Environmental Leaders for twenty years - Business In The Community

Environmental Leaders for twenty years

Bombardier has participated in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey since its launch in 1998. It has achieved Platinum status in 17 of the past 19 years and was awarded first place on four occasions during that period.

The business issue

How participation in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey has helped to drive environmental improvements within the company.

What Bombardier did

Bombardier has participated in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey since its launch in 1998. It has achieved Platinum status in 17 of the past 19 years and was awarded first place on four occasions during that period. This is especially noteworthy as the standard of those participating continues to rise year on year, driving improvement among participants.

Bombardier recognises the importance of sound environmental credentials to the success of its business, particularly during challenging periods. Sustainability is at the core of strategic decision-making and ‘design for environment’ (DfE) is a fundamental ethos for the organisation. It adopts a life-cycle approach to aircraft design and manufacture ensuring to assess and mitigate potential impacts at all stages.

Since 2006:

+28% Energy reduction

81% Hazardous waste reduction

56% Water waste reduction

It was certified to the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001) soon after it was first published in 1998, around the same time that it first participated in the Survey. Since then, it has developed its systems and improved engagement at all levels within the organisation. As a result, it was one of the first local businesses to complete transition to ISO14001: 2015.

Bombardier understands that good environmental performance can mean good business performance. Its sets challenging improvement targets that have helped to progressively drive down utilities and waste costs in recent years and consequently contributes to its competitiveness.

The company has developed systems for monitoring and measuring its environmental performance indicators for waste, energy, and water and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that facilitate trend analysis and identification of opportunities for further improvement. It considers its suppliers and subcontractors as playing an integral part in its overall business.

“Participation in the Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey presents us with an opportunity to validate our approach and share knowledge with our industry peers” Colette Eastwood, Environment & Facilities Manager, Bombardier Aerospace