Severn Trent’s Post

If your job involves compliance, risk, ESG, EHS, or sustainability, you should take note that the results from 2023 are in and enforcement is clearly up at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Knowing where you stand is the first step in evaluating your compliance profile, and fortunately at Ecolumix we have the data to show where you stack up against your peers, how you can spot internal risk, and how your suppliers' are meeting their EHS commitments. #ehs #sustainability #ESG #risk #compliance #sustainablesupplychains #Ecolumix

Environmental remediation can take decades and require significant resources. How you communicate about it is critical for protecting your freedom to operate. I share recommendations on best practices in my recent blog post.

In a recent post from our colleague at Standing Partnership, Mihaela Grad discusses how to develop a robust communications strategy around environmental remediation. Read more below!

EPA’s 2023 Enforcement Update: EPA’s recently announced enforcement and compliance annual results for fiscal year 2023 show a significant increase in enforcement activity in environmental justice (EJ) communities and across the board.   The agency added approximately 300 new positions to its enforcement program, conducted more on-site inspections since before the pandemic (60% of which were in EJ communities), opened 70% more criminal investigations over fiscal year 2022, and had a big jump in civil settlements. The full report is available here: https://lnkd.in/e8cp5VCD.   Also highlighted in the report are the agency’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) for FY 2024-2027 and its Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy, which directs all EPA enforcement and compliance offices to address climate change, including with criminal, civil, federal facilities, and cleanup enforcement actions. These are must-reads if you have not yet reviewed them. The NECIs are available here: https://lnkd.in/eS-hbpHs. The Climate Enforcement strategy document is here: https://lnkd.in/gsbeu8ww.   Enforcement scrutiny is clearly on the rise, and these stats and related priorities highlight the importance of knowing how your business is doing in terms of environmental compliance performance. Ecolumix’s EHS compliance data allows organizations to identify the early signs of risk that help companies stay ahead of compliance issues and not simply respond to them. To learn more, visit Our Solutions on the web (https://lnkd.in/eN48TeT5) or contact Natalie Pryde.   For more insights on EPA’s top enforcement priorities and helpful tips on how companies can integrate the NECIs into their ESG strategies, please refer to a recent article on the intersection of EHS compliance and ESG by our Co-Founder & CEO, Doug Parker, and Ecolumix Advisory Board Member, Mary Ann Grena Manley. You can find that PracticalESG.com article here: https://lnkd.in/eujWGYGx.   #EHS #EnvironmentalCompliance #ESG #ESGStrategy #Ecolumix #EPA #NECIs

2023 was a big year for enforcement for the US EPA. - More inspections and more enforcement staff - Climate change is now an integral part of compliance - Environmental Justice is a strategic priority - Elimination of and estimated 1.21 billion pounds of pollutants - Over $708 million in penalties, fines and restitution (a YoY increase of 57%) - A 70% increase of criminal investigations opened over 2022. If you live in the corporate space, what does this mean for you? Do you know if you have facilities in environmental justice zones and how you rank with regard to environmental justice indices? Is your compliance history a risk factor? How are your facilities trending with regard to pollutants released and/or emitted? Would having better data insights position you to manage risks and make sound operational and financial decisions? I am happy to connect with you if any of this resonates with you. Knowing where you stand is a powerful starting point in future planning.

As many industrial companies know, environmental remediation is a complicated and expensive multi-year process. The costs can be measured not just in dollars but also in eroded brand equity. How you communicate about your company’s environmental remediation efforts is essential for protecting your freedom to operate. Mihaela Grad, senior vice president, explains how to develop a robust communications strategy in this blog post: https://lnkd.in/gbkuUK-r

The continuing focus on environmental and ESG concerns just highlights the need for pro-active actions. https://lnkd.in/gu26EjYq

We are exceptionally proud that we have retained our A- Carbon Disclosure Project rating for 2023. Earning an A- Carbon Disclosure Project rating demonstrates that Cairn is following best practices recognised by frameworks like Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, it signifies environmental leadership through actions on climate change, deforestation, and water security. Cairn has taken significant steps such as setting science-based targets and implementing risk assessment strategies, showcasing a commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement. Our A- rating is higher than the construction industry average B rating, it reflects transparency and proactive efforts in addressing environmental challenges, driving awareness and management towards leadership in sustainability. #BuiltForGood CDP #Sustainability

B Corps are sustainability leaders. Here's why they need to look into Life Cycle Assessments #LCA of their products . #SpoilerAlert! - Upcoming revisions to B Corp standards

The role of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) professionals is crucial in contributing to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.