STUDY UNIT 2

Transport and environmental management

systems
Contents
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Environmental management systems
2.3 Managing the environmental effects of transport
2.4 Transport in the EMS process
2.5 Managing the environmental impacts of transport
2.6 Summary

Learning outcomes

The significance of our transportation system touches all aspects of life. For example, the
location of transportation facilities has effects on the surrounding communities. Railroads and
highways dividing cities determine the location of manufacturing industries, retailers and
residential areas. For example, Metrorail trains divide cities across a province. These
manufacturing industries and retailers are brought together by the interconnecting networks
that exist in their areas. The Metrorail stations are located closest to the busiest areas, either
manufacturing, commercial businesses or residential areas to accommodate people who
work and live along the routes.

When you have completed this study unit, you should be able to do the following:

 Evaluate the role of management in reducing the environmental effects of transport.

 Illustrate the role and importance of planning an integrated transport management
system.

Open Rubric
  Put the market environment and the microenvironment into perspective regarding their
impact on the management of a transport enterprise

2.1 INTRODUCTION

This study unit will discuss the integration of transport initiatives and environmental
management systems (EMS) to help you as a student and business organisations to identify
and manage the environmental impacts of their transport operations in a way that is
consistent with managing the other environmental aspects of their operations. The study unit
is also aimed at managers with the responsibility for reducing their companies' environmental
impact. It sets out practical advice on how to reduce transport-related environmental impacts
and to monitor the improvements gained. It is also intended for transport managers, to provide
an understanding of how the management of the environmental impacts associated with
transport relates to the wider management of environmental and cost performance.

2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (EMS)

Activity 2.1

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do we have to manage the environment?

2. Why is the environment so important in our daily life?
3. Discuss the possible impacts that transport has on the environment.

Organisations of all sizes are increasingly focusing on the concerns of climate change and
environmental degradation. With these growing concerns for maintaining and improving the
quality of the environment, the management of resources becomes an important aspect of
any organisation. The environmental performance of an organisation is of increasing
importance to interested parties, both internally and externally. Meeting these expectations
requires an organisational commitment to a systematic approach and continuous
improvement in environmental performance, which can be achieved through the
implementation of an environmental management system (EMS). EMSs are organisational
systems for controlling, managing and improving the environmental impact of operations.

2.3 MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF TRANSPORT

The transport needs of an organisation affect the environment in several ways. To ensure
transport is well integrated it is important to fully appreciate the related impacts. Managing an
organisation's environmental effects associated with the movement of goods and people can
have a wide range of positive effects, bringing benefits not only to the organisation
implementing the initiatives and its staff but also to the wider community. These may include
cost savings through reduced fuel and other transport costs, reduced demand for car parking,
reduced business costs associated with congestion, projecting an improved company image,
improving the relationship with employees and increased productivity. These benefits will be
discussed below.

2.3.1 Cost savings through reduced fuel and other transport costs

Fuel cost is a major element of the total fleet operating costs, which will typically make up
25% of the total running cost of the vehicle. Efficient use of transport will improve business
effectiveness and profitability. Fuel-efficient fleet management shows how effective fleet
management can release typical savings of 10%. Moreover, these benefits are likely to
increase given rises in fuel prices in recent years.

2.3.2 Reduced demand for car parking

Savings can be made through not having to provide as much car parking and using this space
more efficiently for the business. It might enable a company to avoid proposed government
charges for workplace parking spaces or allow the organisations to secure planning
permission for expansion or comply with an obligation arising from the original planning
permission when a new business was set up. There may also be reduced overspill parking in
nearby residential areas, benefiting the local community and the impact of traffic on the site,
including reducing car park queuing times.
2.3.3 Reduced business costs associated with congestion

Cutting congestion and journey times reduce lost work time due to time spent in traffic jams
whilst commuting or travelling on business. It also increases the reliability of deliveries from
suppliers or to customers. Indirect benefits include resulting improvements in local air quality
and reduced stress in the working environment, which can improve the health and energy
levels of employees.

