Voice.3.2011.Green to Gold by Marsha Gomes-Mckie

of the Employer Magazine Vol.3 2011

Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago The Premier Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Representative

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

of the Employer Magazine Vol.3.2011

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago The Premier Employers’ Representative

Chairman and Executive Director’s Profile Affiliations Chairman’s Address Spotlight - Rolling Stone Green to Gold Going Green with a Profit - Top 25 Ways to go Green Green Teams Best Practices from Employers Guardian Holdings Limited Petrotin, Leading by Example Your Carbon Footprint The Hilton Experience Greening your Events

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Our Vision To be the Premier Employers’ Representative Our Mission To Advance Employers Interests for the creation of optimum, sustainable value for all stakeholders. Our Mandate To provide employers with quality representation at the organisational, national and international levels in order to ensure the strength and success of the employer community for the socio-economic well-being of the nation. Board Members - Keston Nancoo (Chairman), Suzetta Ali (Vice Chairman), Linda M. Besson (Executive Director/Secretary), Ruben Mc Sween, Martin de Gannes, Neil Derrick, Victor Coombs, Dexter Charles, W.A. Hilton Clarke, Seeram Ken Maharaj, Lennon Ballah-Lashley, Charlene Pedro, Gwendoline McLaren, Imran Khan, Narendra Kirpalani, and Farzan Ali Publisher: Linda Besson Editor: Marsha Gomes Layout & Cover Design: Marsha Gomes Editing: Annette Joseph, Avery Purcell and Marsha Gomes Advertising Sales: ECA Team - Marketing Department Printed by: Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago 23 Chacon Street, P.O. Box 911, Port of Spain Tel: 625-4723, Fax: 625-4891 Email: ecatt@tstt.net.tt, Website: http://www.ecatt.org The views expressed by the ECA Voice Magazine are not necessarily those of the ECA. The ECA accepts no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors nor for errors in contributed articles or advertisements. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. © The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago – All Rights Reserved.

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Green to Gold

CHAIRMAN’S PROFILE Mr. Nancoo is the Group Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services at Guardian Holdings Limited and has over thirty years of experience within the manufacturing sector, both locally and regionally, in Human Resources especially in the area of Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, Marketing and Communications. He served for some ten years as the Branch Secretary of NUGFW, and has been a member of the Employer’s Consultative Association Board for over four years. Keston has a B.Sc (cum laude) in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from Andrews University in Michigan, USA. His training did not cease at his MBA but his aspirations and commitment to his career also led him to pursue additional training at The Chicago Business School and Harvard Business School.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S PROFILE Linda M. Besson, is the Executive Director and Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Executive Secretary to the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC) the Regional Body of Employers Organisations/Associations. Mrs. Besson has over 30 years’ management experience. She has spent more than 15 years in her current position at the ECA and 14 years at the CEC. Prior to joining the ECA she worked as a consultant manager to Trinidad Cement Limited Group of Companies. Previously she worked at Eastern Credit Union Co-operative as General Manager. Mrs. Besson is adept and experienced at building and developing organisations. She is very much at home working with people and at empowering those around her to see the vision she sees and shares. This has been very well demonstrated in the 15 years she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Credit Union. In 1993 Linda Besson was the only female CEO in the top 50 companies in Trinidad and Tobago. She has an International MBA and is a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE). Linda Besson has acquired expertise in the development and implementation of Management systems and has project-managed programmes. She also has wide experience in Administration, Financial and Credit Management, Business Development, Public Relations and Managing Change. Her success is demonstrated in the fact that she is responsible for the growth of the ECA from 75 members in 1996 to over 680 members as at April 2011. She also manages a team of 29 persons, including professionals and support staff and is responsible for the forward looking approach the organisation currently holds. The ECA ranks as one of the top Business Organisations in Trinidad and Tobago, being the largest in terms of membership, its service delivery and for its role in Industrial Relations. As the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the CEC Linda Besson is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Secretariat, for ensuring that the Confederation is represented at all meetings, workshops and seminars to which it is invited. She coordinates projects and programmes that the regional body may be called upon to carry out, including those coordinated through CARICOM (PANCAP-HIV/AIDS).

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

CARIBBEAN EMPLOYERS’ CONFEDERATION (CEC) The Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC) is a regional grouping of employers’ organisations in the Caribbean Region founded in 1960. This organisation is dedicated to the development and promotion of good industrial relations practices at the enterprise and macro levels and is committed towards achieving productivity and prosperity for member countries and the region as a whole. Its office is housed at the Employers’ Consultative Association, 23 Chacon Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in 1919, in the wake of a destructive war, to pursue a vision based on the premise that universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon decent treatment of working people. The ILO became the first specialised agency of the UN in 1946. The ILO is the only “tripartite” United Nations agency in that it brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes. This unique arrangement gives the ILO an edge in incorporating “real world” knowledge about employment and work. The ILO is the global body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. Working with its Member States, the ILO seeks to ensure that labour standards are respected in practice as well as principle. Trinidad and Tobago joined the ILO in 1963 and has ratified 17 conventions to date.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ASSOCIATION (ILERA) The International Labour and Employment Relations Association formally The International Industrial Relations Association was established in 1966 in response to a growing need to develop and exchange knowledge in the field of industrial relations at the international level, and provide the academic and the practitioner with a forum for discussion and research. Its founding members were the British Universities Industrial Relations Association, the Industrial Relations Research Association (USA), the International Institute for Labour Studies (Geneva, Switzerland) and the Japan Institute of Labour. The Association has over 1,000 members worldwide including prominent industrial relations scholars and practitioners. Subjects such as globalisation, new technology, gender, HIV/AIDS, employee involvement, occupational safety and health, industrial relations, labour law, human resource management, international labour standards, social dialogue, labour administration, informal economy, and many other topics are largely discussed during its congresses.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF EMPLOYERS Since its creation in 1920 the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) has been recognised as the only organisation at the international level that represents the interests of business in the labour and social policy fields. Today, it consists of 146 national employer organisations from 139 countries from all over the world. The mission of the IOE is to promote and defend the interests of employers in international fora, particularly in the International Labour Organization (ILO), and to this end works to ensure that international labour and social policy promotes the viability of enterprises and creates an environment favourable to enterprise development and job creation. At the same time it acts as the Secretariat to the Employers’ Group at the International Labour Conference, the ILO Governing Body and all other ILO-related meetings. In order to ensure that the voice of business is heard at the international and national level, the IOE is actively engaged in the creation and capacity building of representative organisations of employers, particularly in both the developing world and those countries in transition to the market economy. The IOE is the permanent liaison body for the exchange of information, views and experience among employers throughout the world. It acts as the recognised channel for the communication and promotion of the employer point of view to all United Nations agencies and other international organisations.

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Green to Gold

Why Go Green? shelf grow. When is the last time you heard the words growth and grocery in the same sentence? Going green represents a new market, and a market that’s here to stay. Don’t Buy the Lie! You’ve heard that going green is too expensive. Well, it can be, if you go about it wrong. But here’s the wonderful truth: if you understand that profitability is a key objective, going green should MAKE you money and SAVE you money. Environmentally Friendly Habits: Usage: By making sure every time you run the photocopier it is necessary. Even turning down the thermostat by a few degrees can add up. Recycling: The most well known, but still not extremely well practiced. There are so many ways of becoming more environmentally friendly; preventing one’s self from laziness and recycling whenever possible can affect change.

