1. INTRODUCTION
The tourist phenomenon in Cuba constitutes an activity of considerable importance, both because of the role it plays in the national economy and because of the possibilities it offers or can offer in future economic and socio-cultural development.
implementation-of-an-environmental-management-systemThe Cuban tourism industry presents important benefits, costs and risks to take into account in order to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of its impact on the economy.
At the beginning of the 90s, Cuba decided to develop tourist activity with the aim of obtaining fresh foreign exchange to oxygenate the economy and contribute to economic recovery and the revival of industries and services closely linked to tourism.
This development strategy brought about a considerable increase in hotel facilities, which of the 17 hotels that existed in 1990 with 4 and 5-star categories are currently operating in that category 102 hotels with 26,000 rooms that represent two-thirds of the hotel floors in the country.
Likewise, efforts have been made to expand non-hotel offers, making multiple attractions available to tourists: gastronomic network, shops, tourist means of transport, musical recreation centers, museums, specialized clinics, nautical offers, sports options, facilities for conventions and congresses, cultural events.
In this regard, Fidel Castro Ruz, pointed out: »only with the branch of tourism could we rebuild all that we lost economically with the disappearance of the socialist camp and the disintegration of the USSR, only with the branch of tourism if we do what we must do, if We work as we should work and we are determined to do so, to exploit these natural resources of air, sea and pure waters that we have ”.
Cuba has a diversity of destinations for the development of a varied offer and options. The hospitality and fraternal spirit of its population, the interest aroused by the Revolution, its achievements in various fields, and the paths undertaken in its social development, are and will increasingly be attributes of great attraction.
In the current Cuban reality, the development of tourism and services is an urgent need, and is part of the strategy outlined for the economic recovery of the country.
In this regard, Lage states that "the economic growth of the immediate years will be strongly determined by tourism and other traditional exportable products, but especially this should develop its mission as a direct captor of fresh foreign exchange, occupying a competitive position in the market."
It is clear that the development of the tourism sector must necessarily promote behavior that is respectful of the environment.
Concern for the protection of the environment grows every day, becoming a topic of interest and importance not only for companies and governments but also for citizens and public opinion in general.
Parallel to this phenomenon of increasing consideration by society and public powers, environmental legislation has been developed in different countries, which in some cases involves a great effort to adapt by entities.
This phenomenon has prompted reflection in the tourism field, so that the possibility that the activities carried out by the company do not cause damage to the environment has begun to be assessed.
This awareness coincides with that of the different establishments that intervene in the production process, which is why it has become necessary to introduce environmental issues into the daily decision-making process. Thus, the present and future responsibility for environmental issues has become, today in something essential.
Thus, a new factor appears to be considered for the successful development of any installation. It is about developing an adequate environmental policy, in accordance in principle with the social interests determined by society in general. At the same time, this environmental policy can become a powerful marketing tool if used correctly through management audit systems.
The environmental audit arises as a result of this growing concern about environmental problems and the role assumed by the entities regarding the responsibility that concerns them. It is a powerful tool, capable of evaluating and laying the foundations for a policy that is careful with the environment, which takes into account the environment that surrounds companies.
Thus, in order to analyze the environmental risks that the performance of an activity could generate and evaluate its impact, environmental audits are carried out in order to formulate programs that allow compliance with current legislation on these issues in each country, activity sector, region and territory..
The environmental audit then becomes a management instrument that guarantees the correct functioning of the policies adopted on the environment, providing advantages both to the sector itself and to the natural environment in which it operates.
As a tool, it is increasingly essential within business management if it is to ensure that the activities carried out by entities do not contribute to the deterioration of the environment. In many cases, the environmental audit is even mandatory, depending on current legislation.
The audit must know how to combine the priority objective of the entities, that of obtaining benefits, with that of protecting the environment.
The sustained economic development of organizations must be compatible with the conservation of the environment and for this it is necessary to achieve a balance between the two.
In this context, numerous are the efforts being made by different countries, non-governmental organizations and institutions to reach international agreements that help to stop this accelerated deterioration of the environment in general, which threatens the existence of man himself.
A basic general objective to be met by audits of this type is to ensure that companies comply with current legislation on environmental matters, through an internal control system representing the set of policies and procedures established to provide reasonable assurance of being able to achieve the specific objectives of the entity in its various functions and specifically.
This is one of the main problems that industries pose when they decide to request the necessary technical assistance to solve the conflict, since they do not comply with the rules.
In these cases, once the pertinent investigation has been carried out and the report corresponding to each particular situation has been issued, the audit must be able to provide the means to save this situation. Through a special action plan prepared for the entity, it must ensure that non-compliance with the regulations will not be incurred again, which implies a deep knowledge of national, sectoral, territorial, community and international legislation, which be able to grant the institution the legal coverage it needs.
In the context of Cuba, the gradual integration of natural, social and cultural resources to economic development is being prioritized, in order to move towards a sustainable society, and for this, the existence of an Environmental Audit is essential, as a management mechanism. that is in charge of controlling said compliance.
