Setting Objectives and

Targets
EPA Regions 9 & 10
and
The Federal Network for Sustainability
2
Objectives
After this discussion, you should be able to:
Define EMS objectives and targets
Give examples of each
List approaches to setting objectives and
targets
3
Overview
Definitions
Examples
Setting Objectives and Targets
4
Definitions
An EMS objective is an overall goal arising
from the environmental policy statement
set by the organization.
An EMS target is a detailed measurable
performance requirement related to the
objective.
5
Organizations Shall
Consider:
Legal and other requirements
Significant environmental aspects
Technological options
Financial, operational and
business requirements
Views of interested parties
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Examples
Objective: Increase solid waste diversion
Target: Achieve a 60% diversion rate for all
solid waste by the year 2005.
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Examples
Objective: Reduce energy consumption
Target: Reduce energy consumption by 25%
by the year 2005 based on a 2000 calendar
year baseline.
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Examples
Objective: Improve environmental compliance
Target: Reduce the number of external
environmental compliance audit findings by
50% on an audit-to-audit basis.
9
Examples
Objective: Reduce transportation congestion
Target: Increase the number of employee-
days of mass transit use by 50% by the year
2006 based on a 2002 calendar year
baseline.
Target: Purchase 25 bicycles for use within
the facility by the year 2004.
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Setting Objectives and
Targets
Start with Planning data
Goal setting workshop?
EMS Coordinator recommendations?
EMS Team recommendations?
Management Priorities?
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Start with Planning Data
List of activities, products, and services
Aspects register
Significant aspects
Legal & other requirements
Any other data collected for EMS
Costs
Labor
Community concerns
12
Build a Comprehensive
Picture
Prepare professional quality executive
summary of data
(a/k/a baseline, benchmark, footprint)
Include:
agency policy
community concerns
management priorities
cost data
future missions of facility or agency
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Goal Setting Workshop
Advantages:
Encourages buy in
Raises awareness
Opportunity for
training
Views of interested
parties can be
identified
Sets very ambitious
goals
Disadvantages:
Expensive
Raises expectations
Time consuming
Sets very ambitious
goals
14
EMS Coordinator
Recommendations
Advantages:
Inexpensive
Not time
consuming
Easy for EMS
Coordinator
Disadvantages:
Doesnt encourage buy-
in
Requires senior manager
support and outreach to
org.
Limited by knowledge of
EMS coordinator
Views of interested
parties may be missed
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EMS Team
Advantages:
Encourages buy
in
Raises awareness
for group
Opportunity for
training
More resources for
roll-out
Disadvantages:
Still requires roll-
out
Requires senior
management buy-in
May miss views of
interested parties
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Management Priorities
Advantages:
Starts with
management buy in
Inexpensive
Encourages
awareness
Disadvantages:
May require
translation into
reality
May not go far enough
May not have buy in
from all personnel
May miss views of
interested parties
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Summary
Goal setting is key to moving EMS forward
Start with existing EMS policy, significant E.
aspects/impacts
Encourage buy-in of all stakeholders
Aim high!
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Exercise 5:
Setting Objectives & Targets
Aspect impact Indicator
(measure)
Objective Target
Fossil fuel
consumption
Use of
non-
renewable
resource
Gas bills,
electric car
purchases
Purchase
electric
cars
Lower
bills,
# cars
bought