Keston Nancoo, Chairman Employers’ Consultative Association Going green is here to stay. It’s something that everyone has to begin to agree on. John Derr noted ten years ago that there is a time when panic is the appropriate response. He was answering the question why go green, in response to his 15 year old daughters’ statement that his generation had done more damage to the environment that any generation before. No one has a crystal ball, but it’s obvious that consumers are starting to become environmentally conscious and they’re showing it at the cash register. It’s not out of the ordinary to find organically grown, fair-trade coffee beans at your local cafe or organic milk at a corner store. We are living in a time where organic foods can now be considered a mainstream niche in the grocery business. Considerable demand by consumers has made the demands for these foods on the grocery

Daily Tasks: By making sure not to leave the lights on after working hours, energy consumption is key when you calculate that in a 24 hour day you spend only 8 hours in the office. (Sources: Conscious Shopping, Tips Going Green Daily) Whatever your political or religious persuasion the facts are glaring the question is no longer why go green, it’s now how best can we go green. Keston Nancoo, Chairman

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The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

Beginning with the June 28, 2007 issue, Rolling Stone magazine became the first mass-marketed magazine to print on carbon neutral paper. The special June issue of the magazine included a series of features devoted to the climate change issue, including a broad-based interview with former Vice President Al Gore, and an in-depth report on global warming solutions by environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. How Did Rolling Stone Magazine Become Carbon Neutral? Studies have demonstrated that paper manufacturing accounts for the majority of a publication’s total carbon footprint. Rolling Stone prints on Catalyst Cooled paper, an Electracote™ lightweight coated paper, manufactured in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Catalyst Cooled paper adds no net carbon dioxide to the environment. How is this accomplished? Well before the climate change issue had captured the public’s attention, Catalyst Paper undertook a thorough review of its operations, with an eye to identifying emissions reductions opportunities. As a result, the company was able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 70 percent compared to the 1990 Kyoto Protocol baseline year, equivalent to taking 250,000 cars off the road every year. These direct greenhouse reductions were accomplished through a range of measures, including energy efficiency, and replacing a significant portion of fossil energy use with biofuels. To address the residual greenhouse emissions footprint for the paper produced for Rolling Stone magazine, Catalyst engaged Ecosystem Restoration Associates Inc. (ERA), a recognized pioneer in community-based climate mitigation programming. ERA, whose community-based programming is directed toward restoring forest ecosystems, offset the remaining direct greenhouse emissions associated with paper production through a carefully chosen forest ecosystem restoration project in the District of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. ERA is also exploring and developing opportunities for ecosystem restoration and avoided deforestation projects in South America and Africa.

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In addition to the Rolling Stone magazine positive impacts this programming has been able to tangihas on atmospheric bly reduce its environcarbon, ecosystem restorations offer mental footprint, while a range of environ- sustaining its position as mental co-benefits, the \”go to\” including: improved storm-water manpublication. agement, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, native biodiversity restoration, and endangered species refuges. Socio-economic co-benefits include local employment, a boost to local economies supporting the restorations, and education. What Has Been the Response? While some organizations resist the concept of offsetting, informed individuals and established commentators realize that offsetting, while not the entire solution, represents an essential element of sustainability and climate mitigation. Furthermore, as in the case of Catalyst Paper, offsetting generally follows voluntary efforts by companies and organizations to reduce their environmental footprints. In practice, offsetting companies are usually already at the top of the list of environmental performers. The leadership and ingenuity of forward-thinking companies like Catalyst Paper, ERA, and other leaders in the space, are providing focus and substance to advancing sustainability in business and communities. Rolling Stone magazine, while the first, will certainly not be the last major publication, or business, to face head-on the challenges of climate change and sustainability. In becoming an “early reducer,” Rolling Stone magazine has been able to tangibly reduce its environmental footprint, while sustaining its position as the “go to” publication for the latest in music reviews, in-depth interviews, respected political commentary, and award-winning investigative journalism.

SAVE THE DATE

Green to Gold

Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Business Networking and Recruitment Exposition • • • •

Product Exposure and Sales Networking and Referrals Recruitment Free HR and IR Advisory Venue: Centre of Excellence, Macoya Date: April 13-14 2012 To reserve a booth contact Avery Purcell at 625-4723 ext 242 or email apurcell@ecatt.org

Walk with your Business Cards, Resumes and Network! 8

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Website: www.ecatt.org I Email: ecatt@tstt.net.tt I Tel: 625-4723 I Fax: 625 - 4891 I Cell: 487-3935

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GREEN TO GOLD The Eco-Initiative www.ecatt.org

Green to Gold

Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage - Director Daniel C. Esty (Author), Andrew S. Winston (Author)

This book is an essential guide for forward-thinking business leaders who see the Green Wave and want to profit from it. This book explores what every executive must know to manage the environmental challenges facing society and business. Based on the authors’ years of experience and hundreds of interviews with corporate leaders around the world, Green to Gold shows how companies generate lasting value, cutting costs, reducing risk, increasing revenues, and creating strong brands, by building environmental thinking into their business strategies. Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston provide clear how-to advice and concrete examples from companies like BP, Toyota, IKEA, GE, and Nike that are achieving both environmental and business success. The authors show how these cutting-edge companies are establishing an “eco-advantage” in the marketplace as traditional elements of competitive differentiation fade in importance. Esty and Winston not only highlight successful strategies but also make plain what does not work by describing why environmental initiatives sometimes fail despite the best intentions. Green to Gold is written for executives at every level and for businesses of all kinds and sizes. Esty and Winston guide leaders through a complex new world of resource shortfalls, regulatory restrictions, and growing pressure from customers and other stakeholders to strive for sustainability. With a sharp focus on execution, Esty and Winston offer a thoughtful, pragmatic, and inspiring road map that companies can use to cope with environmental pressures and responsibilities while sparking innovation that will drive long-term growth. Green to Gold is the new template for global CEOs who want to be good stewards of the Earth while simultaneously building the bottom line. ***

Making Money by Going Green Going green has never been as profitable as it is right now, and it looks as though this business trend is just getting started. Whether it’s clothes, cars, food, homes, or a plethora of other items, environmentally conscious products are generating revenue and profit for the companies with a conscience for a cleaner environment and/or healthy revenue stream. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as though these companies are generating billions of dollars from their ecologically-friendly products, it’s just that it’s nice to see some companies recognizing consumer demand for these kinds of products and then taking the risk to produce these goods. Is this all a fad or will higher priced T-shirts made from organic materials be in de-

mand from consumers for….well, forever? This is the million dollar question.

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GOING GREEN with a PROFIT - TOP 25

Bank of America is proving that ecofriendly operations can coexist with business growth. According to their corporate website, the company reduced paper use by 32% from 2000-2005, despite a 24% growth in their customer base! Bank of America also runs an internal recycling program that recycles 30,000 tons of paper each year, good for saving roughly 200,000 trees for each year of the program’s operation. As if that weren’t enough, the company also offers employees a $3,000 cash back reward for buying hybrid vehicles. While not technically a business itself, Ceres has advised some of the nation’s biggest corporations and investors on the environmental impact of their operations. Having billed themselves as “the largest coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America“, the organization is primarily focused on ensuring that companies accurately disclose the environmental aspects of their business practices to investors and shareholders. Major achievements thus far include persuading Dell Computer to support national product “take back” legislation and convincing Bank of America to spend $20 billion on

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the growth of eco-friendly business practices. General Electric’s presence on this list might surprise you, but the steps they have taken toward green operations are undeniable. Since 2006, the company has sold over $12 billion of its Ecomagination products (including solar panels). For those who are still upset at GE’s polluting of the Hudson River with polychlorinated biphenyls, the company is also making headway on an ambitious cleanup of that area. Barring further setbacks, the river should be cleaned up to a much better state in just a couple of years! Dupont is another company that has drawn the ire of green advocates for many, many years. However, it now seems that they are taking strides toward more sustainable operations. In addition to drastically lowering its emissions of airborne carcinogens and greenhouse gases, Dupont has appointed an ex-Greenpeace head as an adviser to the board. And true to its word, the company successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions during the 90’s by 63% – far ahead of the timetable set forth in the controversial Kyoto Protocol. continued on page 12 11

