GREEN DRAGON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STANDARD

1. GREEN DRAGONENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STANDARD Recognising Environmental Management & Tackling Climate Change Across Wales

2. Groundwork in Wales • Groundwork in Wales is a leading local, regional and national environmental regeneration network building sustainable communities across Wales • Groundwork in Wales projects contribute to a number of ‘One Wales’ commitments, with a particular focus on responding to the challenges of tackling climate change, employment & training and empowering people in their communities • Groundwork is using its expertise and experience to tackle climate change across Wales, and in doing so developed the Green Dragon Environmental Standard • Green Dragon has been and is continuing to support companies and organisations in achieving improved environmental performance since 2002

3. Green Dragon • What is the Green Dragon Environmental Standard? • A practical Environmental Management System (EMS) framework and tool to: • reduce resource costs & increase efficiency • improve environmental performance • comply with environmental legislation • improve market advantage, image and reputation with staff and customers

4. Business & Environmental Benefits • Green Dragon is written clearly with the specific needs of the customer in mind (the Standard document itself is FREE)‏ • It is unique in that it is clear and achievable by BOTH businesses just starting an EMS and those already established • Available whatever the size or type of business and the scale of thier environmental impact • Green Dragon demonstrates a real commitment to the environment, improving environmental performance, ensuring legal compliance and reducing costs • Rewards real effort by recognition of achievements through Certification at five successive levels • Series of stand-alone EMS levels which are comparable to and can build towards ISO14001

5. Certification • Publicly recognises effective environmental management • Customer cofidence in environmental credentials • A stepped system comprising five Levels of achievement allowing business to apply at the level that suits size, structure and activities • Recognition through certification, and: • addition to the Green Dragon Website Register (all Levels)‏ • use of the logo on stationery and marketing materials (Level 2 and above)‏ • eligibile to purchase an display plaque (Levels 3,4 and 5)‏ • Groundwork Wales is the sole certifying body in Wales and the UK, maintaining quality control

6. Green Dragon Levels LEVEL 1 Commitment to Environmental Responsibility - Commitment to improve - Awareness of environmental impacts - Set simple improvement goals LEVEL 2 Complying with Environmental Legislation - Awareness of legal obligations - Communication staff responsibilities - Maintain environmental records LEVEL 3 Managing Environmental Impacts - Evaluate and prioritise environmental impacts - Set measurable improvement targets - Begin reporting on environmental impacts LEVEL 4 Environmental Management Programme - Develop formal management system - Implement procedures for key activities - Report on environmental achievements LEVEL 5 Continual Environmental Improvement - Comprehensive environmental management system - Full environmental reporting

7. Monitoring and Reporting • Continued environmental improvement with an annual reassessment required to maintain certification • Green Dragon provides a clear snapshot of business practices and how they may change on a yearly basis • Levels 1-2 Improvement Plan and monitoring of key environmental data • Levels 3-5 Objective & Target setting, significance testing to rate the business environmental impact, publishing an Environmental Statement, in addition: • Level 3: Record annually direct CO2 emissions • Level 4: Record annually direct and indirect CO2 emissions • Level 5: Record annually direct and indirect green house gas emissions

8. Case Study 1 • Coleg Gwent • Largest Further Education College in Wales • Operating from five campuses, employing over 1,500 staff and providing teaching to some 37,000 students • Prior to Green Dragon it was sending 100% of all its waste to landfill • After 3 years of implementing the Standard it now recycles 73% of all waste.

9. Case Study 2 • Corporate Building Services, City & County of Swansea • Wide range of construction work, predominantly on public buildings and housing maintenance, with c. 600 staff • Green Dragon has supported the department in: • diverting 4,063 tonnes of waste from landfill since 2007 • making £712K savings (inc cost avoidance) from waste management changes • 44% reduction of waste • 32% reduction in energy use compared to 07/08 • 30% reduction of water consumption compared to 07/08

10. Case Study 3 • Trackyou Ltd • One of the UK's leading providers of asset tracking and fleet management systems • Green Dragon has given a measurable platform to reduce waste, energy consumption and also fuel use and CO2 emissions • Since implementing Green Dragon, it has seen c.25% per head reduction in energy consumption as well as reducing its use of office paper by 60% • Reviewed vehicle activities, with all vehicles purchased or leased by Trackyou now being super efficient diesel models

11. Further Information • Groundwork Wales can support organisations looking to achieve any level of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard • Copies of the Standard are available upon request, for further information contact Groundwork Wales on: • 01443 844866 • enquiries@greendragonems.com • greendragonems.com