Leveraging Sustainability through Employee Engagement for a Competitive Future Danielle Willis Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Planning Team Ldr./Sustainability Coordinator Cleveland, OH
Presentation Discussion About GCRTA Sustainable Operations Employee Driven Engagement Process Areas of Focus Approaches for a Competitive Future
About the Greater Cleveland RTA Cuyahoga County incl. 59 municipalities and 458 sq. miles 471 bus, trolley, paratransit vehicles 4 heavy and light rail lines 21 BRT vehicles, HealthLine system 70 bus routes; 1266 shelters; 7748 bus stops; 85 bridges; 8855 parking spaces
About the Greater Cleveland RTA 44.7 million ridership trips; Annual Operating Budget $225M Ten Operational Divisions Over 2100 employees 26 Operating Facilities Sustainability Policies and Procedures & Statement and Environmental Commitments
Defining Sustainable Operations 1. Employee/ 2. Stakeholder Engagement Policies and Procedures - - Guidance - Building Knowledge - Commitment 3. Accelerate Green Initiatives - - Emission Impacts - Opportunities 4. Disclosure Reporting/ GRI G3 Process All Sustainable Practices Triple Bottom Line = People Planet Profit
1. Employee Engagement - Stakeholders Stakeholders are individuals (or groups) who affect or are affected by our organization s activities. Contractors Business Owners Suppliers Government Vendors Many Others OSHA Advocacy Groups Customers EMPLOYEES MPO/NOACA Neighborhoods/ Communities Employees Families Property Owners
Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability and Engagement are Mutually Reinforcing Social Impacts Environmental Impacts (People) Engagement Drives Sustainability Sustainability Drives Engagement (Planet) Economic Impacts (Profit) Key: Participate Key: Educate
Employee/Stakeholder Engagement Executive Management Team (EMT) Have some Treats/Tea on me while you Digest Sustainability Introducing the 7 Steps to RTA s Sustainability Roll-Out Plan 1) Sign Commitment Pledge 2) Review Summary Sustainable and Environmental Commitment Workplan 3) Review the Proposed 2011 Agency-wide and Divisional Goals 4) Review Policies & Procedures Manual
Employee Commitment Pledge 100% 9/2011
Kick-off Employee Engagement: EMT 5. Select 2-3 employees who will act as Green Team Ambassadors (GTAs)* for your Division. 6. Discuss the proposed goals and workplan with managers/directors/gtas. Note: Visit www.riderta.com/sustainability to view our 10 year Carbon Mgt. n Workplan 7. Provide available dates, times, locations for SC to present the overall program guidelines and rollout plan to your divisional team. This would be a beginners training and open discussion to identify creative ways to engage employees in your division on Sustainability as part of a learning and educational awareness effort.
2. Policies and Procedures Manual Guidance and framework toward a 10 year carbon reduction Reduce emissions by 10% in 5-years; 21% in 10-Years Carbon Management Process Indicators were defined by: Types of Environmental, Social, Economic Impacts Types of Known Emissions Types of emission factors identified at the RTA
2. Building Knowledge - 5 Steps Phase 1. Implementation (Education, Inventorying GHG emissions) - Stakeholder Engagement Phase 2. Policies and Procedures (Organizational Commitment) Stakeholder Engagement Phase 3. Establish Benchmarks/Baseline Assessments - Stakeholder Engagement Phase 4. Performance Measurements/Quantify Emissions - Stakeholder Engagement Phase 5. Reporting Methods - Stakeholder Engagement
2. Commitment to Performance Measurements Business Environment Performance Indicator Goals Built Environment Economic Environmental Natural Environment Social Social Environment
3. Accelerating Green Initiatives Emission Impacts/Opportunities Select our Environmental Category Define our Environmental Commitments Define Type of Emission for reduction Responsible Parties Baseline Assessment Established/Benchmarked Quantify Emissions/Track Performances Report Measurements and Performances Materiality List of all Material Indicators To monitor and Report on Materiality Test Questions
4. Disclosure Reporting/ GRI Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI G3 Rating) Per each Indicator we must disclose: Relevance to our organization Compilation Documentation References o APTA Signatory Commitment o Global Warming Impact o Regulatory Requirements
Employee Engagement - Areas of Focus Prioritize sustainable objectives that are important to employees Create an educational and learning environment Build a momentum for each performance indicator Allow employees to influence strategies and goals Create innovative methods to keep employees engaged.