Green to Gold

GOING GREEN with a PROFIT - TOP 25 Innovest has boldly set out to “reengineer the DNA of Wall Street”, according to executive managing director Matthew J. Kiernan. As William Grieder explains in his book “The Soul of Capitalism”, Innovest grades publicly traded companies for such things as its track record in hazardous waste disposals and past pollution. The overall goal is to give investors a quick gauge on the true eco-friendliness of the companies they are investing in. Interestingly, early data seem to indicate that companies with higher “EcoValue” rankings outperform lower ranked companies as stocks, boasting returns 1.5 to 2.4 percent higher. Time was not long ago when McDonalds wouldn’t have come within striking distance of making this list. However, the increasing public shift toward greener living has sent a clear signal to the powers that be at the popular fast-food chain. Instead of ravaging the natural habitats of animals, McDonalds now works in close collaboration with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) on systematically reforming its business practices to be more humane and friendly to the environment in which they operate. Home Depot is another ex-offender who has taken great pains to turn things around. Once the Rainforest Action Network identified the company as the world’s largest retailer of old-growth wood products, demonstrations and protests unfolded at Home Depot stores around the nation. When the outcry reached the point of 45,000 customer calls and letters, the bigwigs at Home Depot decided that enough was enough. Within months, the company rolled out a new “no old-growth sales” policy to ensure consumers and activists that the days of harvesting trees from old-growth rainforests were over. Most people don’t expect much in the way of environmental awareness from their beer company, but that hasn’t stopped Anheuser-Busch from delivering. In his landmark text “Natural Capitalism”, author Paul Hawken shines light on the fact that Busch now saves

21 million pounds of metal per year by trimming an eigth of an inch off the diameter of its beer cans. The best news for beer enthusiasts? “The trimming doesn’t reduce the volume of beer one bit”, says Hawken. Pratt & Whitney offers another inspiring story of how much raw materials can be saved – and pollution avoided – with a little old-fashioned, hard-nosed ingenuity. As “Natural Capitalism” explains, Pratt & Whitney used to scrap 90 percent of its ingots (that’s right, almost all) in the process of manufacturing jet engine blades. This massive waste continued unabated until someone at Pratt & Whitney had the bright idea to have the supplier simply cast the ingots into ready-made blade-like shapes. This one seemingly small change proved to be transformative, and has lowered the amount of wasted ingots and factory emissions a great deal. Starbucks has green advocates smiling about its “beanto-cup” approach, which stresses top efficiency at each link of its global supply chain. By all measures the program appears to be a great success, with the company’s decision to use coffee cup sleeves made of recycled paper saving roughly 78,000 trees per year since 2006. Starbucks has also partnered up with many environmental organizations, from Conservation International to the Earthwatch Institute, in efforts to do right by the communities it operates in. Possibly the most hated name in the entire green movement, Wal-Mart is now positioned to make all but the most dogmatic of its detractors eat their words. According to Sustainablog, Wal-Mart has launched an ambitious long-term plan to eventually power each and every one of its stores using 100% renewable energy sources. According to the company’s executives, Wal-Mart is committed to using its wasteeliminating corporate philosophy to make its own operations more eco-friendly than ever. continued on page 15

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

Ways to Go Green & Increase Profit as a Business Owner Companies can adopt environmentally friendly policies to assist their bottom line. The idea is that you are focusing on decreasing expenses and/or finding new sources of revenue. Their are a number of options that can be turned green: the facility, policies and procedures, the product or service, or the people themselves. 1) Reduce Energy Use Many employees leave their computers on 24/7. Instead of turning it off, it is locked but still on. Why? It makes signing on easier when they get there next day. Saves about 30 seconds! By implementing a mandatory power cycle every night when the office is closed down, you could save on energy and computer wear and tear. The same could be said for peripherals like printers and fax machines. Other areas you can look at: - Keeping the television off until someone wants to look at it. - Ensure that fridges are at their maximum capacity before investing in others. - Have one kitchen and ask all employers to walk to a centralised location to use it. The idea here is to think outside of the box. Energy is getting more expensive and you want to look at ways to reduce your usage. If you are a one facility operation, the cost savings may be minimal.. coming up to a few thousand per year. If you are a huge network of facilities, you could wind up saving in the hundreds of thousands by adopting policies to reduce energy use. 2) Improve Lighting Switching to energy saving bulbs could wind up saving hand over fist. Using natural lighting could obviously save a lot more. The energy efficient bulbs on the market often tout a 30% reduction in costs. However, if you find a way to use natural lighting effectively, you could save even more. In addition to www.ecatt.org

changing overhead lights you can also make them motion sensored. Often times large offices do not use all of their space, bathrooms and meeting areas all day. This goes a long way to save on energy. 3) Duplexing Copies Employees, go through reams of paper EVERY day. you should make it an objective to use both sides of the paper at all times. In addition, persons should always be reminded to think before they print, as every small step helps. 4) Healthy Indoor Air Quality If you focus on using green building products, the air quality should be better. What does this mean for the bottom line? Less sick days! Creating a healthier environment for your employees could definitely cut costs, then. A facility with 100 employees could potentially cut the sick days down by 10%. Once again, with my companies huge focus on going green they have started to study how well forklift propane and gas is exiting the building. They have started to install more exhaust fans to make the air quality more healthy. What is YOUR Company Doing? If you own a company, what are you doing to be more green and make more money? If you work for a company, what are they doing? Do you know their logic? Do they realize they are saving money or are they doing it to be environmentally conscious and the cost savings is just a bonus? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a matter of time before all companies adopt a more green modelâ&#x20AC;Ś and not for any other reason than sustainability. A more sustainable organization is a more efficient, more profitable business. ***

Green to Gold

Our Mission

To Advance Employers’ Interest for the Creation of Optimum Sustainable Value for all Stakeholders

Our Mandate To Provide Employers with Quality Representation at the Organizational, National and International Levels in Order to Ensure the Strength and Success of the Employer Community for the Socio-Economic Well-Being of the Nation

Become a Member of the ECA

What We Do? - Advocacy and Representation of All Employment Issues - Free Telephone Advisory on Labour Legislation, Industrial Relations, National Standards on Working Conditions and Human Resource - Research: Compensation Surveys, Labour Market and Employment - Publications - Compilation of Wages and Salaries; Collective Agreements and Industrial Court Judgments, etc. - Outreach: Informative Website, Radio Series, Subscription to Employers Voice Magazine, information via email - Forming Alliances/Networking - Meetings on various topics of interest - Employers Solution Centre Limited provides Training, Human Resource and Industrial Relations Solutions in addition to any other consultancy request at discounted membership prices

Let Us Serve You!

Becoming a part of the ECA’s family entitles you to a full range of employment services. As the Employment environment in Trinidad and Tobago changes into a globalised arena, the ECA is no longer to be seen just as true to its vision to be the Premier Employer Representative.

