Promote the Sustainable Utilisation Of Natural Resources in Support of Sustainable Business Practice
Overview
This standard is about working to develop and maintain the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. It describes the skills and knowledge requirements that help to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. The sustainable use of natural resources is an essential underpinning component for any organisation that relies on the utilisation of natural resources such as minerals, fuels, water aggregates, trees, fisheries, game and wildlife and the countryside itself.
The role described by this standard requires an understanding of the natural resources being utilised by an organisation, including a clear understanding of the economic, social and environmental factors that define sustainable utilisation. It requires the application of this understanding in support of the development of business targets that promote sustainable thinking within organisations. It also requires that organisational activity is reviewed to determine opportunities for improving the sustainability of resource utilisation. The actions taken should address any negative impacts associated with both organisational activities and the economic impact of natural resources.
Finally, it requires that ideas for improving the efficient use of natural resources are communicated and shared with others.
This standard would be appropriate for:
Those responsible for supporting the development of sustainable business practice. It is likely to apply to technical staff, manager and owner managers within SMEs, and particularly those with responsibility for implementing environmental policies and programmes.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 identify the range and characteristics of the natural resources utilised by the organisation, including limits of sustainable utilisation
P2 identify the legal and policy requirements that control the utilisation of the natural resources utilised by the organisation
P3 benchmark current organisational natural resource utilisation levels to identify the sustainability of current practice
P4 identify opportunities and targets for improving the sustainability of natural resource utilisation
P5 identify potential barriers that may limit the impact of any actions taken to improve sustainability
P6 confirm proposed utilisation of natural resources complies with legal and policy requirements and falls within limits of sustainable utilisation
P7 gain approval for sustainable natural resource utilisation targets from decision makers
P8 advise on the design and development of processes and products that promote the sustainable utilisation of natural resources
P9 specify procedures for monitoring and evaluating the future utilisation of natural resources by the organisation
P10 promote the positive impacts of sustainable utilisation to others
P11 develop and implement strategies to overcome barriers within limits of authority
P12 support the implementation of monitoring and control procedures
P13 evaluate the impact of measures to improve the sustainable use of natural resources
P14 communicate to stakeholders the benefits of sustainable utilisation
P15 encourage stakeholders’ endorsement of the actions taken to improve the sustainable utilisation of natural resources
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 what the sustainable utilisation of natural resources is
K2 the legislation and policy frameworks that control the utilisation of natural resources
K3 the characteristics of the natural resources utilised by the organisation, including those that determine levels of sustainable utilisation
K4 how the organisation utilises natural resources and how closely this approximates to the limits of sustainable utilisation
K5 the economic, social and environmental principles that underpin the future sustainability of natural resources
K6 how to develop targets for the sustainable utilisation of natural resources
K7 the principles of benchmarking as a method of identifying opportunities for improvement and promoting good practice
K8 the barriers that can limit the impact of measures to improve the utilisation of natural resources
K9 the benefits that come from the sustainable use of natural resources and how these support sustainable business practice
K10 how to recognise actions that can improve the sustainable utilisation of natural resources
K11 how to develop and specify targets
K12 how to promote the positive impacts of sustainable resource utilisation
K13 how to monitor and evaluate the organisation’s utilisation of natural resources
K14 data collection and analysis
K15 the interest that stakeholders have in natural resource utilisation
K16 how to communicate actions and benefits to stakeholders
Scope/range
Legal and policy requirements:
1 national
2 European
Sustainable utilisation:
1 economic
2 social and ethical
3 environmental
Stakeholders include:
1 decision makers
2 organisational colleagues
3 customers
4 suppliers
5 government departments
6 non-government organisations
7 the general public
Barriers include:
1 economic
2 practical
3 social
4 legal
5 stakeholder attitudes