generation of regulations, standards, and corporate watchdogs

The U.S. environmental, health and safety (EHS) regulatory model has dominated the thoughts and agendas of America's EHS professionals for the past 30 years. State and federal regulations will not go away, of course, but they are rapidly being overshadowed by a fundamental shift in how EHS issues will be dealt with both here and abroad.

Manager's Notebook: Merger Mania Math

May 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Restructured EHS organizations face the new math: 1+1= ¾

They're baaccckk! "The most vigorous merger market in five years" is what the Wall Street Journal calls the recent wave of corporate restructurings. For officers and directors, these are happy times because a wonderful exit package awaits even those who lose their lofty positions. But, for real people doing real work, the prospects are much grimmer.

Computing Clout

April 1, 2005By Erwin T. Prater

Recent advances in PC-based software capabilities give environmental managers better tools for dealing with an increasing range of problems

Environmental managers face a growing number of responsibilities, from air-quality compliance issues to emergency response planning and accident mitigation. Increased concerns about terrorism have created additional responsibilities.

Identifying Metrics with Strategic Business Impact

April 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Step one: Understand the difference between financial and managerial accounting

Everyone wants metrics: first it was the regulatory agencies; now it is a myriad of stakeholders, watchdogs, and investment analysts. As companies struggle to satisfy these external demands, they may be overlooking the true indicators of future competitive performance.

Manager's Notebook: Killer Meetings

March 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

EHS professionals are dying to go to some meetings; others bore them to death

All environmental, heath, and safety (EHS) professionals at some point in their careers will be directly responsible for a segment or all of a large group meeting, conference, workshop, or forum. Indeed, corporations spend enormous resources getting people together for or sending staff off to these networking and learning experiences.

Information Technology Systems

January 1, 2005By Richard MacLean

Some IT systems cost millions. Are they worth it?

Environmental, health and safety IT (information technology) systems span the spectrum from simple, home-grown spreadsheets to complex, enterprise systems that promise to do just about anything and everything.

Clearing the Fog

November 1, 2004By John P. Bachner

When negotiating contracts, environmental consultants need to understand the legal implications of the term standard of care

Environmental professionals, civil engineers, and most other professionals are legally obligated to meet the standard of care, i.e., to apply the care and skill ordinarily applied by local peers performing similar services at the same time.

Force Multiplier

November 1, 2004By Richard MacLean

Stakeholder networking has undergone a dramatic transformation -- what might it mean to your organization?

In 1999, when former Vice President Al Gore stated during an interview on a CNN television program that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet," neither political party had any idea of the significance his invention would have on American politics.