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GOING GREEN with a PROFIT - TOP 25 Funded by ex-Google and PayPal executives, Tesla Motors is a venture aimed at proving that cars can be environmentally friendly without sacrificing the blazing speed and power enthusiasts love. A visit to their website reveals a tantalizing glimpse of what’s ahead: a 100% electrically powered car that goes from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, getting the equivalent of 256MPG from its electric charge. The overall cost of running this sleek, green driving machine? A paltry 2 cents per mile. Coca-Cola has narrowed down 3 environmental goals on which to focus their efforts: water stewardship, sustainable packaging, and climate & energy protection. Each of these initiatives is detailed and explained at their corporate website. In just a few years, Coca-Cola has already gotten itself involved in community recycling programs and a complete, sustainability-focused overhaul of its packaging designs. A CNN Money piece tells the story of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s foray into more sustainable business practices. Since January 2008, Enterprise has boasted the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, over 440,000 of which offer drivers 28MPG or better for highway travel. Roughly 5,000 of those vehicles are gas/electric hybrids, while another 73,000 have the option of being powered on E85 ethanol. In addition to these efforts, Enterprise has promised to plant fifty million trees across America’s forests. Toyota is famous for offering the Prius, the world’s first mass-market hybrid vehicle. The popular car is now sold in over 40 countries The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Toyota’s efforts as well, crowning the Prius and its 48MPG as the most fuel-efficient car available for purchase in the U.S. Similar authorities in the United Kingdom have applauded the Prius, namely the UK Department of Transport, who ranked the vehicle as the third least carbon-emitting auto in the country. Computer equipment has historically been one of the most difficult

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and costly products to safely dispose of. Fortunately, one of the major leaders in that field has stepped forward to make the task less daunting. Through its “no computer should go to waste” recycling program, Dell allows customers to return any Dell-branded product back to the company – for free. The company has even gone so far as to establish programs that accept computers, monitors, or printers from other companies for safe disposal, as well. While many retailers are launching plans to “greenify” their operations, Target is taking the fight straight to its store shelves. In May 2008, the company announced plans to launch an “eco-clothing” line at Barney’s, New York. Done in collaboration with eco-fashion designer Rogan Gregory, the clothing line is said to have been created using dynamic fabrics and has been available at Target locations since the end of May. Brooks has joined the race to go green by cleverly rolling out a completely biodegradable running shoe. According to a C/Net report, the $140 BioMoGo is just as durable during the time you wear them as any other mass-market shoe. The decomposition doesn’t begin until the shoes are stored in an active enclosed landfill, at which point they will biodegrade in just 20 years instead of the 1,000 years traditional, ethylene vinyl ecetate soles hang around for. If Brooks’ predictions are accurate, the BioMoGo will save up to 30 million pounds of landfill waste over those same 20 years. According to a CNN Money’s “10 Green Giants” piece, Honda has gone above and beyond in its environmental duties. Going so far as to call Honda “the most fuel-efficient auto company in the US”, CNN tells the story of how Honda is hard at work on the hydrogen fuel cell powered “FCX.” Honda is apparently also taking steps to create an entire infrastructure for hydrogen, looking forward to a day when – hopefully – more cars will be powered by that instead of gasoline. In addition to all of this, Honda pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 5% between 2005-2010, and that’s not including the 5% it already achieved from 2000-2005. continued on page 35

Green to Gold

Working Together to Save Our Water

RBC Royal Bank is committed to clean water for the world’s population RBC celebrates Blue Water Day on June 10th. This year’s theme ‘Join the Wave’ echoes our commitment to the preservation of the world’s valuable fresh water resources. RBC Blue Water Project is our 10-year initiative towards water conservation. With our CAD $50 million in charitable grants to organisations vested in this effort, we are ensuring our future generations are never without our most vital and precious commodity. TM

To find out more visit us at facebook.com/rbcbluewaterproject

® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GREEN TEAMS Engaging Employees in Sustainability Keeping employees engaged, happy and productive has always been a priority for leading companies and organizations. Today, as green becomes more mainstream, a growing number of employees want to work for a company committed to “The engaged work- sustainability and seek force will find more a work setting where opportunities to get the green practices they lean and identify more value at home are being opportunities to in- implemented at the office.

novate and create products and services that lower customers’ environmental impacts. All of this work will improve the top and bottom lines,” comments sustainable business expert Andrew Winston, Green Recovery.

Employee engagement is a growing strategy for driving performance and building competitive advantage for companies with a commitment to sustainability.

GREEN TEAMS Green teams are self‐ organized, grassroots and cross‐functional groups of employees who voluntarily come together to educate, inspire and empower employees around sustainability. They identify and implement specific solutions to help their organization operate in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. Most green teams initially focus on greening operations at the office, addressing such issues as recycling in the office, composting food waste, reducing the use of disposable take‐out containers and eliminating plastic water bottles. This focus on operations is evolving and some green teams are beginning to focus their efforts on integrating sustainability into employees’ personal lives, while others are aligning their efforts to support broader corporate sustainability objectives. The business value of integrating sustainability into these three levels includes: cost savings by integrating energy efficiency into the workplace and products and services; attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent who want to work for companies with an authen-

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tic green commitment; and increased market share and revenues resulting from a stronger brand and new, innovative green products and services. 10 best practices for green teams: - Start with the visible and tangible: focus on internal operations - Get senior management involved, but don’t lose the grassroots energy - Engage employees to capture ideas - Communicate and share best practices - Engage employees with their bellies: The low carbon diet campaign - Engage employees in their personal lives - Engage customers to be part of the solution - Use art to raise awareness - Create a toolkit to support and guide green teams - Align green teams with corporate sustainability goals It is a resource for companies and organizations just getting started and for those who want to take their existing program to its next level. It is based on interviews with green team leaders, as well as a review of the latest literature and reports on employee engagement and green teams. If you need additional assistance in developing an employee engagement strategy or implementing a new green initiative, please contact Green Impact. You can also learn about them at www.greenimpact.com. ***

Green to Gold

The Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

BEST PRACTICES from Employers

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Green to Gold

EXPANSION OF THE CIRCLES OF EMPATHY Since its inception, as a small insurance company more than 160 years ago, Guardian has remained dedicated to these core values and beliefs: the protection and security of Life. While the original intention of this belief continues to thrive in its first rate servicing of clients’ needs, always ensuring empathy and understanding, the Group has Jeff Mack expanded its own Chief Executive Officer umbrella of protection to other, greater aspects of Life. Peter Singer, famous modern philosopher, argues that humanity’s only hope for a sustainable future is in the expansion of its circles of empathy. We all begin with the concerns of the individual, he argues, and over time we begin to include all blood ties, the family. As our empathy swells, the concerns of the community at large, then later, that of the whole species begin to press on us, until finally, our concerns and our worries encompass the love and protection of the planet as a whole. This is the impetus of the modern environmental movement. In the last few years, Guardian has demonstrated its membership in this enlightened global consciousness through its major internal environmental programme, Project Green. Begun out of the growing worldwide concern of ecological degradation, and the urge to protect our regional natural resources, Guardian has adopted the idea “Think Globally, Act Locally” as a way out of the inertia that oppresses so many of us when thinking of “being green”. Too easily do we throw in the towel too soon saying, “I am one person, what can I do?” The people of Guardian are few in the scheme of things, but through small, targeted projects,

they have made a huge difference. Solidarity with the environment begins with solidarity between each member of the organization. In 2006 Guardian partnered with The Heroes Foundation for its Annual Beach Cleanup. By 2008, the number of employee volunteers had skyrocketed to 180, and by 2009 GHL was so inspired by its employees’ enthusiasm that they ‘adopted’ a site of their own, Chagville beach and upped its contribution by joining the National Planning Committee.

Employees and family cleaning up the beach As interest within the company grew, an eco-newsletter began to be circulated to further inform and engage employees. GreeNews, sent as an e-newsletter to further reduce Guardian’s carbon footprint, encourages discussion and input from its readership on tips and suggestions to create and further refine an environmentally– friendly workplace. Project Green had taken root. One of the biggest improvements to the Guardian offices was launched in October 2008 in Guardian’s head office in Westmoorings.