Currently there is an important trend towards environmental certification of organizations and / or processes. A certified entity enjoys multiple competitive advantages, among which the access to more exclusive markets in which the demands of environmental quality and of industrial safety and hygiene stand out are broader; in addition to promoting an image more committed to the environment and sustainable development.
From the foregoing, it is clear the need that currently exists for economic entities to assume not only the responsibility of increasing extreme sensitivity in environmental issues but also to adopt practices that solve the problems that arise in this area.
Considering that the NH Kristal Laguna de Cayo Coco Hotel does not have an environmental management system in place capable of governing the different existing laws in this regard, this investigation is carried out.
The general objective of the work is summarized in:
Design a methodological procedure for the implementation of an Environmental Management System applying the control tools established in the NH Krystal Laguna Hotel.
2-DEVELOPMENT:
2.1 Characterization of the NH Kristal Laguna Hotel
Located north of the province of Ciego de Ávila, in the central region of Cuba, in front of the old channel of the Bahamas and protected by the second largest coral reef in the world, it is you will find the Jardines del Rey Cay, which is joined to the island by a 17-kilometer-long boulder, built on the shallow waters of the Bay of Dogs. Its 370 km2 of surface and its 21 km of virgin beaches make it the fourth extension of the Cuban archipelago.
Within this natural paradise, man has set out to create one of the most important tourist destinations in the country; already ranked third thanks to the operation of seven hotels and a hotel complex of two hotels.
Being within them the NH Kristal Laguna Villas & Resort Hotel Complex, with a 4 star plus category, owned by the El Senador Mixed Company, which is the object of study of this work; as shareholders it presents the Cubanacán group and the foreign company OAKES, and is managed by the Red Beer company.
It was inaugurated on July 22, 2001, by our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, it consists of 3 floors, with a housing capacity of 690, divided into 428 at the Hotel “Laguna Azul” and 262 at the Hotel “El Emperador” ”in 352 Clubs (170 with a view to the lagoon, 150 to the sea and 130 to the pool), 70 Villa (Inside the Lagoon). All have facilities such as full bathroom, terrace / balcony, hair dryer, bedrooms, external telephone line (with charge), air conditioning, satellite TV with remote control, laundry service (with charge), mini-refrigerator, safe security.
The management structure of the facility is detailed as follows:
• General Manager.
• Resident Director.
• Night Deputy Director.
• Economic Deputy Director.
• Commercial Deputy Director.
• Deputy Director of Accommodation.
• Director of A + B.
• Deputy Director of Human Resources.
In addition, the Following Department Heads:
• Reception Manager.
• Head of Accounting.
• Head of finance.
• Purchasing Manager.
• Head of Security and Protection.
• Head of Animation.
• Head of Technical Services.
• Head of External Services.
• Maître.
• Housekeeper.
General workers amount to 316, classified into four groups, 190 in direct activity, 96 in indirect, 21 in support and 9 in administration.
The main activity of the installation is the commercialization of the Jardines del Rey tourist product abroad, its mission raises:
The provision of excellent services, with a four-star plus image, taking care of a good maintenance of the facilities, promoting full customer satisfaction.
The noble areas of the Hotel Complex are distributed as follows: Oriental Buffet Restaurant "Lotus" with capacity for 140 clients, "International" Buffet Restaurant for 150 clients, "La Pérgola" Buffet Restaurant for 250 pax, "Malecón" Seafood Restaurant for 80 pax, Italian Restaurant “La Pizza” with capacity for 150 clients, Banquet Hall “La Galería” for 40 clients, Cuban Restaurant “El Gallo” for 70 clients, Grill restaurant “El pincho” for 78 pax, Beach Ranch “Las Dunas” with capacity for 178 clients, “La Sirena” barbecue with capacity for 160 pax, “Colibrí” lobby bar for 50 pax, “The storm” nightclub with 350 capacity and Amphitheater with a capacity of 650 pax.
The gastronomic services play a fundamental role in the 4-star plus service, which this hotel complex provides for the full satisfaction of the client during their stay at the facility, offering the highest quality gastronomic service and the most expensive in the Jardines del Rey tourist center and one of the best in the country.
Adult clients, during the day, can enjoy a varied sports program, games in the pool, on the beach, board games (ping pong / billiards), tennis, dance and Spanish lessons, horse riding, beach volleyball, cocobikes as well as a wide program of ecological excursions with guide service, gym with instructor and nautical sports (windsurfing, catamaran, kayak, water bikes, fishing, snorkelling).
For evening entertainment there is a wide program of shows, theme nights (peasant or Cuban, Sketh, customer participation, welcome, beach parties, mini disco, live music).
Among the general options that are provided are: hairdressing services, towels, laundry, a shopping arcade, outdoor pool with Jacuzzi and showers in the area, sauna, massage, 24-hour medical assistance, games room, motorcycle rental, cars, jetsky, Turkish bath, shops, tourism bureau.
In addition, the hotel complex has a modern meeting room "El Patio" with facilities for gastronomic service and audiovisual media, with capacity according to the chosen format (cocktail-200, banquet-100, theater-150, school-100).
