In today’s environmentally conscious landscape, a robust Environmental Management System (EMS) is paramount for any company striving for true eco-friendly operations. At The Bernard Group, a proud carbon neutral business, we don’t just claim environmental responsibility- we actively pursue ambitious sustainability goals. Understanding the high expectations of our clients, we’re providing an inside look at our 2022 EMS successes and outlining our key priorities for 2023.
What is an EMS?
An Environmental Management System helps The Bernard Group (and Smartpress, our online division) systematically minimize our environmental impact and enhance operational efficiency. Our dedicated EMS team leads this effort by developing policies and procedures that ensure proactive environmental performance across our entire organization.
These experts conduct vital research, create documentation and provide training on all things environmental sustainability. In short, they pave the way for The Bernard Group to be as eco-friendly as possible in all aspects of our business.
We often say we believe in working toward something bigger than ourselves, and we believe it should be stunning. In this case, the “bigger” begins with EMS.
2022 EMS Outcomes
Our environmental goals are guided by our International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Certification. We establish objectives that directly align with our overarching environmental policy. The progress towards these goals are meticulously tracked by our EMS team and transparently communicated to employees across all our facilities through various channels. Accountability is central to our approach. Here’s a look at our 2022 Environmental Management System objectives and achievements:
Objective #1: Enhancing Energy Efficiency through Calculated Energy Savings
Goal: Achieve an annual energy saving of 100,000 kWh across our entire enterprise.
Result: We far surpassed this objective, with a total annual savings of 375,884 kWh – nearly four times our goal! With a third-party audit, we were able to target specific facilities, as well as smaller-scale projects like shutting down idle equipment, LED retrofits and occupancy sensors. This demonstrates our commitment to energy conservation.
Objective #2: Measuring Our Carbon Footprint: Quantifying Scope 3 Emissions
Goal: Extend our carbon neutrality efforts by quantifying Scope 3 emissions across our entire enterprise, having already offset Scopes 1 and 2.
- Scope 1 emissions: Direct emissions from our five primary facilities and company vehicles in Minnesota.
- Scope 2 emissions: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity.
- Scope 3 emissions: Indirect emissions from our supply and distribution chain, employee commuting, business travel, purchased goods, and waste disposal.
Result: Successfully quantifying our carbon footprint, our research indicated total Scope 3 emissions for 2022 23,533 tCO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). To further our commitment to environmental responsibility, we strategically invested in new carbon offsets (COs) and renewable energy certificates (RECs) to continue offsetting our Scopes 1 and 2 emissions in 2023:
- Katingan Redd Project (Scope 1 CO): Supporting the protection and restoration of 149,800 hectares of peatland ecosystems.
- Akocak Hydroelectric Power Plant (Scope 1 CO): Promoting renewable energy generation from the Karadere River in Trabzon, Turkey.
- Green-e Certified US/CAN Wind/Solar/Biomass (Scope 2 REC): Investing in green energy generated from new facilities meeting rigorous environmental standards.
Objective #3: Waste Reduction and Responsible Disposal
Goal: Divert 500 tons of waste towards proper disposal methods across all facilities, improving our overall waste management performance.
Result: We exceeded this goal with a total of 538 tons of redirected waste. This achievement led to significant advancements, including the implementation of magnet recycling for the first time and enhanced employee awareness regarding our recycling program.
Hint: Our EMS goals affect not only our services, but also our approach to corporate social responsibility as a whole. See why we’re rated Platinum by EcoVadis.
Our 2023 EMS Priorities for a Sustainable Future
Building on our progress, our 2023 environmental goals are focused on deepening our commitment to being a truly carbon neutral company and a leader in sustainable business practices. Aligning our Environmental Management System initiatives with our core environmental policy, we’ve identified three key opportunities for advancement:
Objective #1: Strengthening Our Eco-Design Practices for Sustainable Products
Goal: Create and implement a user-friendly tool to compare project materials during pre-production, making sustainable options more accessible to The Bernard Group clients. This tool will provide information on each material’s environmental performance and guide clients on how to optimize their projects for environmental sustainability.