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

The goal was to maximize energy usage throughout the has spread like a bush-fire (excuse the antithetical metabuilding. The ‘Powering Down’ project aimed at using phor) and employees jumped at the opportunity to do low-power, 24-hour digital timers to turn off lights and a/c their part. Since January 2010 they have recycled approxiunits at preset times. The building recorded 40% savings mately 450 penlight (AA) batteries as part of a battery reon electricity bills during the following 6 months. Thrilled cycling initiative in collaboration with Servus and waste with both the environmental and cost-saving results, the management company Piranha International. Earlier this company extended the project throughout Guardian of- year, GHL’s dragon boat team Oarstruck was bitten by the fices in Trinidad and Tobago. By far the greatest appli- green bug as well. A TSTT ‘Directory Recycling Campaign’ cation of Project Green so far, however, has been their ad in local newspapers caught the eye of the team. TSTT leadership in the recycling movement throughout their promised to pay one dollar to any non-governmental oroffices. ‘Waste not, want not’; and for Guardian waste ganization that catered to youth development, for every is something they most definitely do not want. All forms used book received. GHL Oarstruck, which has had a supof recycling are championed, from the provision of both portive relationship with the Credo Foundation for Jusglass and plastic recycling bins through the cooperation tice since 2006, took charge of the entire operation and of Plastikeep at both the Newtown and Westmoorings of- began collecting used books from the company’s offices. fices to the re-usage of old newspapers to serve the Trini- On Tuesday, February 21st, the team handed over more dad and Tobago Society for the Prevention for Cruelty to than 600 books to TSTT and its recycling partner Secure Animals and now to Ace Recycling Recycling Limited. Like the hidden Company which collects the newsfinancial savings that came out of paper along with shredded paper. the Powering Down project, the Throughout all Guardian offices, charitable social work Oarstruck shredders have been provided and managed to accomplish was icing waste paper is not discarded but to its environmentally conscious instead sent to be recycled. Concake. sider the fact that 1 tree = 54 kg. In 2009 Guardian provided 2,156 Guardian companies outside of bags i.e. 21,560 kg of shredded the home country are also on Directory recycling drive paper, saving almost 400 trees a board with the programme. In Jayear at an average of 100 trees a maica, all Guardian Life offices are quarter. In 2010 the company proencouraged to reuse and recycle vided 1,445 bags i.e. 14,450 kg of shredded paper, saving the in-house paper. Creative ideas are used to inspire a almost 268 trees a year at an average of 67 trees a quar- consciousness change so that, during Christmas, decoter. So far for 2011 Ace has collected 930 bags i.e. 9,300 kg rating challenges are issued to the staff, competing as to of shredded paper, saving almost 172 trees at an average whom can best ‘deck their halls’ entirely out of recycled of 57 trees a quarter and approximately 230 trees by the materials. Similarly in the Dutch Caribbean, Fatum has end of 2011. Apart from saving trees, this process saves partnered with the “Korsou Limpi Bunita” movement (Cuwater as well; it takes 324 litres of water to produce 1kg of racao Clean and Beautiful) in adopting a plaza in the city paper. From 2009 – 2011 and maintaining the vegetation for a cleaner and greener year to date, Guardian has lifestyle. A key characteristic of Guardian companies is provided 45,310 kg of pa- the understanding of good corporate citizenry that means per; this in turn will save aiming at initiatives that can give sustainable benefits. It is 14,680,440 litres of water. the belief that each employee has the influence and abilAnyone can help stem the ity to improve the communities in which he or she lives rapid deforestation world- or works, bringing about positive changes where they wide, in an act as simple as are needed. From its humble beginnings in 2007, Project choosing the right method Green has grown organically and continues to drive home of disposal for old scraps the message of personal and corporate responsibility for of paper. using resources in a sustainable way, preserving them for future generations. We at Guardian are dedicated to conThe buck doesn’t stop tinuing the efforts of previous generations for this is what with direct corporate re- makes the Group and the Region, ‘Solid as a Rock’. cycling, however, as the ***** greening of the workplace

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Green to Gold

The Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

Petrotrin Leading by Example ‘A Greener approach for the Energy Industry’ Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (PETROTRIN) is an integrated energy company involved in the exploration, production, refining, marketing and trading of energy resources. We operate a refinery in Pointea-Pierre which has a capacity of over 160,000 bpd and undertake exploration and production operations in the Southern parts of Trinidad and offshore Point Fortin. Our company’s HSE Policy makes commitments to ensure that we comply with all legal requirements, engage with our stakeholders and our fenceline communities and implement HSE programmes to manage our risks. Petrotrin has embarked on several initiatives in waste management, community outreach, emergency preparedness and climate change. This is the framework Petrotrin uses for a Greener Approach to the way we do business. Waste Management The activities of finding, producing and refining petroleum, has the potential to impact the environment, and the greatest impact arises from the release of wastes into the environment in concentrations that are not naturally found. These wastes include hydrocarbons; solids contaminated with hydrocarbons and other pollutants, water contaminated with a variety of dissolved and suspended solids; a wide variety of chemicals and gaseous emissions contaminated with toxic chemicals. Petrotrin has developed a number of major capital intensive waste management programmes to ensure the Company’s operations have minimal adverse impacts on the surrounding environment and to comply with environmental regulations. Reducing our air emissions The petroleum industry generates air pollutants such as hydrogen sulphide, volatile organics compounds (VOCs), sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulates. Petrotrin has successfully reduced the volume and types of these pollutants through engineering upgrades and establishment of new facilities. The Sulphur Recovery Unit (SRU) was installed and commissioned in Pointe-a-Pierre to convert hydrogen sulphide to solid sulphur which is sold to the international market thereby creating an additional revenue stream for the company. The SRU currently captures 98% of the sulphur from the waste streams. However 2% may still be emitted through the flares. We are currently in the process of installing a flue gas treatment system to ensure that no hydrogen sulphide is emitted from our operations at the Pointe-a-

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Pierre refinery. Also the volume of hydrocarbon emissions (volatile organic compounds or VOCs) to the atmosphere was Piles of solid sulphur from the Sulphur reduced Recovery Unit at Pointe-a-Pierre through the installation of internal floating roofs at product storage tanks. Treatment of our liquid wastes Petrotrin established a produced water treatment facility at the Los Bajos Tank Farm. This facility which is designed to treat up to 25,000 barrels per day is used to treat and re-use Petrotrin’s oilfield produced water from four (4) tank farms. This facility has reduced the number of wastewater discharge points in Petrotrin’s Exploration and Production operations from four (4) to one (1). Additionally this allowed the company to achieve overall compliance with inland and nearshore discharges as per Water Pollution Rules 2001. (See Photo 2) Similar industrial wastewater treatment facilities will be constructed at Trinmar Operations, Point Fortin and at the Pointe-a-Pierre Petrotrin’s Produced Water TreatRefinery in the ment Facility at Los Bajos near future. Managing our solid wastes Petrotrin inherited a number of chronically polluted sites from our predecessor companies due to their poor environmental practices. continued on next page

Green to Gold

Bioremediation was identified as the most suitable option to treat these sites which are located in our Exploration and Production operations. During the period 2004 to 2009, Petrotrin successfully remediated 177, 675 m3 of non-hazardous oily waste from fifteen (15) sites located at Fyzabad, Forest Reserve, Techier, Los Bajos, Penal, Point Fortin, Guapo, Barrackpore, Oropouche ad Palo Seco. In addition to reducing the volume of non-hazardous oily waste, bioremediation ensures that we comply with the Sensitive Areas Rules, it reduces pollution and leads to the conservation of the biodiversity within the environment. Overall these major capital improvements in the implementation of waste management systems by Petrotrin have resulted in reduced impacts on the environment. Emergency Preparedness Petrotrin’s approach to greening our operations is not limited to treating or reducing wastes. We have embarked on several initiatives aimed at ensuring we are always prepared to respond to emergencies arising from our operations. Through the conduct of table top exercises and hosting of drills, Petrotrin has established an in-house capability to deal with Tier 1 and Tier 2 oil spills and other emergencies such as fire, hurricane and earthquake. Through our membership with Clean Caribbean Americas, Petrotrin also has access to Tier 3 response capabilities. (See Photos 3 and 4 taken at an oil spill drill in the Pointea-Pierre Harbour). We also partnered with external agencies such as Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, San Fernando City Cooperation and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management to undertake an evacuation drill in May 2011 for the Marabella East Community. A similar exercise is currently being planned for implementation in 2012 in Bennett Village, Santa Flora. Climate Change Initiatives In 2002-3, Petrotrin conducted a comprehensive green

