Sustainability Environment

Compliance with ISO 14001

We develop and implement environmental management systems by aligning our systems to ISO 14001 requirements. We also identify and monitor the environmental impacts of our main areas of environmental risk.

We are highly experienced in the application of environmental management systems consistent with the internationally recognised ISO 14001 standard. All our offices utilise this environmental management systems standard to implement their regional environmental awareness, waste minimisation and recycling programs and performance monitoring and reporting.

All Ausenco projects use specific on-site environmental management plans utilising internationally recognised best practices to meet performance objectives derived from a project's environmental impact approvals and social impact assessment outcomes.

Carbon footprint analysis and management

We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions. In particular we are aiming to further reduce air travel by investigating additional options to off-set the impact of necessary travel, improving the reporting of our electricity use and including carbon emission solutions as options on client projects.

Our emission sources are from:

• Natural Gas: Used for heating, this is a cold climate source, with year on year variation due to seasonal climate.
• Electricity: Energy efficiency programs across Ausenco include low energy lighting, energy efficient air conditioning, computer equipment and staff computer use practices. Emissions vary based on regional use of hydro, nuclear, natural gas, oil and coal fuel for power generation.
• Air Travel: This is the major contributor to Ausenco’s Carbon Footprint and a high cost component of business and projects. Travel decisions are a balance between being on-site or utilising best available video-communication methods.
• Commuting: Total emissions arising from staff commuting is influenced by selection of office relative to public transit.
• Paper: Conservation opportunities include use of recycled paper in offices and providing our clients with e-based information.
• Waste: Recycling programs in offices and on project sites include recycling recyclable materials, e-waste, paper shredding, composting and purchasing supplies with minimum packaging.

Greenhouse gas business strategy & trends

There are a number of trends emerging in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as we seek new and better ways in which to combat this environmental issue. Some of these trends are relatively certain to have an impact on GHG emissions, such as the continued economic and population growth of some countries and regions, other trends such as an energy transition away from oil and gas, are less likely to have an impact.

Ausenco recognises the significance of some of these trends and the need to offer our clients greenhouse gas reduction strategies for their projects across the entire project lifecycle.

Some of these strategies include:

• Delivering designs that address Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System criteria.
• Providing electrical capabilities that support regional power system requirements for reliability, efficiency and technology adaptation.
• Implementing purchasing policies that support sustainable supply chain requirements for low carbon intensity.
• Managing data for our clients’ reporting of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

Office environmental programs

We encourage all of our people to participate in a range of office environmental programs and also practice a range of office initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint.

Some of these initiatives include recycling programs in offices and on project sites such as paper shredding, composting and purchasing supplies with minimum packaging; energy efficient lighting, air conditioning and computer equipment and installation of teleconference facilities in all offices globally to reduce air travel.

Throughout the year, we actively encourage our people to practice environmentally-friendly habits in the office and through the promotion of events such as Environment Week, Earth Hour and World Environment Day.

On-site environmental programs

We can assist our clients with all stages of site remediation. Our services range from site characterisation through to final clean-up confirmation to comply with regulatory requirements. We provide practical, cost-effective solutions to minimise environmental risks, eliminate contamination, and maximise project value.

This can include determining water supply, circulating flows, moisture contents, water storage requirements and treated-water discharge over the life of a project and its decommissioning period.

Complementing client-specific environmental programs - EMS, EIA, environmental permitting, zero discharge

We have a reputation for the management of regional permitting and approval process that assist projects advance successfully. We engage with all stakeholders to develop optimal solutions that minimise the environmental permitting schedule and build the support essential for successful project approval.

Our permitting and approvals methodologies evaluate the opportunities and challenges arising from a project’s operational, environmental and energy considerations in conjunction with its social, financial and technical aspects for a solid foundation of license and permit compliance.

We apply our Environmental Management System (EMS) capability to the work we do, and in support of client construction and operational management.

Ausenco’s core value, ‘Respect the community and environment’ reinforces our commitment to the local communities in which we work. This involves the use of local labour which together with training has resulted in long term employment for members of the communities that surround our work places.

Ausenco’s environmental impact assessment protocols provide strategic insights beyond regulatory agencies’ rigorous requirements. Our expanded considerations include the technical, economic and ecological implications of the project at the pre-planning, planning and permitting phase to minimise risk of design changes at later project phases.

Our multi-disciplinary professionals are skilled in applying the outcomes of environmental impact assessments for all lifecycle phases of a project. Ausenco also uses regionally specific methodology and multi-disciplinary skills to capture regional variations in biodiversity, marine environments, and other project specific permitting considerations.