The reception, department in charge of supervising and controlling the entrances and exits of clients, as well as providing them with all the necessary information, provides other services such as: currency exchange according to the current rate and acceptance of payments on credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard and others that do not have connection with North American banks.
The computerized accounting system used by the facility since its inception was the Capac (Made in the USA), which was used for five years, it was then the only one of its kind installed in Cuba, which is later replaced by a new system (Esoft) acquired by the new partners who, according to the management contract, have the power and responsibility to guarantee the accounting system that complies with international requirements and in turn with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in Cuba.
With this prior knowledge obtained from the Hotel, the methodological procedure was designed to implement an environmental management system.
Before designing the methodological procedure to implement the environmental management system in the hotel, the author of this research considered it necessary and appropriate to provide a glossary of terms related to this topic. (Look at annex 1).
2.2 Stages for the implementation of an Environmental Management System.
The growing concern for the environment and business responsibility with the environment require more efficient management of resources in order to achieve sustainable development, Environmental Management is an essential tool for the company to achieve optimal economic development; while ensuring a high level of public health and economic and social well-being, ensuring jobs that would otherwise be irretrievably compromised.
The following are the steps that a hotel entity has to follow to implement an environmental management system and also reflects on how to do it.
The first stage for the implementation of an Environmental Management System consists of carrying out an environmental diagnosis of the entity.
2.2.1.- Stage 1. Initial Diagnosis
When a company wishes to implement an EMS, it needs to carry out an initial diagnosis to know the starting situation.
An environmental analysis of activities, products and services makes it possible to identify the current situation of the company and its degree of environmental compliance.
To undertake this process, it will be necessary to calculate:
a) the “inputs” or “inputs”; it is everything that is consumed in the production process (energy, water, raw materials, etc.)
b) the “outputs” or “outputs”; are the impacts that the production process generates on the environment (atmospheric emissions, discharges to water, waste generation, soil pollution and noise)
The estimation of the “inputs” will be very useful to us to identify those foci whose impact on the economic cost is more important. It is about proposing strategies to reduce the consumption of raw materials, by studying new processes, clean technologies or simply by modifying work habits (good practices in the workplace).
Encouraging teamwork will be one of the strategies to be traced in the entity, impregnating in the minds of each worker the philosophy of working as a team and sharing information with the rest of the company's departments to contribute to the reduction of waste and emissions.
The practical application of the following philosophy will guarantee individual fulfillment of the following aspects:
- Adjust purchases to real needs; reduces the amount of expired materials.
- Buy the material in adequate quantity and containers
- Use the oldest products, move them forward and leave behind the new ones
- Study the purchase of alternative materials of less danger
- Before buying, negotiate with the supplier to accept excess material
- Reduce the variety of materials used in operations and services within the entity
- Considers the reduction of waste and emissions from the design phase of new products and services, selecting the most appropriate materials and processes
- Plans production and services taking into account the reduction of waste
The initial review should provide all the important technical and organizational information in order to establish the real situation regarding environmental protection within the company, namely:
Legal and regulatory requirements
Identification of significant environmental aspects such as:
• Choice of the activity, product or service
• Identification of the elements that can interact with the environment (atmospheric emissions, discharges…) associated with each activity.
• Identification of environmental impacts
• Assessment of the significance of the impacts
Assessment of information obtained from investigations of previous incidents
The initial review can be done using questionnaires, interviews, checklists. You can also hire the services of a consultancy; In this case, it will be of great help if this external advisor has extensive knowledge in the company's activity sector.
An example of an environmental aspects identification matrix is presented below (see Table 1). It covers the environmental aspects identified, associating them with the operation of each work area of the company.
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECTS IDENTIFICATION MATRIX ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
Work Areas
Energy
consumption Water
consumption Raw material consumption
Waste water generation
Handling hazardous substances
Atmospheric emissions
Noise generation
Soil contamination hazard
Waste generation
Global
impact assessment by area
Table 1: Matrix for identifying environmental aspects
Each of the environmental aspects identified in the matrix must be indicated the degree of significance it has for each area, for which one of the following criteria and symbols will be used:
NS: not significant
B: low significance
M: medium significance
A: high significance
2.2.2- Stage 2. Definition of the environmental policy
The environmental policy is a public and formally documented statement by senior management on the intentions and principles of action of the organization regarding its environmental performance.
The environmental policy must ensure the development of:
Statement of principles and objectives
Define lines of action
Define responsibilities
This document will be prepared in writing and will be easily understandable; it should be known by all levels of the organization and will be available to the general public.
The environmental policy must include a firm commitment to continuous improvement and prevention of pollution; Of course, the commitment also includes compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Next, the document that describes the environmental policy of a Hotel XX is exemplified by means of a hypothetical example.
Example of environmental policy:
Hotel XX is a hotel in the XX sector whose activity has been carried out in XX places in our country over more than XX decades.
Hotel XX has been concerned since its inception in addressing the concerns of society and its interest in incorporating Sustainable Development criteria in all actions of daily life is increasing.
