Measuring Environmental Performance: A Primer and Survey of Metrics in Use is designed to present a survey of environmental performance measurement tools, or metrics, and includes considerations for designing a metrics program and selecting appropriate metrics, as well as for implementing, evaluating and improving such a program.
Selecting meaningful and
effective tools for measuring environmental performance is becoming
increasingly important due to the increasing costs of environmental operations;
market, regulatory and public pressures; voluntary initiatives, such as the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Business Principles for Sustainable
Development; and international standards, such as the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. Metrics can measure the
business value of environmental programs or progress as well as the
environmental performance of business operations. This can be particularly
effective in demonstrating the value of environmental efforts to management. It
can also provide data with which business units can design more efficient
processes, decreasing material usage and environmental impacts while at the
same time increasing yield and profitability. During early 1996, the GEMI
Metrics Work Group surveyed members on their environmental performance
measurement systems. The survey revealed a variety of metrics in use by member
companies and interest in improving tools for measuring environmental
performance. As a result, GEMI decided that a primer discussing the
considerations for designing a metrics program and a compilation of indicators
would be a helpful aid to GEMI and non-GEMI companies. The purpose of Measuring
Environmental Performance: A Primer and Survey of Metrics in Use is to
present a survey of environmental performance measurement tools (or “metrics”)
and present considerations for designing a metrics program; selecting
appropriate metrics; and for implementing, evaluating and improving such a
program. This Primer is directed to large companies wishing to compare or
improve their programs, as well as smaller companies seeking to establish a
program for the first time. Because a metrics program must be responsive to
industry and company-specific cultures and concerns, this primer does not
present a recommended program to be used by any company. Instead, it identifies
the considerations that a company should address, suggests a process for
developing an effective metrics program, and provides case studies (examples)
in order to assist companies and organizations in developing or enhancing their
systems. The first chapter is a survey
of metrics for measuring environmental performance that are currently in use.
Key concepts are defined and explained, and the advantages and limitations of
various metrics are discussed. Chapter 2 presents considerations for selecting,
designing, implementing, evaluating and improving a metrics program. The
chapter is divided into four sections that parallel the Plan-Do-Check-Act
(PDCA) cycle format, presented in the 1992 GEMI Total Quality Environmental
Management Primer, forms the basis for total quality environmental
management. Chapter 3 presents a brief discussion of emerging trends in
environmental performance measurement. The appendices contain studies of some
exemplary GEMI and non-GEMI metrics programs.
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