Objective #2: Expanding Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Goal: Test and offer a wider range of sustainable packaging options. For shipping materials specifically, we aim to eliminate 50% of virgin plastic and replace it with recycled, recyclable or sustainably sourced alternatives. (Explore our already available recyclable Custom Boxes in three convenient sizes!)
Objective #3: Driving Continuous Improvement in Recycling Initiatives
Goal: Identify and establish successful recycling streams for at least two additional materials that are currently considered non-recyclable. Building on the significant recycling advancements of 2022, including magnet recycling, 2023 presents an ideal opportunity to target even more material streams for waste diversion.
“Our environmental policy states that we commit to leading the industry, and that takes involvement from everyone, every day.”
Q&A with Our Environmental Management System Team
Our dedication to being an eco-friendly organization is driven by our robust Environmental Management System and the expertise of our dedicated team. We spoke with Clay McCarty, Industrial Engineer, and Emily Keith, Environment Program Manager, about the challenges of meeting sustainability goals, essential elements of an effective EMS, and more.
Why is a dedicated EMS team crucial for our company?
Clay McCarty: “Different areas have their own challenges with environmental success, but having an EMS team allows us to ensure that The Bernard Group and Smartpress are united in these efforts as a whole.”
How do you determine the annual objectives for our EMS?
Emily Keith: “We determine annual objectives by looking at the needs of our company, as well as client interest within the last year. We also make sure the objectives we set are measurable. Each year brings different challenges and new goals, and we want to make sure our EMS objectives reflect those well.”
How do The Bernard Group and Smartpress employees contribute to achieving these environmental goals?
Keith: “Many employees will be directly involved in helping us achieve our objectives for the year, but the big picture is always very important. Our environmental policy states that we commit to leading the industry, and that takes involvement from everyone, every day. Every project we plan, every bin of waste, every chemical drum is an opportunity for us to lead.”
What accomplishment from 2022 are you most proud of?
Keith: “One of the biggest initiatives we’re most proud of is our Calculated Energy Savings Project. This project really started from the ground up as we participated in a third-party energy audit to analyze where we have energy savings opportunities. It gave us great direction and helped us organize priorities and impacts of certain improvements.
“The energy savings goal of 100,000 kWh was almost quadrupled at 375,884 kWh. The amount of energy we were able to save is incredible! We’re really proud of this one.”
What are the anticipated challenges in reaching our 2023 objectives?
Keith: “The biggest challenges in 2023 will probably be sourcing. For each objective, sourcing is necessary and will require lots of involvement from different teams to help find the best materials, waste streams and resources to complete them. We don’t want to settle for something that doesn’t align with the true purpose of our objectives, which is to be better than the year before.”
What advice would you offer to companies looking to implement their own EMS?
McCarty: “Make sure your program is supported from the top down. If your leaders aren’t committed to setting standards and sustaining them, your program will encounter obstacles at every level. The bare minimum is not enough, and it starts with having committed leadership.
“Also, be ready to have documented policies and manage them. ISO programs are all about doing what you say and saying what you do. Workplaces are a moving target in a lot of industries, and your policies have to be agile enough to stay relevant in a fast paced environment like that.”
Why is it crucial for companies to monitor their environmental impact?
McCarty: “Humanity as a whole is experiencing an awakening of sorts. We’re more aware each day of our impact on the planet. It’s crucial that industry and commerce understand their part in the bigger picture and take responsibility for it.”
“It’s crucial that industry and commerce understand their part in the bigger picture and take responsibility for it.”
Partner with The Bernard Group for Sustainable Solutions
The Bernard Group is a proud carbon neutral business that doesn’t does claim environmental responsibility. We actively pursue ambitious sustainability goals year after year. To learn more about our Environmental Management System and how it can benefit you, contact us.