Approaches for translating objectives to employees.. Use Non-traditional approaches.. Build avenues for discussions; Take employees from current knowledge; Provide different perspectives on the business value; Make sustainability an educational practice; Prioritize stakeholders (employees) based on job responsibilities; Dialogue with stakeholders (employees); Talk and Listen to employees.
Approaches for translating objectives to employees.. Removed words from our educational engagement Mandate, Adherence, Failure to follow. Vision Equitable Responsible Replaced with words that inspires and motivates Evergreen Environment Sustainable Options Triple bottom line environmental assurance Employee solutions Integrated engagement
Employee Engagement Activities Survey on Monkey Survey website Green Dot Project Short & Long Term Initiatives based on employees input Kicked started program objectives based on employees suggested activities Employee Start-up Committees meet (monthly) Intranet Sustainability site that allows internal communications; suggestions; positive blogs; etc to share results or ask for help
Sustainable & Educational Value Brown Bag Luncheon Series Monthly Workshops Intranet/Interactive Educational Posters TransitStat Community Partners Professional Development Green Jobs Six Sigma Green Level Compost/Recycling Facility Challenges Employee Educational Video Casting Call
Sustainable Operations Recycling bins BOT and ECR; Public art recycling bins on rail platforms; Sustainability/RTA Website Bike Shelters/Racks Segway personal mobile units Solar Shelters QRC Quick Response Codes Earth Day Celebrations
Sustainable Operations Energy Conservation TIGGER I - $2.25M (Over 22,000 sensors, lighting, signals, etc.) Passive infrared sensor vending machines Illuminating Company Building Innovations Rail Battery Energy Storage System Research Turn-Off Mode campaign at all facilities Waste Diversion Zero Waste@Work 2016 Program 30% reduction 2011; 100% by 2016 landfill diversion Recycle and Compost collections (hazardous & non-hazardous) Employee Waste Audits (facility challenges)
Sustainable Operations Sustainable Travel Challenge employees to take public transit; bike; walk; car/vanpool on company time Use less non-revenue vehicles for travel Procurement Green Certified listing with all vendors Add sustainable commitments to IFBs, RFPs Take back program with supplier for packages that are non-recyclable LEED Design and construct LEED facilities One of five have been constructed (Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Ctr) Employee walk-through/tour to build understanding and requirements
Develop a Sustainable Resource & Supply Center (Include area to deposit reusable supplies such as paper, pens, paper clips, binders, rubber bands, draft paper turned into notepads, etc.). Keep all sustainable updates & one manual copy available for employee use Sustainable News, Magazines available according to division employment practice; contests; raffles.
EDUCATION VALUE: Zero Waste@ Work 2016 Recycling Composting Waste Reduction R5 Rule Reduce Reuse Recycle Recovery (from waste to energy Residuals (GHG or carbon reduction) Green Procurement Waste Diversion
EDUCATION VALUE: Water Conservation General Use Stormwater Management Waste Diversion It s better to Refill than to Landfill - Lug a Mug - If its not recyclable or compostable do not bring it to meetings - Inform your guests/visitors - Direct them to appropriate bins - Reusable is always better
EDUCATION VALUE: Copy Paper Paper Usage Scan/Electronic Filing Paperless Environments Waste Diversion Think before you Print - We save more on the front end with paper reduction vs. recycling - Use electronic formats - Take the paperless challenge
EDUCATION VALUE: Energy Conservation Energy Management Building Renovations/ Maintenance Greenbuilding/LEED Construction - Know the 15 minute rule - Computer energy efficient mode
Now Recyclable Compostable
Tell us what You did at Work or home Enter to win Prizes!!
Competitive Advantage influenced by Employee Engagement Build a program based on the People - Planet -Profit -Business Value Develop a program to optimize input and participation of employees Strive for a voluntary and employee-driven program Allow employees to be stakeholders in the process Listen to employees on how the company can be more sustainable
Competitive Advantage influenced by Employee Engagement Use examples to promote educational sustainability Add incentives (professional development, water bottles, snacks, etc.) Attract and motivate staff to share experiences and become leaders Add sustainability as a Team Performance Standard Award the achievements of employees.. Sustainability Champions
Leveraging Sustainability through Employee Engagement for a Competitive Future Danielle Willis Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Planning Team Ldr./Sustainability Coordinator Cleveland, OH