Hotel XX recognizes that activities related to process XX can endanger the environment and the health of workers and the population in general.
That is why Hotel XX undertakes to carry out its activities with due respect for the protection of the environment, and to continuously improve its environmental practices.
Hotel XX declares the following principles:
1) Hotel XX will ensure compliance with the environmental regulations that is applicable, establishing its own standards where none exist
2) Hotel XX will promote energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption and non-renewable resources as much as possible
3) Hotel XX will annually review the list of objectives and goals of the management system
being more demanding every year
4) Hotel XX aims to achieve the following environmental goals by 20XX:
a) Progressively reduce the emission of atmospheric pollutants until reaching a 20% reduction
b) Correctly manage all its residuals before MONTH X of YEAR 20XX
c) Require our suppliers to improve their environmental performance, certifying according to ISO 14001 before YEAR 20XX
5) Hotel XX will provide appropriate environmental information to consumers of our products
6) Hotel XX will encourage the active participation of its workers for the prevention of pollution, and will provide adequate training to all staff, encouraging the development of good environmental practices
7) Hotel XX will take the appropriate measures to avoid accidents with risks for the environment.
The Hotel XX's environmental policy will be available to workers and the general public. Hotel XX welcomes any suggestion on the environmental aspects of our activity.
To guarantee the maximum effectiveness of environmental actions in the company, it is essential to promote mutual collaboration between employers and workers, between employers and union representatives.
The active participation of workers is achieved with the implementation of the following principles:
Right to receive training on the environment by the company.
Right to receive information on the environmental behavior of the company.
Access and availability of the Good Practices manual.
Right to make suggestions with a view to achieving environmental improvements.
These principles are materialized in practice by applying the following questionnaire:
Form of contribution of suggestions to the Environmental Policy
Make suggestions to the environmental policy of your company
Your participation is essential…
Subject Suggestions
Does your company declare its intentions and principles in relation to its environmental behavior?
Does your company's environmental policy include a
commitment to continuous improvement and prevention?
Does your company's environmental policy include a commitment to apply environmental legislation?
Does the environmental policy provide the framework for setting and reviewing objectives and targets?
Is the environmental policy documented, implemented and periodically reviewed?
Is the environmental policy communicated to employees?
Is the environmental policy available to the public?
Is the environmental policy clear and concise?
For their part, union representatives must participate through an Environment Commission created by senior management from the beginning of the planning of the environmental management system.
Examples of Good Practices to be considered by the entity, related to choosing the best alternative before launching a new product, are described below:
• Get the product to work with minimal energy consumption.
• Eliminates substances with toxic or dangerous characteristics.
• Increase the use of recyclable materials; for example, on the packaging.
• Improves the ease of assembly and disassembly of the product or equipment.
• Examines possibilities to improve efficiency and product life.
• Uses reusable packaging; preferential use of larger volume containers.
• Uses standard type materials and parts.
2.2.3.- Stage 3. Planning
This stage includes the design of the program, the objectives and the goals to be achieved.
Environmental goals and objectives need to be planned. This must be done based on the environmental aspects of the company and the existing requirements (legal or otherwise), specifying them in some environmental programs or plans.
Environmental objectives are the general goals expressed in terms of environmental effectiveness that a company aims to achieve. These goals should be scheduled in chronological order and quantified as much as possible.
Goals are performance objectives quantified and specified to the maximum extent possible.
The goals have their origin in the environmental objectives; They must be met if the objectives set are to be achieved.
It can be very useful to create indicators to measure progress.
As an example of environmental objectives and goals, we have the following:
Objective: Reduce CO2 emissions (per employee) by 5% in the next two years.
Goals:
GOAL 1: Reduce fuel consumption for transportation (per employee) in 5% in the next two years
GOAL 2: Reduce the consumption of heating oil (per employee) by 20% in the next two years
Indicator Fuel consumption data
For its part, the environmental program that is designed must be consistent with the policy and the results of the initial evaluation, and must include:
Specific activities and objectives of the company to ensure better protection of the environment in a given center
Assignment of responsibilities for each function
Actions taken or planned to achieve these objectives; quantifying both human and material resources
Deadlines for the application of these measures, set out in a calendar
The environmental program will be prepared in writing and will be permanently updated; and it must involve a clear commitment from all company personnel.
In relation to the training and participation of all employees, their motivation regarding the correct handling of materials is suggested in order to reduce waste in a simple, economic way and also avoid accidents, which will achieve significant improvements in their occupational health. The following indications can be proposed in this regard:
• Leave enough space between the containers
• Keep the distances between incompatible chemicals
• Sort the drums according to their degree of danger; Dangerous substances will be stored in special areas, indicating their transport regulations
• Place the most used materials near the exit and facilitate access
• Stack the containers following the manufacturer's instructions
• Adequately illuminate access and material transport areas
• Keep containers, drums and tanks tightly closed
• Use reusable or recyclable containers or packaging materials
• Completely empty containers or containers before cleaning or disposal
• Improve disposal procedures cleaning to reduce the generation of diluted waste
2.2.4- Stage 4 Implementation
Environmental programs or plans have to be implemented and executed. For this, it is necessary to assign responsibilities, prepare the necessary documentation, provide training and carry out an operational control that will be the one that will guarantee compliance with the legislation.
