8600-332 Understanding Sustainability and Environmental Issues in an Organisation

Introduction

In the contemporary business landscape, the prioritisation of sustainability and environmental considerations has become crucial for organisations. Ensuring compliance with established standards of sustainability and environmental consciousness is paramount. Unit  8600-332 Understanding Sustainability and Environmental Issues in an Organisation, embedded within the ILM Level 3 module, serves as a guiding tool for organisational leaders. Its purpose is to equip leaders with insights into the essential elements necessary to achieve desired levels of sustainability and environmental conservation.

Leadership plays a pivotal role in aligning organisational practices and procedures with the principles of environmental sustainability, as dictated by legal and ethical frameworks. This unit facilitates an understanding of prevailing trends in sustainability and environmental issues, emphasising adherence to legal principles when formulating practices within the organisation to ensure sustainability and compliance.

Additionally, the unit delves into the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the pursuit of sustainability goals. It aims to raise awareness among both practising and prospective first-line managers who are navigating the complexities of sustainability and environmental issues within their areas of responsibility and the broader organisational context.

With a curriculum designed for 10 hours of guided learning, this unit contributes 3 credit values toward the overall completion of the ILM Level 3 module. Its overarching goal is to empower leaders with the knowledge and awareness needed to effectively address and integrate sustainability and environmental considerations into their organisational practices.

Unit purpose and aim(s)

The goal is to foster a comprehensive understanding and knowledge base related to the effective management of sustainability and environmental issues within an organisational context. This entails acquiring insights into the principles, practices, and strategies essential for navigating and addressing the complexities associated with sustainability and environmental considerations within the operational framework of an organisation. The aim is to empower individuals to contribute effectively to sustainable practices, ensuring environmental awareness and compliance with relevant standards and regulations within the organisational setting.

Who is this unit suitable for?

Unit 8600-332 Understanding Sustainability and Environmental Issues in an Organization holds relevance across various organisational domains. Its primary objective is to cultivate an understanding of the pivotal role that organisational practices should play in fostering environmental sustainability. As a result, the information and skills imparted by the unit’s content are versatile, serving as valuable resources for leaders seeking to enhance performance within their respective areas of responsibility.

Specifically tailored to meet the learning needs of first-line managers, who oversee operational activities, the unit empowers them to comprehend their role in influencing the development of practices and procedures grounded in environmental sustainability. This extends to ensuring that team practices align with environmentally friendly approaches, emphasising waste reduction and pollution minimization.

Beyond first-line managers, the unit is equally beneficial for middle-level managers responsible for tactical decision-making. It guides them in adopting approaches that are environmentally conservative. Furthermore, executive managers at the top echelons of the organisation find value in this unit, as their decisions significantly impact the establishment of sustainable and environmentally friendly policies and procedures. This may involve decisions related to renewable energy adoption or the implementation of effective waste management strategies.

The unit extends its reach to general employees, providing them with the knowledge and skills to contribute actively to the establishment of sustainable practices within the organisation. Additionally, external consultants can benefit from this unit by leveraging its insights to aid in decision-making processes and contribute to the development of organisational structures that align with sustainability goals.

In essence, this unit serves as a versatile resource, catering to a spectrum of organisational roles and responsibilities, thereby contributing to the broader objective of fostering sustainability and environmentally conscious practices across all levels of the organisation.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, learners will attain the following competencies:

• Comprehensive Understanding of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility:
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of the concepts and principles underlying sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
• Environmental Issues Management:
  • Gain insights into the environmental issues impacting the organisation and acquire the skills to effectively manage these issues.
• Awareness of Building Constraints and Opportunities for Environmental Friendliness:
  • Understand the limitations and possibilities associated with the environmental friendliness of an organisation’s building(s).
• Knowledge of Key Legislations Guiding Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility:
  • Acquire knowledge about the key legislations shaping the principles of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
• Identification of Environmental Standards Specific to the Organization:
  • Recognize and comprehend the environmental standards pertinent to their specific organisation.
• Description of Environmentally Friendly Management Approaches:
  • Articulate various environmentally friendly strategies to manage issues affecting their organisation or areas of responsibility.
• Identification of Opportunities for Environmentally Friendly Building Enhancement:
  • Identify opportunities within the organisation to enhance building structures, fostering environmentally friendly performance.

Key Learning Areas

Unit 8600-332 Understanding Sustainability and Environmental Issues in an Organization is centred on comprehending sustainability and corporate social responsibility within the organisational context. It serves as a guide for establishing practices and procedures that align with established legal and ethical standards of sustainability. Key learning areas within this unit include:

1. Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility:

• Learn the principles associated with sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
• Understand concepts related to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, along with the managerial role in achieving these principles within specific areas of responsibility.
• Introduce legislative frameworks and duty of care related to minimising environmental impact and safeguarding sustainability.

2. Environmental Issues:

• Identify environmental issues that may arise within the organisation.
• Understand organisational obligations stemming from these issues, including statutory duties, legal compliance, and reputation considerations.
• Grasp relevant regulatory frameworks associated with achieving environmental standards and the consequences of non-compliance.

3. Impact of Materials and Equipment:

• Gain an understanding of how materials and equipment within the organisation impact the development of environmentally friendly practices.
• Assess the choice of materials and equipment based on organisational activities to support environmental conservation goals.

4. Waste Management Streams:

• Explore the various streams of waste management that could influence the commitment to sustainable approaches within the organisation.

5. Constraints of Buildings:

• Understand limitations in implementing environmentally friendly practices based on organisational buildings.
• Examine building features such as listed status, insulation levels, solar gain, and noise or air pollution.
• Evaluate the role of learners in identifying opportunities to enhance buildings’ environmentally friendly performance.

This comprehensive unit guides learners through various facets of sustainability and environmental considerations, ensuring they are equipped to navigate challenges and contribute to environmentally responsible practices within the organisational framework.

An Assessment

Upon finishing the unit, learners undergo an assessment that encompasses both theoretical and practical evaluations. The written assessment gauges the mastery of theoretical concepts, while the formative phase of learning may involve supervised practices, case studies, and simulated exercises to assess the practical application of these concepts.

References

• Dey, P. K. (2016). Corporate sustainability and environmental management: From theory to practice. Sage Publications.
• Dyllick, T., & Hockerts, K. (2020). Business sustainability: The breakthrough innovation that changes the game in the 21st century. Routledge.
• Gray, D., & Seuring, S. (2017). Measuring sustainability: A handbook for the measurement of corporate environmental and social performance. Routledge.
• Shrivastava, P. (2020). Corporate sustainability in the age of the green economy. Routledge.
• Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). (2022). SASB sustainability standards. https://sasb.org/

FAQ

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