Oil Spill Drill conducted at the Pointe-a-Pierre Harbour

recent years. We are also constructing new plants in the PAP refinery fitted with new technology to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, Vulnerability Assessment Studies to climate change driven sea level rise were conducted at Pointe-a-Pierre Foreshore Area, Vessigny to Cap-de-ville and Oropouche Field. These studies involved coupling future sea level rise scenarios for three time periods 2031, 2051 and 2071. These scenarios were generated using two coupled atmosphere – Ocean General Circulation Models, namely the Canadian (CGCM1) and British (HadCM3) models. We are currently partnering with the Ministry of Housing and the Environment to implement some of the recommendations from these studies. Community Outreach Programmes Annually, Petrotrin celebrates Earth Day, World Environment Day and HSE Week and we extend these celebrations to include our fenceline communities and in particular the primary and secondary schools located in these communities. Some of these activities include the Petting Zoo and Tree Planting Exercises. The Petting Zoo effectively educates through tactile illustration the various fauna of our country and presents an excellent summary of the richness of our biodiversity. With such exposure to our wildlife, our students are sure to gain the intended appreciation of these and as a result endeavour to consciously ‘save our forests’ (2011 being declared as The Year of the Forests). Our tree planting exercise involves a combination of planting trees within our operations and distributing plants. Annually, over 5000 fruit trees and plants are distributed to our employees and the community. This is Petrotrin’s current approach for a ‘Net Environmental Benefit’ as opposed to reforestation. The intent is that employees take the responsibility of maintaining their trees while benefitting from flourishing fruits and shrubbery. At Petrotrin we are committed to excellence in the management of our environmental responsibilities. As a leader in the industry, we are mindful that every environmental event has an ultimate ecological consequence, regardless of its size, and that such a consequence could affect human health or animal and plant life. The overall effort has been worthwhile due to the enormous increase in the understanding of our environment and the improvements being achieved, thereby making Petrotrin an exemplar for Greening the petroleum industry.

house gas inventory for a 10 yr. Period (1990-1999) using the IPCC Guidelines. Currently we are updating this inventory to reflect our GHG sources and sinks for more

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Your

A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices). 1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these. 2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf. ***

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Green to Gold

If you’ve been throwing money in the garbage, here are some

to Save your Company $$$ Trinidad & Tobago is categorized as a small island developing state (SIDS), one of 52 SIDS identified worldwide. A major challenge of SIDS countries is, quite understandably, the sustainable management of natural resources. Land space limitations and physical geography together put pressure on SIDS to find environmentally-friendly alternatives to landfilling so land can instead be used for agriculture, expanding communities and businesses, and environmental conservation. This article suggests some simple yet practical strategies that can be employed by business and industry to conserve valuable resources, prevent or reduce waste generation, and ultimately reduce waste quantities requiring final disposal. Waste is defined as materials and/or supplies that were paid for and subsequently rendered useless, whether because they had reached their expiration date, had become defective or obsolete, or were deemed too expensive to repair or retain. Before these materials and/or supplies got to the useless stage, however, they invariably utilised energy and other resources in their manufacture, took up valuable storage space, and consumed fuels in their transportation. Reducing waste therefore reduces such needless consumption. One strategy that could have a huge overall impact on waste reduction is that of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP). EPP is the “green” procurement of goods and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose.

When EPP involves the purchase of recycled products it closes the loop in keeping our home and workplace recycling programmes going and conserving our natural resources. The financial benefits of EPP are determined when the purchasing price and frequency of purchase is weighed against operating costs, maintenance repair and replacement costs, occupational health costs, and liability. Environmental and societal costs and benefits are harder to quantify but commonly cited benefits include: Reduced materials consumption and improved energy efficiency Reduced air pollution and water emissions Reduced presence of toxic and hazardous substances in the workplace and environment Increased use of renewable products leading to developed markets for environmentally preferable goods and services Less waste in landfills and decreased costs associated with waste management, disposal and clean-up In addition to EPP, here are some easy strategies for curbing or alternatively treating with some of the waste types common to most business organizations:

PAPER CONSUMPTION Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Save $$

Print or copy reports and other documents on both sides of the paper

Save and reuse onesided misprints on printer/copier paper for prinƟng draŌs or binding to make scratch pads

Donate waste paper to a reputable paper recycling program.

Update your records management policy to employ an electronic Įle system and eliminate the space needed for paper Įles. Less storage = less expenditure!

Scan, rather than copy, documents that are to be circulated to a number of recipients Eliminate unnecessary reports or forms or redesign them to use less paper There is no need for a cover fax if the document you are transmiƫng already has the recipient’s name and address on it

Where appropriate, reuse envelopes by using labels to cover the old address – let recipients know that you are recycling the envelope to save trees

Contact SWMCOL’s MarkeƟng Unit at 625-6678/80 to arrange to have your waste paper collected for recycling. Buy Recycled!! Recycled paper costs a bit more but increased demand can help to lower prices. Buy recycled whenever you can.

ApplicaƟon of these Ɵps on a sustained basis can reduce paper consumpƟon by as much as 50%

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

OFFICE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Reduce

Reuse

Oīer incenƟves to oĸce departments to implement sustainable methods of reducing their staƟonery usage

Purchase pens for which reĮlls are supplied, rather than the type used only once and thrown away

Invest in an energysaving photocopier/ printer; today’s machines are not only more userfriendly but environmentallyfriendly as well

When upgrading oĸce equipment, donate items that were replaced but sƟll funcƟonal to NGOs, Schools or Community Centres

Recycle UƟlize the services of a reputable ink cartridge reĮller Buy Recycled!! Purchase reĮlled toner and ink cartridges for your copier and printers

Save $$ Oīer employees incenƟves for saving money on supplies – this must be long term to prevent the use of short-lived, cheap products.

By grasping the low-hanging fruits outlined above, companies can realize significant expenditure reductions on raw materials, office equipment and supplies, and other purchases. In addition to conserving these resources, the cost savings derived can help to keep your products and services competitive while making your organization eco-friendly and thereby attractive to customers. Organizations interested in more advanced energy-saving strategies may consider getting involved in “green” building and other pioneering eco-initiatives that promise long-term benefits. Finally, monitor your waste volume each month to track progress and remember to (1) keep staff and management informed about the results of their efforts to reduce waste; and, (2) tell your clients about your waste reduction efforts. Businesses that reduce waste are not only regarded more favorably by customers, the public, and their own employees but motivate other people and businesses to do the same. Resolve to start your company’s waste reduction programme today!

WASHROOMS & LUNCHROOMS Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Save $$

Save on paper towels by installing a hand dryer

Incorporate a greywater1 recycling system into new building plans – Įltered greywater can be used for Ňushing toilets and watering oĸce plants and gardens

Provide suitable disposal containers for separaƟng lunchroom waste – salad greens, vegetable and fruit peelings and coīee grounds diverted from the wastestream can make great addiƟons to a compost heap

Install automaƟc faucets, Ňushers, soap, paper towels, and toilet Ɵssue dispensers – these “touch-free” devices not only save valuable resources but also eīecƟvely reduce possible crosscontaminaƟon.

Install dispensers that release adequate amounts of hand soap and toilet paper Encourage staī to bring home-made meals to work to cut down on the proliferaƟon of nonrecyclable single-use food containers entering the wastestream.

Encourage employees to favour reusable coīee mugs, teacups, dishes and cutlery

A healthier environment also means fewer sick days and more producƟvity!

Greywater is the wastewater generated from activities such as dishwashing, clothes washing and bathing.