Each of the contentious aspects of this stage are described below.
Assignment of responsibilities:
The roles, responsibilities, authority and resources of those activities related to the environment should be clearly defined. A person in charge will be appointed as the official coordinator of the environmental management system as well as of the information to the management of the company.
It is essential that there is a commitment from all employees of the company. The commitment must begin with Senior Management, who must ensure that the EMS is implemented, allocating the necessary resources (human, technological and financial)
In large companies, it is advisable to adopt decisions within the framework of a working group or Environment Committee, made up of Senior Management, the Head of Environmental Management, union representatives, environmental delegates and those responsible for other company departments.
Training:
All employees who may have a significant impact on the environment must be properly trained to meet certain levels of training and knowledge.
Additionally, employees should be informed regarding the importance of complying with environmental policies and procedures, the type of impact your company has, who is responsible for controlling those impacts, and the possible costs of non-compliance.
Communication:
It is important to define and maintain a procedural method for the communication of all environmental issues.
Communication can take two forms:
• Communication between functions and levels within the company, carried out through news tabloids, suggestion box, internal periodicals.
• Communication received from clients, regulators, public authorities and other interested external parties.
Documentation and documentation control
Documentation represents the most important component of an environmental management system.
The operating procedures used within the company are grouped together in the environmental procedure manual. It describes each process, and it will determine how, when, who, where and with what equipment the fulfillment of said process will be carried out, consisting of a series of tasks related to it.
Written work instructions used by an individual to complete one of the tasks listed in the operating procedure should also be developed. A work instruction will indicate to a person the exact task that must be carried out, with the maximum clarity and brevity.
In an operating instructions manual it is necessary:
a) Describe the normal operating procedures.
This is done by drawing up a flow chart that shows the correct sequence to carry out each operation in the process.
b) Make a list of the operating conditions and controls of the processes, including waste generation levels
A list must be included with the parameters that must be taken into account in the operations (pH, temperature, pressure, humidity…), both in the production stages and in the maintenance, handling and transport operations.
Of great utility is the casuistic analysis for the application of the criteria of reuse of processes that are indicated below:
• It recycles the cooling and process waters, solvents and other materials.
• Recovers heat energy.
• Look for uses for the reuse of rejects.
• Creates utility by-products from waste materials; or sell them to other companies.
c) Describe the global process and the tasks to be performed by each employee.
The worker can contribute to contribute ideas on how to reduce waste and emissions and collaborate in their implementation; in this way, it increases employee motivation and reduces the risk of workplace accidents.
d) Describe the safety and action rules in case of emergency
In addition to improving occupational health, the generation of waste and emissions resulting from cleaning operations can be greatly reduced.
e) Include material safety sheets
They are documents that inform about the chemical and physical properties and the dangerousness of the substances, as well as the appropriate procedures for handling, transport and storage.
Emergency plans
They serve to prevent and reduce the environmental impacts associated with potential accidents.
An emergency plan must include:
• Organization and responsibility in case of emergency
• List of key personnel
• Data of emergency services (fire brigade, ambulances,…)
• Measures to be adopted in each case
• Training and education programs
It must be clear in the minds of workers that prevention is the best tool for reducing waste and emissions and that material leaks constitute a direct danger to health and the environment.
The collaboration of all in the prevention of leaks and spills is essential by implementing the following practices:
• Store the containers so that the possibility of breakage is minimal and the visual detection of corrosion or leaks is facilitated.
• Use the containers following the manufacturer's recommendations
• Follow a maintenance program, checking the optimal conditions of the storage containers and tanks
• Fill the tanks from the bottom, to avoid losses to the atmosphere due to volatility
• Install overflow alarms in the tanks and check their proper operation
• Installs valve closing safety systems
• Uses mobile roof tanks
• Produces a report of all leaks and their associated costs
• Avoid spillage to drains at all costs
• Collect leaks and spills for use
2.2.5. Stage 5. Environmental Audits.
The fundamental purpose of this stage is to determine if the entity achieved the proposed objectives.
The environmental audit is a management instrument that includes a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of the behavior of the organization, the management system and the procedures designed to protect the environment.
The objectives of an environmental audit are the following:
• Facilitate management control of environmental practices.
• Determine if a series of internal regulations and / or current environmental regulations are being complied with, to protect the public and the environment.
• Identify possible gaps in the company's environmental policy.
An SGMA audit can be divided into three parts:
• Study of the company's environmental policy and management system based on the risks derived from production activity.
• Monitoring the current status of the company's environmental organization, reviewing objectives and adding new proposals.
• Preparation of an action plan and audit review.
To obtain sufficient and competent evidence, it is suggested to use the internal control questionnaire designed for this purpose, which is shown in Annex 2.
