Sustainability refers to the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves the responsible use of resources, minimising waste, and preserving the environment. Sustainability encompasses environmental, social, and economic considerations, aiming for a balanced and harmonious future.
LotusWorks, a leading global engineering and technical solutions company prioritises sustainability in its operations. In today’s world, the concept of sustainability has gained significant importance. The global pressing need to adopt sustainable practices is needed as the population grows and the impact of human activities on the environment becomes more evident, there is now a pressing need to adopt sustainable practices within day-to-day operations.
Playing their part and adhering to best practices, LotusWorks has an integrated EHSQ (Environmental, Health, Safety, and Quality) system that is certified to ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental), ISO 45001: 2018 (Safety Management Systems) and ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality Management System), each contributing to the continuous efforts being made to adapt a greener approach.
Sustainable Practises at LotusWorks
Identification of environmental aspects takes account of the company’s planned, current and past activities, products, and services under normal, abnormal, and emergency conditions and the aspects on the client site. Planned or new developments, or new or modified activities, products, and services are considered in the identification of aspects as outlined above.
LotusWorks focuses on several key areas to promote sustainability and has an environment aspects programme that focuses on 13 key areas. The EHS & Quality departments within LotusWorks will consider these listed aspects in the ongoing implementation and maintenance of the Environmental Management System. These elements will be addressed by means of operational control procedures, environmental objectives and targets, and monitoring reports.
The monitoring reports are discussed and shared in LotusWorks’ EHS & Quality department meetings and Management review which allows the team to see how we are performing from an environmental point of view.
Environment Aspects Programme:
Potential Land Contamination – LotusWorks emphasises waste reduction and resource management. They adopt strategies to minimise waste generation and promote recycling and reuse wherever possible. By implementing waste management programs, LotusWorks aims to divert waste from landfills and adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Non-Hazardous Waste – The LotusWorks teams on client sites generate very little waste, however, any waste that is generated is to follow the procedures in place by the client site.
Supply Side Activities – LotusWorks focuses on numerous supply side activities including procurement, supplier management, supply chain optimisation and quality control.
Hazardous Materials – Before any product is purchased by LotusWorks employees on behalf of clients, there is a review of the SDS from the supplier and LotusWorks employees follow the site procedure in place and complete the specific Risk Assessment.
Energy and Resource Usage – We employ energy-efficient technologies and implement measures to optimise energy usage across their facilities. This not only helps minimise their carbon footprint but also leads to cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
Occupational Exposure – LotusWorks have comprehensive occupational health and safety programs and policies in place to mitigate risks associated with occupational exposure.
Transport – Many site visits occur virtually over Teams meetings to reduce our carbon footprint. Incidentally, this has reduced our CO2 emissions by approx. 50% due to less mileage from company cars. Our nationwide mobile calibration team is deemed essential which means this CO2 figure cannot be eliminated entirely.
Releases to Sewer – LotusWorks manages and monitors release to sewers. They would prioritise responsible wastewater management and work towards ensuring compliance with regulations while minimising any adverse environmental impact.
Hazardous Waste – Through extensive hazardous waste management processes such as waste characterisation, waste minimisation, training, and education.
Housekeeping/Littering – Numerous recycling and general waste bins are located to ensure all waste is discarded in the proper waste bins. Water conservation is another important aspect of LotusWorks’ sustainability efforts. They strive to reduce water consumption by implementing efficient water management systems and practices. This includes the installation of water-saving fixtures and the monitoring of water usage to identify areas for improvement.
Contractors Activities – Contractors that attend client sites on behalf of LotusWorks to complete maintenance or servicing requirements must be approved ahead of works commenced.
Environmental Noise – LotusWorks would implement noise control measures to reduce or mitigate environmental noise. They may work with clients to identify noise sources, assess their impact, and develop strategies to minimize or eliminate noise emissions. This could involve modifying equipment or processes, implementing sound barriers, or using noise-reducing technologies.
Product/Material Lifecycle – LotusWorks promotes sustainable procurement practices. They prioritise working with suppliers and partners who share their commitment to sustainability. By sourcing environmentally friendly products and materials, LotusWorks reduces the ecological impact associated with its operations and contributes to the development of a circular economy.
LotusWorks Continuous Improvement Programme:
At LotusWorks, the company believe what is good enough for today is not good enough for tomorrow. Therefore, they have adopted a Continuous Improvement culture which consists of a drive within employees to enhance processes, eliminate waste and reduce costs where possible. The company provides structured training programmes and initiatives to raise awareness of and encourage teams to adopt sustainable practices both at work and in their personal lives. By fostering this culture of sustainability, LotusWorks is creating a positive and lasting impact on the environment with the hope of contributing to a greener future.
A structured Continuous Improvement (CI) programme provides employees with the necessary tools and training to identify opportunities for improvement, analyse processes, and develop solutions to enhance the performance of the organisation. With the CI programme, LotusWorks is better equipped to identify areas of inefficiency, waste, or redundancy and implement corrective actions to drive improvement. Through the CI programme, employees are also encouraged to collaborate and share their knowledge and expertise to develop innovative solutions to problems.
Investing time and resources into the programme means LotusWorks is now delivering operational excellence to clients and driving value add. It ensures business sustainability within the industry and helps LotusWorks to be recognised as a company that delivers above and beyond service excellence. The programme is instrumental in the service offering LotusWorks provide to clients, an in-house championed programme which delivers cost and energy savings, reduces waste, identifies safety and quality improvements, negates delays, and creates man-hour savings. This value-add differentiator is one reason why LotusWorks has maintained and built successful long-standing partnerships with clients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sustainability remains a key focus area for LotusWorks and its clients, with the companies actively integrating sustainable practices into their operations across all sites. By prioritising energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, sustainable procurement, and employee engagement, LotusWorks demonstrates its commitment to creating a more sustainable and greener future every day.