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Green to Gold

A NEW WAY TO SHO YOUR F W INANCE TEAM T HAT YOU CA RE

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FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LQIR#ZL DFFDJOREDO FRP THE GLOBAL BODY FOR FDULEEHDQ DFFDJOREDO FRP PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS The Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

“Global Standard for Sustainability” We at HILTON TRINIDAD and CONFERENCE CENTRE believe that hospitality involves not only serving the needs of our guests and our team members, but also protecting the world we live in.

looking at as part of their purchasing decisions. HILTON TRINIDAD launched its sustainability program on Wednesday 13th October 2010 with our Keynote Speaker , The Honourable Minister of Housing and the Environment, Minister Roodal Moonilal. As a Company, we touch hundreds of communities and millions of people every day. Recognising the efforts that our team members make, big and small, is a great way to encourage sustainability practices and show them their hard work is appreciated. We have appointed an Environmental Sustainability Committee that meets once a month. The Committee has the responsibility for ensuring ongoing environmental performance, identification of environmental risks, recording and monitoring of impacts and implementing environmental and social sustainable measures.

It is how we provide for today’s needs while positiely influencing tomorrow. HILTON WORLDWIDE will soon stop throwing out its leftovers. Hotel guests in North America discard more than two million bars of partially used soap daily. HILTONS’ FRANCHISES have partnered with the Global Soap project to reprocess used soap for shipment to the developing world. This project will deliver about 11 million bars of soap a year and help to stave off preventable diseases such as stomach bugs and pneumonia.

HILTON WORLDWIDE is determined to work in this direction, acting as agents for change in our Community and around the globe. We involve our Team Members by ensuring that a culture of sustainable objectives is encouraged and that we all become committed to the practices which are necessary for all sustainable objectives to be achieved. We encourage our Team Members to present our commitment to environmental and social sustainability to our guests, suppliers, contractors, agents, etc.

Ali Khan, General Manager

It is our duty to operate in a responsible manner today, so we can positively influence tomorrow. Just like any Business Unit sustainability is a discipline that we must master. It is not about waiting for legislation from Government. It is about taking a leadership position and setting a global standard for sustainability in our Country and at our HILTON properties around the world that Governments and our competitors will be compelled to follow. Sustainability is not a cost you have to bear, it is about compelling business solutions that reduce long term costs and enhance the value of our brand - spending smarter. For example replacing lights bulbs with more energy efficient lighting, reusing towels and bed linens, turning off lights that are not in use, request no housekeeping which saves an average of 14.3 gallons of water per day. it is not about asking guests to compromise their experience. it is about delivering unsurpassed levels of hospitality - a better night’s sleep; a better meal; a more productive conference - all the while meting and exceeding the standards for sustainability that our guests are also now

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The following environmental practices have been established: - Recycling of paper, glass, pet, aluminum cans and used edible oil. - Planting of appropriate trees - Conserving of Water - Conserving of Electricity - Discontinuance of CFC (Chloro Fluro Carbons or in general layman’s terms: Refriderants or ozone depleting) - Procure appliances that comply to energy star or similar continued page

Green to Gold

The Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

- Use of paints with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds i.e. highly odorous substances dangerous to the environment and creating greenhouse gases (many of which are also toxic) - Use of cleaning chemicals and detergents without chlorine, phosphates, NTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Nitrillotriacetic Acid - acids with the potential too be toxic to the environment/water) - Biodegradeable and Max 1% VOC; and - Community Donation programs

reduce its carbon footprint but to develop a viable commercial infrastructure for powering buildings. This journey is one that Hilton is proud to take and as time goes by we will continue to reduce our carbon footprint and remain committed to travel with the purpose of enhancing our communities, advancing our local and regional talent and human capital, embracing our culture and spreading the gospel of sustainability. Corporate Social Responsibility has been a Trade Mark of HILTON TRINIDAD for decades and we have consistently yand proudly displayed since the beginning of our it since the beginning of our historiv journet 50 years ago. -end-

THE HILTON TRINIDAD, A MEMBER OF HILTON WORLDWIDE is committed to reducing the follwing by 2014. - ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY 20% - COâ&#x201A;&#x201A; EMISSIONS BY 20% - OUTPUT OF WASTE BY 20%; AND - WATER CONSUMPTION BY 10% The Hotel is also committed to focusing its efforts on high impact areas, including sustainable design and construction, operations, chemicals management, purchasing and to the advancement of renewable energy as a source of power for opeartions, not only to

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Green to Gold Where there’s PROGRESS…

there is Energy

Our Nation’s Progress Energizes Us Trinidad and Tobago is a major player in the global LNG market and remains the largest supplier of LNG to the United States. BPTT is proud to be the country's leading energy producer contributing up to 25% of the nation's revenue and more than half of the country's hydrocarbon production. BPTT is world-scale and accounts for 11% of BP's worldwide production of oil and gas. Where there's a commitment to progress, there's energy.

The Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago www.bptt.com

Where there is energy… there is bpTT

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GREENING YOUR EVENTS Corporate events usually have the elaborate themed centre pieces that is thrown away after the event. Even though flowers are green their life span are short and they are expensive, so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really reduce your carbon footprint, you actually increase it. Why not think outside the box this year and go for something that can be eaten, recycled or taken home. A typical non wasteful centerpiece ranges from potted plants that can go on to a living room after the function, miniture fish tanks with fishes, which is a favorite take home gift as well as food which can include appetizers, friuts and desserts, in addition to a framed picture. These skewers below are arranged like flowers and made from tortellini, tomatoes, and mozzarella balls, they can form part of the appetizers or desserts. This edible strawberry centerpiece has the same e f fe c t , note the dipping sauces on the table.

be symbolic for you, but you can get creative. Another, talked about trend is the much anticipated fish bowl. This center piece when taken home becomes a part of the family. It is simple and low-cost but it cre-

ates an atmosphere around the centrepiece that is remembered by employees, long after the event is over. One of the more typical centre pieces is the variation of the potted plant or seedling. Whatever your fancy the aim of greening your event is to reduce your carbon footprint.

A professional fruit arrangement can be easily replicated, by using bowls with fruit, or using one exotic or strange fruit. The table in the picture to the side looks profe s s i o n a l but if you look closely there are lemons in the glasses between the candles. Lemons may not

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Green to Gold

The National Insurance Employment Injury Benefits are payable to an insured person who is unable to work because of personal injury caused by an accident, which arises out of and in the course of employWHO CLAIM ment, CAN or through a prescribed industrial disease caused by the nature of their employment. WHAT ARE THE EMPLOYMENT INJURY BENEFITS This is a unique benefit which consists of four (4) categories: Injury Benefit - payable for 52 calendar weeks. Disablement Benefit - consists of either a monthly pension or a lump sum payment. Medical Expenses - to assist with expenses incurred as a result of injury or a prescribed disease. Death Benefit - monthly benefit payable to the spouse, dependent parents and dependent children. WHO CAN CLAIM Anyone who is in insurable employment where the individual is employed under a contract of service and:A contribution was due for that week of employment Is away from the job because of an accident/disease that arose out of or in the course of employment; Is incapable of work for more than 3 days as a result of the injury or prescribed industrial disease. WHEN TO CLAIM Within 14 days After 14 days up to 12 months

Claim will be accepted

Over 12 months

Claim shall be disallowed

Claim is late and may be accepted with good cause. A late claim letter is needed

WHAT IS PAID The benefit payment is determined by using the class in which your contribution was made in the week of the accident or the week prior to the accident, whichever is higher. DID YOU KNOW? The Employment Injury Benefit will be paid to a claimant whether or not there is a loss of earnings resulting from the injury or prescribed industrial disease. For more information, please visit our website or call us today. 34

The Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago www.nibtt.net Hotline:663-4NIS info@nibtt.net seminars@nibtt.net