The final report must gather the conclusions obtained on each one of the processes studied, as well as the deficiencies detected. Furthermore, it is an indispensable work tool for the future development of the EMS.
Example of documentation to be reviewed by an environmental audit
- General flow
diagrams - Flow diagrams of each process
- Energy balance and existing materials
- Operations manuals and process description
- Inventories of product flows, waste and emissions
- Cleaning equipment and waste handling procedures
- Purchase orders and raw material specifications
- Environmental and waste or emission audits already carried out
- Waste and emissions legislation
- Environmental programs in force
2.2.6- Stage 6 Environmental Declaration
The company must make an Environmental Declaration after the first environmental assessment and the conclusion of each audit or audit cycle, for each center that participates in the system.
The wording of the Environmental Declaration must be brief and clear.
The purpose of the Environmental Statement is to inform the public and all interested parties of the centre's environmental impacts and how they are managed. The declaration must state the progress achieved, in accordance with the objectives and deadlines set.
The next step is to verify the contents of the policy, the program, the management system, the assessment or audit procedure and validate the environmental statements through independent accredited verifiers.
It only remains to disseminate this validated statement to the public and interested parties, once the center is registered.
Below is a diagram (Scheme 1) that illustrates and summarizes all the stages for the implementation of an environmental management system.
Scheme 1. Cycle of the Environmental Management System
When observing the previous scheme, it is appreciated that an environmental management system, in addition to contemplating compliance with all the regulatory requirements corresponding to the environment, has as its main objective to promote CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT of the results of organizations in relation to the environment through:
The establishment and application, by the company, of environmental policies, programs and management systems in its production centers
The systematic, objective and periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of these elements
The active participation of workers in the process
Dissemination of information to the public and open dialogue.
In this way, the design for the Implementation of an Environmental Management System for hotel facilities remains available for application.
2.3- Initial diagnosis of the NH Kristal Laguna Hotel
The environmental management system in the hotel sector can be defined as a set of actions of diverse nature that are carried out in the establishments during their operation and that aim to improve the balance of the relationship of the same with the environment and contribute to achieve sustainable development, without excluding the fulfillment of the economic-functional objective that they have assigned.
The main objective of an environmental management system is to avoid negative impacts on the environment and to responsibly manage impacts that cannot be avoided or compensated for.
Precisely the starting point for the implementation of an Environmental Management System is to carry out an initial diagnosis.
The Management of the NH Kristal Laguna Hotel, located in Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, made the decision to carry out its environmental diagnosis in order to identify the environmental impacts generated by the activity it carries out, document all aspects related to its environmental management and prepare an Action Plan aimed at solving the deficiencies detected, to achieve continuous improvement of its performance in this important area and obtain the National Environmental Recognition.
The starting situation presented by the entity for the implementation of the environmental management system is detailed below.
- Basic performance of the entity
There is compliance with the rules, procedures and guidelines established for the proper functioning of all the Hotel facilities and the guarantee of satisfactory service to customers.
The ratings obtained in the surveys applied to clients related to the quality of services, range between Good and Very Good and are above the average satisfaction index that the Hotel has established as a goal in its management.
Environmental performance
Compliance with environmental and sanitary regulations in force in the country.
The entity shows compliance with the applicable environmental regulations. The entity has the full text of the main environmental regulations and these are known to the workers.
It has had good results in the latest state inspections developed by governing bodies. It has a health license.
Definition of environmental policy, objectives and goals.
The entity has established an environmental policy with a correct approach, which responds to national and international requirements. This reflects basic elements such as the commitment to continuous improvement, the participation of all workers in this process, information and training of personnel on environmental issues, the adoption of the best available technologies and compliance with environmental legislation. The environmental objectives are clearly expressed and the goals to be achieved are defined. The Administration is fully aware of environmental problems and there is great concern for the continuous improvement of the entity's performance in this area.
It has a Head of the Environment, who coordinates all activities related to the entity's environmental performance. The Action Plan is very well formulated and far-reaching, with defined responsibilities and deadlines for compliance.
- Water management
The Hotel is supplied with groundwater supplied by Aguas Cayo Coco. The internal hydraulic network is in good condition and there were no leaks in the pipes during the tour. It has a meter located in the general connection through which general consumption is controlled.
Water consumption per occupied room in 2004 was 1.54 m3; in 2005 it rose to 1.83 m3 / occupied room due to the low linear occupancy and in the first 8 months of 2006 it decreased to 1.48 m3 / occupied room.
It has implemented an Efficient Water Use Program that includes a series of measures aimed at saving, such as the installation of toilets with a flush valve with an average discharge of 6 liters; the installation of hand basins and sinks in the central kitchen area; the use of energy-saving devices and single-lever faucets in the rooms, as well as timer valves in the sanitary furniture of public bathrooms and the irrigation of green areas in the early hours of the morning or late in the afternoon. Through messages in the rooms, the client is urged to join the water and detergent saving plan. The watering of the green areas is done in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.
They monitor the physical-chemical quality of drinking water at key points and receive a monthly quality certificate from Aguas Cayo Coco.
