Similarities
Each of the enivonmental principles outline ways to control environmental impacts. e.g. the principle of 'waste minimisation' has a hierarchy of ways to deal with waste.

Each of the principles approaches particular aspects of work and attempts to guide you in ways to best deal with the environmental impacts.

Environmental Principles tend to have a number of common elements.

1. They usually try to see the whole of the picture - hence they are said to be 'holistic'. . Look out for words like 'integration', 'interconnectedness' 'system', and 'cycle'. The principle of 'eco-design' puts particular emphasis on seeing the system, that includes both work and the environment, as a whole.

2. Reduce at source. If you dont have to use it, you can't waste it. Reduction at source is a major element the principles of 'Precautionary Principle', 'Cleaner Production' and 'Waste Minimisation'.

Differences
The principles emphasise different features
of environmental improvement, or different parts of the work process.

'Resource Usage' often concentrates on what comes into and organisation, 'Cleaner production' tends to concentrate on what goes on at the start of a process, 'Energy Efficiency' what goes on , 'Waste Minimisation' on what goes out.

The principles concentrate on different work aspects, e.g. 'water control' & 'resource usage' - concentrating on raw materials, or 'environmental managment' - concentrating on the social aspects.

For a range of UK national environmental campaigns outside work visit
www.encams.org