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GOING GREEN with a PROFIT - TOP 25 C o nt i n e nta l Airlines has spent over $16 billion in the last decade to replace its entire fleet of airplanes with more fuel-efficient ones, in addition to installing fuel-saving “winglets” that cut emissions 5% on its 737 model aircraft. Beyond that, nitrogen oxide emissions from Continental’s busy Houston hub have been sliced by an astounding 75% since the year 2000. Continental might also be the only company with 12 full time “staff environmentalists” on the payroll who are constantly pairing up with engine manufacturers to design greener, more efficient processes into company operations. And is if this weren’t enough, the company makes a point of sorting all of its trash to see what can be recycled. This British grocery chain has enlisted its customer base in the fight to go green by offering savings to shoppers who bring reusable shopping bags to their stores. The company has also turned each of its stores into wind-powered, high-recycling, biodiesel truck delivered epicenters of environmental sustainability, running at such high efficiency Ralph Nader would be beside himself. In another major breakthrough, Tesco is aiming to estimate the “carbon costs” of each item it sells. S.C. Johnson, maker of indispensable household products such as Windex, has gone on a mission to lessen the environmental impact of its products. Through their use of the Greenlist Process (a system that ranks your impact on the environment by evaluating the raw materials you use), the company has slashed 1.8 million pounds of volatile organic compounds from its Windex line of products. Another 4 million pounds of polyvinylidene chloride has been eliminated from Saran Wrap, a major drop in harmful chemicals that seep into landfills when they are disposed of. The company has also scaled back its coal-fired plants by working to replace them with natural gas and methane powered facilities.

been silenced. The ultra-profitable bank has parlayed its new found green ethos into a bona-fide profit-center. The firm’s $1.5 million investment in solar, ethanol, and wind have paid off in spades, prompting companies like Kolhberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific to consult Goldman on their own environmentally-focused projects. It is also said that many of the bank’s employees and executives are proud, hybrid-driving motorists. Another computing company staking its claim to greener pastures is Hewlett Packard. The company has gotten out in front of the computer disposal issue by owning and operating enormous “e-waste” recycling plants that shred discarded, obsolete computer products into raw materials that can be recycled into the industrial food chain. HP has also agreed to take back computer equipment of all brands, and taken steps to ensure that its own products are 100% recyclable in the manner discussed above. Furthermore, the company has promised to lower its energy consumption a full 20% by the year 2010. The TJX Companies (such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Bob’s) have kept their eye on environmentally sound business practices long before it was politically correct to do so. As early as 1988, TJX became an early adopter of electronic ballast technology, a practice that significantly lowered the use of electricity in the company’s stores. TJX also prioritizes lighting conservation at its distribution centers, which use T5 fluorescent bulbs that use 50% less power than non-fluorescents. Beyond lighting, TJX’s distribution centers are purposely structured to recycle the corrugated carboard that comes in from vendors. According to the company’s website, “virtually all our vendor corrugated cardboard is recycled or refused at our distribution centers.” ***

Goldman Sachs was derided by Wall Street insiders for announcing an official environmental policy in 2005, but to this point, it seems like the critics have

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Green to Gold

RESEARCH RESOURCE CENTRE The role of the Research Resource Centre is to make available to members key labour market reasearch data, compensation data, economic forecast and statistics to assist in the management of one’s business, in addition to working with stakeholders to review policy and legislation that aﬀect Employers.

This centre is also mandated - To further the knowledge and understanding of labour markets and related issues - To act a vehicle to promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise on labour economies and industrial relations between social partners - To enrich the work of the ECA into a tangible service.

PRODUCTS • Monthly Bulletin on Industrial Court Judgments • Monthly World Economic Review • Weekly Summary of the local Industrial Relations climate • Quarterly Labour Research Paper

RESEARCH SERVICES 1. Compensation Surveys and Packages a. For all staff including Executive Compensation b. Organizational Structure Compensation c. Salary Surveys and Projections 2. Labour Market Research a. Labour Statistics b. Industry/Sectoral Information and Analysis c. Wage Settlements/Increases Analysis d. Benefits Analysis e. Data Analysis and Summary 3. Independent Labour Research 4. Research projects 5. Key Employment Trends 6. Analysis of Sector Collective Agreements with specific recommendations 7. Analysis of Policy and Legislation 8. Processing of raw data into reports 9. Administration of Surveys and compilation of statistical data 10. Administration of Focus groups and compilation of data

PUBLICATIONS The research centre plays a key role in developing publications that are pertinent to the employment relationship which are available through the ECA’s Library.

Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago The Employers’ Association Trinidad and Tobago Website:Consultative www.ecatt.org I Email: of ecatt@tstt.net.tt I Tel: 625-4723 I Fax: 625 - 4891

Voice of the Employer Vol.3 2011

GOING GREEEN BY USING AN INTRANET Now that you have gathered all the information on your competitors and industry, what is the best way to deliver information within your organization? Hard copies of reports and Web clippings are easily lost among other reports, and e-mails with attachments often get forgotten when there is no rush to read them. Communication is key, many small-business owners get it when it comes to the influence and reach of the Internet. But what they may not fully appreciate is how that medium can be used exclusively within their own business. Planning and programming an intranet — an internal Web site restricted to those within your company — can prove improve communication, project management and a host of other responsibilities. But using it effectively means more than building it, plugging it in, and letting it go. Dos and don’ts for launching an intranet 1. First, determine your employees’ wants (and needs). Don’t just lay out cash for the latest technology on the assumption that it’ll do the job you need. Step one in formulating an effective intranet programming strategy is outlining just what you want it to do and with whom. Talk with the people who will access the system to get a sense of what they genuinely want and will consistently use. 2. Assign an administrator to manage the internal site. Whoever manages your company network might be a logical choice for this role. But it also could be you, the business owner. An administrator usually is the site programmer, but he or she also supervises who has access to the site and to what areas of the site, plus who can create and delete files, and so on. But, before you get too carried away in complicating things with varying levels of access permissions, see tip No. 3. 3. For users’ sake, keep your starter site simple. The potential of an intranet is remarkable. You can share pictures and information, work on projects in a single location, post announcements, schedules and calendars, share files, and utilize a host of other useful capabilities. As a rule, it’s best to keep an intranet - particularly a new onesimple to learn and simple to use; include features that are relevant to your business to avoid clutter.” 4. Make it as secure as possible. As mentioned already, some intranet-software packages can be converted into “extranets” to allow access to a select number of people outside the company. These should be trusted partners and others with whom your company collaborates. But

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many companies may be better served by sealing off their private Web site to all outsiders, so that sensitive data and communications are kept within the company. Whether or not you choose to provide access to selected outsiders, you must make effective security an absolute programming must. Investigate various security options to determine which one will afford the best protection. There are several ways to password-protect an intranet, such as Web-protecting the folder or using a simple password verification script. 5. Keep things safe on the inside as well. Just because you have an intranet doesn’t mean carte blanche for every employee user. Nothing can prove more destructive to an intranet than an inexperienced user who wanders into an area and inadvertently damages something he or she shouldn’t have had access to in the first place. So, keep things open but not unduly open. Employees have been known to make mistakes, any advanced functions such as deleting files, editing projects, and updating news should only be available to administrators. 6. Aggressively test your system. Even the best-planned intranet may contain glitches. Before offering companywide access, test the system to make sure it operates properly. In particular, check out how it functions when several users are running the system at the same time. 7. Make it easy to update. Another common mistake, particularly with companies that are new to intranets, is assuming that the network is cast in stone. One way to do that proactively is to install an intranet whose function and capability exceed your current needs. Make sure you plan for growth of the number of users by taking your current user base and multiplying it by three to offer a nice cushion for growth. That way, you can avoid having to switch servers or having to shut down the server completely.” 8. Watch your (programming) language. One final element to planning for smooth growth is starting with a language that can be easily updated as your intranet needs growth and change. People are increasingly interested in making healthy and environmentally friendly choices at work and at home, and your intranet can support this way of life. ***