2.3.4 Projecting an improved company image

Showing a commitment to improving the global and local environment, and backing this up
with real actions, can help an organisation to be seen as a responsible contributor to the
community. Relationships with neighbouring communities can be improved by easing traffic
pressure, and by potentially improving public transport, walking and cycling networks in the
immediate area.

2.3.5 Improve relationship with employees

Travel plans can be used as a recruitment tool as well as helping to retain staff by providing
wider travel choices and offering potential cost savings for staff in terms of their travel
arrangements. It also promotes equal opportunities at the workplace by providing travel perks
that are available throughout the organisation, rather than incentives for a few and by
supporting those staff members without access to a car.

2.3.6 Increased productivity

Reducing congestion and travel times and improving local air quality are likely to bring
benefits associated with a healthier and less stressed workforce, who may be more motivated
resulting in less absenteeism. 'Productivity is a fundamental notion in modern economics and
a significant measure of organisational performance. It can also be astonishingly elusive
when it comes to defining or determining productivity for your specific organisation.
 Activity 2.2

Think of new office blocks, a new shopping mall and/or school in your area.

1. How can you reduce the demand for parking?

2. What can be done to highlight the potential long-term harm of congestion on the
environment?

2.4 TRANSPORT IN THE EMS PROCESS

What steps should be considered in the Transport Environment Management System?

Corporate environmental management is a way of reducing environmental harm and

nuisance and reducing legal liability. A management system for environmental issues
addresses all aspects of a company's environmental performance and integrates with overall
management activity. The adoption of environmental management systems (EMSs) is
becoming increasingly common and there are a growing number of private and public sector
organisations that are seeking certification to ISO 14001. The process of EMS implementation
represents a major opportunity for organisations to adopt transport initiatives. The next
section presents the EMS implementation process and highlights where and how to integrate
transport initiatives within this framework. The basis for the implementation and maintenance
of an environmental management system is set out in the international standard ISO14001.
The following steps should be considered in the process of transport and environmental
management systems:

Step 1: Initial review and management commitment

The initial review aims to identify some of the environmental issues appropriate to the nature
and scale of the activities, products or services of the organisation. This allows for key aspects
of company activities that impact the environment to be identified and their significance
considered. At this early stage, it is essential to get senior management commitment to the
project, including identifying a senior management representative. Without this, any initiative
will lack the drive needed to see it through.
Step 2: Establish an environmental policy

This needs to cover all the environmental issues identified in the initial review. Careful
consideration should be given to the impacts of all transport associated with the organisation,
including commuting, business travel, deliveries, visitor travel and logistics services provider.

Step 3: Planning

The planning stage includes the identification of environmental aspects and evaluation of
associated environmental impacts. It is essential that the approaches used to identify aspects
do not dismiss transport-related impacts as outside the scope of the EMS, and that any
potentially significant effects arising from these sources are identified at this stage in the
process. The development and maintenance of environmental objectives and targets should
include transport-related objectives and targets where the transport impact is regarded as
being significant.

Step 4: Implementation and operation

This includes the establishment of an organised management structure and documentation

of the EMS. If transport-related effects have been identified as being significant, then a
programme to manage these effects should be established. This may include the
implementation of environmental policy and procedures, such as a fuel or fleet management
strategy that aims at minimising fuel consumption and the amount of traffic generated by the
specific organisation.

Step 5: Checking and corrective action

The systems for monitoring form a key part of this with regular reporting and review of the
information gathered. Incident and non-conformity procedures are used in an EMS to deal
with situations where monitoring indicates that regulatory or other standards are not being
met, or where sufficient progress towards the achievement of targets is not being made.

Step 6: Management review

The management review provides a good opportunity to make sure that the environmental
aspects of your organisation relating to transport are being properly considered. Periodically,
the whole management system needs to be reviewed to assess whether it is effective or
whether it requires adjustment. This will include making sure that the objectives of the
environmental policy are being met and environmental aspects and their significance are
being properly identified.

