Adding “Green” to Your Business Continuity Program
Assuming your company has made a commitment to becoming environmentally friendly, e.g., going “green,” your business continuity and disaster recovery programs can also go green. Why is this important? Business continuity and disaster recovery programs provide opportunities to identify green activities through their research functions (e.g., business impact analysis) and maintenance functions (e.g., exercising, raising awareness).
One way to describe a green business is one that operates in ways that conserve natural resources, eliminate waste and minimize emissions and harmful discharges. It is possible for most any business to adopt green policies and procedures, and the cost can be less than you might imagine.
When considering business continuity and disaster recovery and how they can become green, we examined the standards of business continuity as defined by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI). The following paragraphs identify DR/BC activities and provide suggested green activities for each. The items are adapted from BCI professional standards. Each recommended activity assumes the organization’s commitment to becoming eco-friendly.
- Establish the need for a Business Continuity Management (BCM) process – Include in policies the requirement that all business continuity related activities will be designed to minimize any adverse impact on the environment
- Organize and manage the BCM process within a risk management initiative – Recognize the importance of minimizing risks to the environment when designing BCM initiatives
- Develop and create plans to communicate with external stakeholders, including the media, during incidents – Emphasize the company’s commitment to minimize adverse effects on the environment through its BCM program and related initiatives
- Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA) that identifies impacts resulting from disruptions and disaster – While conducting the BIA, identify opportunities to enhance the organization’s commitment to conserving energy, resources and other “green” assets; include these in BIA recommendations
- Conduct a risk analysis that determines events and environmental issues that could adversely affect the organization and its facilities – While conducting the risk analysis, identify specific situations, such as severe weather, earthquakes and other acts of nature, that could present an environmental threat to the company as well as the geographic region; determine ways to mitigate the effects of these situations
- Determine and select alternative business recovery operating strategies for continuation of business – When developing alternative operating strategies, identify ways to minimize the impact of these strategies on the environment and other “green” issues
- Deliver solutions to continue business operations – Ensure that business continuity procedures are mindful of potential environmental impacts
- Develop and create plans and procedures to communicate with internal stakeholders during incidents – Ensure that the company’s commitment to environmental and other green issues is included in these communications
- Provide post-incident support and guidance to employees and their families – Review and address any environmental issues that may have arisen in the aftermath of an incident
Tags: "green" issues, Business Continuity Management, environmental issues
