There are three Investors in the Environment (iiE) accreditation levels that your organisation will be working through.

The step-by-step approach within each accreditation level allows your organisation to set achievable targets and establish a pathway of continual improvement. Our role is to provide help and support for you to work through the criteria.

Once organisations have met these criteria and provided an Environmental Management System (EMS) pack with relevant evidence, it is audited to show credibility, and then businesses are awarded their accreditation.

Green champion appointed

Environmental Policy in place

Measure your usage

Set targets

Create action plans

Have a recycling system

Create a travel plan

Create a carbon footprint

Communicate and engage

Here is the full criteria that our businesses go through to demonstrate their environmental credentials and performance:

	Bronze	Silver	Green
Step 1 - Environmental policy Senior management commitment Commitment to reducing environmental impact Legal compliance Identify staff champion responsible for implementing the policy	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed
Step 2 - Measure resource use Resource use must be recorded and monitored on a regular basis	Monitor gas, electric and water use. Monitor use of 1 other resource Readings taken at least quarterly*	Monitor gas, electric and water use Monitor use of 2 other resources Readings taken at least quarterly*	Monitor gas, electric and water use Monitor use of 3 other resources Actual meter readings taken at least monthly*
Step 3 - Set targets SMART targets to achieve reduction in environmental impact and increase efficiency	Targets for reduced impact identified.	Targets for reduced impact identified and progress towards targets can be demonstrated.	Targets for reduced impact identified and normalised 2% annual reduction in resource use for gas, electricity and water has been achieved against the previous year for at least 6 measured resources.**
Step 4 - Action Plan Assign completion dates and staff responsible Document actions taken and results Essential actions	Action plan in place Recycling system in place.	Action plan in place Adopt a travel plan Undertake 2 environmental or social projects	Action plan in place Calculate carbon footprint and set targets to reduce Undertake 3 environmental or social projects
Step 5 – Monitor and report progress Review progress towards targets Present progress to senior management and staff	Present progress annually	Present progress annually	Present progress biannually
Step 6 - Accreditation	Self-audit followed by off site assessment by iiE support officer	Self-audit followed by off site assessment by iiE support officer	Full assessment and site audit

	Green
Step 1 - Environmental policy Senior management commitment Commitment to reducing environmental impact Legal compliance Identify staff champion responsible for implementing the policy	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed
Step 2 - Measure resource use Resource use must be recorded and monitored on a regular basis	Monitor gas, electric and water use Monitor use of 3 other resources Actual meter readings taken at least monthly*
Step 3 - Set targets SMART targets to achieve reduction in environmental impact and increase efficiency	Targets for reduced impact identified and normalised 2% annual improvement against the previous year in resource use for at least 6 measured resources.**
Step 4 - Action Plan Assign completion dates and staff responsible Document actions taken and results Essential actions	Action plan in place Calculate carbon footprint and set targets to reduce Undertake 3 environmental or social projects
Step 5 – Monitor and report progress Review progress towards targets Present progress to senior management and staff.	Present progress biannually
Step 6 - Accreditation	Full assessment and site audit

	Silver
Step 1 - Environmental policy Senior management commitment Commitment to reducing environmental impact Legal compliance Identify staff champion responsible for implementing the policy	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed
Step 2 - Measure resource use Resource use must be recorded and monitored on a regular basis	Monitor gas, electric and water use Monitor use of 2 other resources Readings taken at least quarterly*
Step 3 - Set targets SMART targets to achieve reduction in environmental impact and increase efficiency	Targets for reduced impact identified and progress towards targets can be demonstrated.
Step 4 - Action Plan Assign completion dates and staff responsible Document actions taken and results Essential actions	Action plan in place Adopt a travel plan Undertake 2 environmental or social projects
Step 5 – Monitor and report progress Review progress towards targets Present progress to senior management and staff.	Present progress annually
Step 6 - Accreditation	Self-audit followed by off site assessment by iiE support officer

	Bronze
Step 1 - Environmental policy Senior management commitment Commitment to reducing environmental impact Legal compliance Identify staff champion responsible for implementing the policy	Environmental policy in place. Environmental champion appointed
Step 2 - Measure resource use Resource use must be recorded and monitored on a regular basis	Monitor gas, electric and water use. Monitor use of 1 other resource Readings taken at least quarterly*
Step 3 - Set targets SMART targets to achieve reduction in environmental impact and increase efficiency	Targets for reduced impact identified.
Step 4 - Action Plan Assign completion dates and staff responsible Document actions taken and results Essential actions	Action plan in place Recycling system in place.
Step 5 – Monitor and report progress Review progress towards targets Present progress to senior management and staff.	Present progress annually
Step 6 - Accreditation	Self-audit followed by off site assessment by iiE support officer

Examples of environmental or social projects and initiatives include activities that support resource efficiency, environmental protection, or projects that bring social value communities. These could include upgrading equipment to more efficient technology, implementing new processes or policies to support biodiversity and prevent pollution, and volunteering in the local community. iiE can support you on understanding the various essential actions you may take as a business to support your accreditation.

*Where actual meter readings cannot be taken a case by case solution will be found.

**Businesses that can demonstrate they have done everything possible to generate savings will not have to meet 2% annual reduction targets.

How does it work?