Organiser: Core Supporting Organisation: United Nations Millennium Development Goals - WGO s Green Office Awards Labelling Scheme (GOALS) Fact Sheet Background To raise local business awareness of the global environmental challenges addressed by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDGs), the World Green Organisation (WGO) has initiated a program, namely, Green Office Awards Labelling Scheme (GOALS) to support offices and retails to go Green in 9 stipulated aspects of operations (please refer to Figure 2 as shown below). Apart from obtaining WGO's Green Office Label - GOALS, the qualified companies are able to obtain United Nations - UNMDG's Better World Company Label (Figure 1) through the core supporting organisation, Junior Chamber International (JCI) North District of this scheme. The Better World Company Label will be awarded subject to the compliance of the rules and regulations of JCI HK Better World Hong Kong nomination programme. While GOALS provides a great opportunity to connect Hong Kong business and social sectors with the UN's global initiatives, the program also supports Hong Kong s drive towards a low carbon city by building a platform to bring together the key change agents business corporations, social organisations, professional associations and university students to share experience and accelerate positive changes in office and retail environments through the execution of best practices. Figure 1: Two Labels - WGO Green Office Label (left) and UNMDGs Better World Company Label (right). About GOALS In collaboration with JCI North District, WGO is setting a primarily basic threshold to encourage more World Green Organisation 2013 1
companies, including large corporations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) 1 to involve and participate in the scheme so as to make the initial baby step to go Green. GOALS aims to inspire, educate and motivate companies to make the first bold step to implement straight-forward green best practices in their offices and retail chains following the WGO's guidelines with the support of Green Auditors (Trained University Students). Gradual improvement plan is expected to be carried out by the participating companies phase by phase and year by year. Win-Win Approach In addition, GOALS offers a win-win approach providing quality training 2 to not only company applicants but also the university students by equipping them with the latest knowledge and skills on environmental best practices. Large corporations with green office implementation experience are invited to briefly share the best practices and wisdom during the training seminars. Some 100-200 university students will be given tailor-made training in green office and retail best practices and audit, communication, presentation and reporting skills. Trained students will become a Green Auditor, who will carry out the green audit for applicants and prepare assessment report. Another team of trained university students, Green Office Officers, will also be available to help SME applicants implement their green office best practices, if needed. GOALS Requirements Offices and retails of local businesses, both large corporations and SMEs, as well as their individual functional units that primarily operate within Hong Kong, are encouraged to apply for the GOALS labels. Applicants, who can meet the following Requirements 1 and 2, will be awarded the UNMDGs Better World Company Label and the WGO Green Office Label after the successful nomination and verification. 1 SMEs are defined as non-manufacturing business which employers fewer than 50 persons in Hong Kong; or manufacturing business which employers fewer than 100 persons in Hong Kong. 2 Training covers various green topics, including green office practice, behavioral change, technical training and green leadership. World Green Organisation 2013 2
Figure 2: A brief overview of the GOALS requirements The Green Office Best Practice criteria are designed by technical partners and professional associations. It aims for three levels of green improvements - levels 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 is made up of the most basic requirements while the level 3 goes for more sophisticated ones. Applicants are required to meet or exceed the minimum requirement for each level indicated below. 40% of Green Office Best Practice Criteria under Level 1 To raise environmental awareness and knowledge among workforce through simple and achievable measures. For example, putting up stickers in the offices to encourage staff to save energy and setting up printers to print both sides of the paper. 40% of Green Office Best Practice Criteria under Level 2 To promote behavioural change through provision of supporting office infrastructure and equipment. For example, having sleep mode enabled on all photocopiers and all printers, and placing recycling bins, such as waste paper, metals and plastics, in accessible, high-traffic areas and providing clear information about what can and can t be recycled. World Green Organisation 2013 3
20% of Green Office Best Practice Criteria under Level 3 To incorporate green office best practices into their daily operations. For example, developing and adopting green purchasing policies and offsetting travel using a carbon offset program, such as air flight carbon offset program. GOALS Application Workflow Figure 3: The following chart displays key dates and activities in the GOALS application workflow. Important Dates and Deadlines April-June 2013 Applications are now open for the 2013 GOALS (Deadline: 30 June, 2013) June-July 2013 Mid-August 2013 September 2013 Green audits for applicant companies Submission of applicants' green office improvement reports Announcement of application results November 2013 WGO and JCI awards ceremony World Green Organisation 2013 4
Benefits in joining GOALS GOALS is an effective green transformation program that generates a wide arrange of significant benefits for company applicants, university students, professional associations and, more importantly, to make a positive contribution to society as a whole. Overall Local businesses, social organisations and university students can gain environmental and sustainable knowledge and skills that enable them to be actively involved in improving their working environment in the offices and retails. Local businesses and social organisations are able to understand their environmental footprint and apply reduction measures, ranging from energy, waste, water and paper consumption to carbon emissions at their offices and retails. Successful applicant companies are able to receive an International recognition. Large Corporations Large Corporations are able to share their own experiences in Green Office Best Practices with university students and SMEs as part of their contributions in Corporate Social Responsibilities. SMEs By providing manpower of green office officer, training from WGO and technical partners and experience sharing from large corporations, GOALS helps to break through the barriers of SMEs in implementing green office practices. University Students (Green Auditors and Green Office Officers) University students are offered low carbon jobs experience by working on sustainability in real office environment and equipped for a better employability in the future. How to Apply Please visit our website: http://www.thewgo.org to download the GOALS application form. The completed application form with the fee (indicated below) can be mailed to WGO on or before 30 June 2013. Please make cheque payable to World Green Organisation Limited. SMEs: Corporations: HK$500 (Application fee) + HK$3,500 (Participation & Training fee) = HK$4,000 HK$500 (Application fee) + HK$7,000 (Participation & Training fee) = HK$7,500 For any enquiries, please contact Ms. Brenda Fung at 2391-1693 or email at GOALS@thewgo.org World Green Organisation 2013 5
About WGO The WGO is an independent non-governmental organisation concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. It provides a holistic approach to a totally integrated three-pronged solution that combines social, environmental and economic aspects for a green revolution. Through science-based policy research and community projects, the WGO aims to enhance the quality of the environment, promote a greener economy, and improve people s livelihoods. In particular, it will focus on the social concerns of underprivileged groups and on the creation of a green economy, helping realise its vision of sustainable development. World Green Organisation 2013 6