- Energy management
The entity is supplied by the Cayo Coco Electric Diesel Plant, although the residual heat from the air conditioning system is recovered for heating the water in the housing blocks.
There is a Savings Program and rigorous control of the consumption of energy carriers. The issue is systematically discussed in the Boards of Directors and a sustained decrease in total consumption over time is observed, although the rates per occupied room are still above those planned (111.6%, 111.4% and 125.9% in 2003, 2004 and the first seven months of 2005, respectively) due to the low linear occupancy of the hotel during long periods of these years. In 2005 there was an increase in this index, as work began with a greater number of compressors in the cold system, in order to provide greater comfort to the customer.
There are all the instructions, guidelines and procedures related to the use and maintenance of energy facilities and equipment according to good practice criteria aimed at energy saving and efficiency.
Occupied automation covers 100% of the circuits with the highest consumption (air conditioners, cold rooms and exterior and interior lighting) and energy-saving light bulbs are used in most areas of the Hotel, with plans to cover all of them. $ 2,420 was invested in the acquisition of timers for energy control.
At the end of 2005, the entity was in the energy diagnosis stage by the COPEXTEL Company for the introduction of a new technology and a greater automation of energy areas.
They have descalers in the lines of the primary hot water circuit to avoid incrustations and avoid wastage and more than 70% of the pipes of the air conditioning and hot water systems have new insulation, and a replacement plan is being carried out in the sections that show deterioration. This represented an investment of $ 17,693.36.
The consumption of other energy carriers (liquefied gas, gasoline and diesel), are also rigorously controlled. In 2004 they were below those planned, increasing in 2005 due to the expansion of some services.
In 2005 they remain below the plan. Solar heaters were installed in the rooms.
- Liquid waste management
The Hotel discharges its liquid waste to the existing sewer system, which receives treatment in one of the facilities operated by Aguas Cayo Coco. Good condition and functioning of the internal health network was observed.
- Solid waste management Solid
waste is classified at the source of origin, separated into organic, recyclable and common garbage. They have an area equipped for temporary storage, in which two people in charge of cleaning and organizing work. There is a management plan for this waste that provides economic and environmental benefits ($ 2,642 of income during 2005 from the sale of raw materials).
Organic waste is stored in a refrigerated chamber and is collected daily by a Self-Consumption Company, to be used in animal feed. Common garbage and waste generated by the maintenance of green areas are collected by EMPRESTUR. Solid waste management is adequate in the facility and the collection and storage areas are hygienic and clean, the loading and unloading platform has two well-defined and separate areas: one for the entry or reception of goods and another for the exit from the dirty.
The Hotel has defined a strategy to achieve the reduction of solid waste through the use of glass dishes and the reduction of disposable ones, the use of larger containers and the elimination of the supply of food products in mini-doses.
- Chemical substances, fuels, lubricants and hazardous waste
The chemical substances used for the treatment of the water in the swimming pools and for the sanitation of the Hotel come from authorized companies and are handled properly, with a rigorous control of their use. All detergents and descalers are biodegradable. The fuel used in the emergency plant is stored correctly, meeting all safety requirements. No hazardous waste is generated.
- Emissions to the atmosphere and noise.
The entity does not have a boiler and the emergency plant is used very sporadically, so it does not emit significant amounts of polluting gases or particles into the atmosphere as a result of combustion.
The Hotel faces problems of emission of high noise levels due to the equipment in the machinery area, whose technology is quite backward and does not respond to the current demands in terms of hotel management. Given the fact that a total of 21 rooms are affected by this type of pollution and that at present there is no possibility of investments to change all the technology in the machinery area, the Administration, after carrying out a noise study to determine the levels of damage that customers located in these rooms could have, made the decision to make an investment to gradually change their marquetry, using double-layer glass to achieve greater hermeticity.
- Refrigeration and air conditioning
equipment Air conditioning or refrigeration equipment that uses Freon 10 is repaired and maintained in a workshop that has all the conditions so that there is no leakage of this gas into the atmosphere. The gradual replacement of equipment that uses ODS is one of the measures included in the Action Plan.
The entity has specific freezing chambers for each type of food (meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables) and independent air-conditioned premises for drinks and dry food. All cold rooms comply with current sanitary regulations, are sealed at the joints to avoid energy losses and have a thermometer.
- Policy for purchasing and using products, raw materials and supplies
They have established a purchasing policy, in which the acquisition of national and environmentally friendly products is promoted and prioritized, maintaining quality and requiring their certification and a waste minimization strategy is applied. The products used in cleaning are biodegradable.
Compliance with good practices is established in the rotation of inventories and the safety and hygiene requirements in warehouses. The warehouses have good ventilation and lighting conditions and the current regulations are met.
- Work protection and hygiene, fire prevention and contingency plans
The entity has a Safety, Health and Work Environment Regulation, which includes the specific objectives, principles of action, commitments and responsibilities of the different levels of management and workers, as well as the availability of resources and means for compliance with the proposed objectives.