Step 7: Continuous improvement

The outcomes of the management review should provide specific actions to continually
improve both the management systems and the environmental performance of the
organisation, setting more stringent requirements over time and making modifications
necessary to ensure its continuing relevance.

2.5 MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TRANSPORT

The principles that should guide an organisation to reduce the impact of its actions on the
environment in terms of transport are as follows:

2.5.1 Reduce the need for transport in the first place

The choice of where an organisation is based is key to this, since locating within a city centre
or close to a public transport hub will reduce the need by commuters, visitors and business
to travel by car. Better planning and communication technology can also play a part; for
example, the use of telecommuting and teleconferencing to reduce commuter journeys and
business travel, and the rationalisation of postal and courier collections and deliveries by
centralising the organisation of these functions within a company. In terms of production,
minimising raw material inputs both save money directly and cuts down on the need for
deliveries. Sourcing raw materials locally can also cut down overall impacts.

2.5.2 Switch from energy-intensive, polluting and environmentally damaging modes of

transport to less environmentally damaging means of travel

Organisations should encourage the use of public transport, cycling and walking, which is
particularly relevant to commuter and business journeys. The number of single-occupant car
journeys to work can be reduced by promoting and supporting walking, cycling, using public
transport and carpooling while restricting or reducing car parking. In terms of haulage, this
may involve a switch from road to rail.
2.5.3 Make sure your vehicles are efficient and well maintained

The impact of any journey can be significantly reduced if the vehicle is well maintained and
has higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Alternative fuels, like liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or electricity also have the potential to reduce
emissions of air pollutants significantly.

2.5.4 Optimising the transportation of goods

This may involve ensuring that vehicles carry a maximum load when leaving the site, this can
be encouraged by selling whole loads at a discount and looking at back loading. Computer
programs can be used to optimise delivery routes or in-cab tracking/communications can be
used to enable diversions to optimise collection and delivery rounds.

2.5.5 Use of public transport for journeys to work

This should be encouraged as an alternative to car travel by providing up to date and accurate
public transport information as many car drivers simply do not know which bus and train
services are available. Financial incentives can also be provided, such as staff discounts for
season ticket loans may be effective, since many commuters say that public transport is too
expensive. Negotiation with local authorities and local bus organisations can encourage
improvements in bus services.

2.5.6 Walking and cycling

Structures that aim to promote walking and cycling can be effective, such structures could
include the provision of changing facilities, showers and convenient, secure and covered
cycle parking. Publicising health and cost benefits and the use of financial incentives may
also be effective.

2.5.7 Lift clubs or car-sharing schemes

People driving alone account for more than 80% of commuter journeys by car. Carpooling
may be an attractive alternative to switching to a different form of transport for some
employees.
2.5.8 Alternative work practices

This can include work from home or teleconferencing, where staff work away from an
organisation's workplace, either at home or at a satellite office, which can bring about flexible
time and cost savings for staff. Another alternative could be a compressed working week.
This differs from flexible time in that it allows staff to take a day a week, or once a fortnight
off, provided they make up the hours in advance.

2.6 SUMMARY

This study unit discussed the integration of transport initiatives and environmental
management systems (EMS), this helped you as student and business organisations to
identify and manage the environmental effects of their transport operations in a way that is
consistent with managing the other environmental aspects of their operations. The study unit
also covered techniques that managers can adopt in their organisations that can reduce their
environmental impact. It set out practical advice on how to reduce transport-related
environmental impacts and ways to monitor the improvements gained. It highlighted provides
an understanding of how the management of the environmental effects associated with
transport relates to the wider management of the environmental and cost performance.

SELF-EVALUATION

1) Briefly describe your understanding of the environmental management system (EMS).

2) Discuss the possible effects of carbon emissions on the environment.
3) Discuss the principles considered as important in reducing the environmental impact in
transport enterprise.