Sustainability at Monash

1. Sustainability at Monash Acknowledge what we do well, introduce staff to triple-bottom-line reporting and get ideas and commitment so that Monash can take the next step toward sustainability. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

2. What is Sustainability? The ability to achieve economic prosperity AND social equity AND environmental health. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

3. Monash & Sustainability • Excellence in management • “pay attention to all aspects of responsible environmental management”, • “create an environment where all staff are valued as equal partners in achieving the vision of the university”, • “ensure that employment conditions are optimised”, • “ensure that management processes are efficient, accountable and transparent”, • “appoint and support excellent general staff and provide them with high quality development and educational programs” • Innovation and creativity • “encourage faculties, departments and service divisions to develop new methods of realising the Monash vision”, • “question accepted concepts and methods, welcome debate and encourage positive ideas for improvement” Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

4. Monash & Sustainability • Fairness • “continue to develop and implement programs to ensure that no staff member is unfairly disadvantaged as a result of her or his gender, race, religion or disability”, • “further develop an environment which welcomes and supports individuals without discrimination or intolerance” • Engagement • “interact as relevant and appropriate with local communities, local government and local politicians with respect to each of its campuses, both in Australia and overseas”, • “encourage staff to contribute to public debate and advocacy in areas of expertise and in more general areas relating to social justice, human rights and a sustainable environment” • Integrity • “see that all its dealings are characterised by openness and transparency and conform to best academic, financial and business standards” Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

5. How will we make this happen? By imbedding sustainability criteria in: • SLAs • KPIs • Operational plans • Strategic plans • Contracts, procurement & general transactions • Reporting (including TBL) Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

6. Major categories in the TBL report Social Performance - staff engagement, student engagement, health, safety and wellbeing (staff and students), human rights, and community engagement. Environmental Performance - commitment, compliance, effluent, energy, emissions, water, land use and biodiversity, materials and buildings, transport, and waste. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

7. Social Performance IndicatorStaff profile Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

8. Social Performance IndicatorFairness Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

9. Social Performance IndicatorStaff development In-house training hours supplied to Monash staff by internal Monash providers Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

10. Social Performance IndicatorStaff feedback Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

11. Social Performance IndicatorOHS Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

12. Social Performance Indicator Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

13. Social Performance IndicatorCommunity Engagement In October, Caulfield campus organised a guest speaker and lunch attended by 90 staff to raise funds for the Cancer Council Victoria The ITS Division supported staff participating in fundraising events, including the 'Around the Bay in a Day' 210 km cycle event for the Smith Family and the Relay for Life, a 24 hour walk, for the Cancer Council Victoria Gippsland campus donated used computers for refurbishment and distribution to school students without these facilities MEI ran two forums on Sustainable Rural Futures for Australia. Speakers and audiences participated in Melbourne, Shepparton and Gippsland via video link up Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

14. Environmental Performance Indicator Staff engagement Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

15. Environmental Performance IndicatorEnvironmental management Tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions from energy use per EFTSU Average vehicle emits 4.3 tonnes CO2-e per annum over 17,000 kilometres Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

16. Environmental Performance IndicatorEnvironmental management Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

17. Environmental Performance IndicatorEnvironmental management Non-recyclable catering items used at Monyx Outlets over a 10 month period in 2003 Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

18. What do we do well? Water & energy • Winner of the Victorian Savewater! Award for innovation and achievement in water efficiency. • Eighteen per cent decrease in water consumption at Clayton campus (20 per cent per EFTSU) and 14 per cent university wide (7 per cent per EFTSU). • Four per cent decrease in electricity use (university wide) and 6 per cent per EFTSU. • Two per cent decrease of natural gas use overall and 4 per cent per EFTSU. • Ten per cent renewable energy purchased for all campuses in 2004. Emissions • Clayton campus - member of the Australian Greenhouse Office Greenhouse Challenge (all campuses to be members in 2004). • Two per cent decrease in CO2 equivalent emissions overall and 4 per cent per EFTSU. • Ninety-eight per cent of Monash owned vehicles were signed onto the Greenfleet program to offset fuel emissions. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

19. What do we do well? Office based change • Fifty per cent of departments now have representatives for OHSE's Monash Green Office Program (MGOP). • Environmental Officers have been introduced to represent environmental matters at zone OHSE committees and each department is to nominate an Environmental Officer in 2004. • University wide use of recycled content paper in 2003 was 23 per cent of all copy paper purchased: an increase of 77 per cent on 2002. Waste • Slight increase in the amount of paper and cardboard recycled. • E-waste recycling facilities expanded to all campuses. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

20. Where can Monash improve? Buildings • Including environmental considerations into new buildings is the best way to reduce Monash's environmental impact both immediately and in the long-term as it will save future energy costs and the costs of retrofitting environmentally friendly infrastructure. Water • Many technical solutions have already been implemented to save water, however we risk increasing our usage when the restrictions are lifted unless there is uni-wide support for further behavioural and infrastructure changes. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

21. Where can Monash improve? Purchasing • Environmentally friendly and socially responsible purchasing polices are required to ensure that: packaging and waste is kept to a minimum; we do not purchase from firms known or suspected to be involved in human rights violations; and that preference is given to products that are recyclable and/or have recycled content. Waste • Reduce packaging for goods provided on campus; decrease paper use; encourage recycling and expand recycling facilities to all campuses; request all contractors and suppliers to reduce waste and to recycle wherever possible. Reporting and monitoring • Reporting should continue at the university level, however monitoring progress at divisional and faculty levels will lead to more accurate reporting, improved accountability, meaningful goal setting and improved engagement of staff across the university. Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

22. Why should we improve? • Because we are recognised as a leader in our field, the more we do, the more others will do • To provide a better environment for staff and students • Because caring about the environment and society, demonstrates how much we care about staff and student wellbeing • Because Monash has enormous potential to make a difference. We are Australia’s largest uni, with huge buying power and high student and staff numbers • Because it provides an opportunity for positive publicity • Because more and more our stakeholders are expecting this of us • Because it makes sound financial sense to ensure we use resources wisely and efficiently • Because it demonstrates that our priorities are well balanced • Because it has to start somewhere, so why not with us? Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

23. Ideas that don’t require reinventing the wheel… • Improving the monitoring and reporting of community engagement initiatives, that you already partake in; • Ensure Green Office and Environmental Officer representation for all departments; • Less waste through less packaging and disposable items (particularly food and drink and especially aluminium cans); • Improved uptake of purchasing environmentally friendly products/contracts (recycled content paper and remanufactured printer cartridges); • Request recycled content paper when outsourcing printing for brochures etc. • How? - by talking with your GO Rep, EnvO and by using the resources available at OHSE (Mark, Ceci, Rachel & Michelle) and MEI (Me). Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au

24. Learning from others • Bunning's - plastic bags and timber products • Warehouse - reduced waste to landfill by 98% • ANU - currently sourcing composting equipment • UNSW - providing loans/salary sacrifice for people to get yearly travel passes = 250 less people driving to work every day. • Nortel and the Body Shop - give staff time off to do volunteer work (about 2-3 days per annum) Belinda Towns – Project Manager TBL Reporting belinda.towns@general.monash.edu.au