There is a preventive maintenance plan for equipment and periodic reviews of the installation's safety devices and features. Seminars on the subject are given and in general the jobs meet the appropriate hygiene-sanitary and safety requirements. The Management pays great attention to improving the work environment. There is adequate availability of the means of protection by areas and jobs and pre-employment and periodic medical examinations are completed.
There is a contingency plan approved by the president of the Defense Zone which considers the potential risks to which the facility may be subjected (hurricanes, heavy rains, penetrations of the sea, fire, oil spills, infectious-contagious diseases and accidents. aerial).
- Introduction of scientific-technical results and technological innovation
The workers of the entity have had a good participation in the Forum of Science and Technology, in which they have presented works of environmental impact related to the use of disused materials or waste in decoration of various areas of the Hotel (reported savings: 10,000 USD) and the design of an attachment to operate the lid of the solid waste deposits.
They have a Bank of Problems that includes 5 environmental incidence, related to energy performance, water saving and the work environment.
- Environmental education, information and training
Workers are aware of environmental problems and the impacts they cause in their jobs, as well as regarding the preparation process for obtaining Environmental Recognition.
Although there is dissemination on environmental aspects (saving water, energy and supplies, recycling solid waste, hygiene) in various areas of the Hotel (rooms and service areas), it must be increased.
In the morning, nonconformities detected during inspections, internal controls and surveys are systematically discussed with workers, paying great attention to those that have an environmental impact.
The individual needs for training in environmental issues have been identified and to satisfy them they have not yet implemented a plan, which includes the delivery of courses and conferences and the holding of talks and seminars.
Interrupted workers receive the "Tourism and Environment" course, which lasts 20 hours and is taught by FORMATUR and other institutions. They have a newsletter in which they include environmental issues.
- Attention to the man
The management of the entity constantly ensures the best working conditions for the staff and this is manifested in their stability and their sense of belonging. The workers show satisfaction and pride in belonging to the collective.
Diagnosis Conclusions
The decision made by the NH Kristal Laguna Hotel Management to voluntarily undergo a process of diagnosis and verification of its environmental performance is an obvious sign of its positive stance towards the conservation and protection of the environment. The verification carried out showed that the Hotel has a positive environmental performance, tending towards continuous improvement.
As a culmination of the review carried out, the hotel is suggested to implement the following actions:
Staff environmental awareness
Staff is the key to the success of an adequate environmental policy in hotels. None of the environmental protection objectives can be achieved if those who work at the hotel are not fully identified with the task of conserving and improving the quality of the environment.
For this reason, it is necessary that all sectors receive environmental education (non-formal) that allows them to understand and acquire these habits.
The management is the one who has the mission of achieving the understanding of all its collaborators (department heads and other employees), making them aware of the importance of this issue.
It is recognized that staff awareness is one of the most difficult tasks and requires a broad effort geared towards holding seminars, workshops, workshops, meetings and talks to achieve their commitment on this issue.
All Hotel staff must be aware of all the objectives that are established, so that they can duly inform clients when they request information on the subject. Any employee can be the recipient of a customer's comment and must be able to give an appropriate response.
Information to clients / guests:
In order to obtain the essential collaboration and integration of clients, it is necessary that they are duly informed about the establishment's environmental program.
Upon arrival, the client can be given a brochure describing the environmental actions that are being carried out at the hotel and inviting him to collaborate in protecting the environment with simple activities.
Optionally, and although it is less effective, you can consider leaving said brochure in the room with the directory of services.
You can also place posters in the hotel hall or another place where the people staying normally circulate, where the objectives that have been set, the tools to carry them out, etc. will be located. All in an understandable way for the general public and in different languages if necessary.
It is important to highlight the key role of the reception staff and that of animation and recreation in achieving the objective of making visitors aware of the importance of environmental management, constituting an opportunity to promote the establishment's environmental commitment. On the other hand, all the information given to clients must be perfectly verifiable by themselves.
Chain of suppliers and services
Finally, in order to achieve true sustainable development, it is necessary for the entire chain of suppliers and services associated with the installation to gradually incorporate environmental criteria, or their own management systems, otherwise we would be making isolated efforts that they would not redound to the common, social and natural good.
Final reflection.
The hotel sector, like the rest of the companies in the travel and tourism industry, only have a reason to be to the extent that the tourist is interested in nature, cultural attractions, etc. That is, by the elements that generate the intention to arrive and stay in a place.
Therefore, it would be unwise for entrepreneurs in the tourism sector in general and in the hotel sector in particular, not to contribute to the preservation and balance of the environment and local society.
Environmental management tries to be a voluntary way to improve the general management of an establishment, to incorporate elements that were not taken into account, to correct certain unnecessary practices, or that generate negative impacts on the environment, and to even expand new markets.
It is necessary to foresee which of the aspects of environmental management carried out in developed countries can be adapted and are a priority in underdeveloped countries, and how to carry them out. Still being two different realities, but considering the importance of the national and international tourism sector for the coming years, this is a challenge.
The task is to see what environmental management model is possible and how many hotel establishments are willing to implement it, thus changing the mental structures of the hotel entrepreneur.
Download the original file
