Resource Conservation and Sustainability
ADB Headquarters Today

During the first year of Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) implementation, ADB reduced its paper consumption by half. To supplement this, ADB's Office of Administrative Services (OAS), continues to find ways to promote environment-friendly practices in the workplace.

The Three Rs. ADB is committed to minimizing waste, and staff members are encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Through the system of ADB’s compliance with its ISO 14001 commitments, all staff and contractors receive briefings on the application of 3R principles.

To improve aesthetics, reduce energy consumption, provide a modest “carbon sink” for greenhouse gases, and enhance ambient air quality, ADB maintains well-landscaped grounds, roof gardens, and a large number of indoor plants. The outdoor vegetation provides shade, absorbs heat and glare from the sun, reduces pollution, and protects the building from wind.

A plant nursery to propagate seedlings collected from trees on the grounds is maintained at the parking area of the Headquarters building. The seedlings are cultivated through vermi-compost derived from collected garden wastes, and periodically distributed for re-greening programs around Manila. In June 2006, during the celebration of World Environment Day, ADB donated 500 seedlings produced at our nursery to reforest the watershed area of La Mesa Dam, which supplies part of Metro Manila’s drinking water.

One of the many new programs conceived to support the objectives of ISO 14001 is “green roofs” in which ADB, led by OAS, started to green the roof decks of its Headquarters with roof gardens. The roof gardens provide greenery on the building’s flat roof, putting the previously bare space to good use. Wood scraps were recycled for use as plant boxes. While visually pleasant, the plants also serve as excellent air filters and help create a shady respite from Manila’s hot tropical sun.

Resource conservation. OAS monitors and controls all environmental, occupational health, and safety aspects of the headquarters building and its facilities. The office also sets targets to manage resources, audits performance against targets and compliance with legal requirements, and establishes measures to mitigate risks to the health and safety of all those on our premises.

Electricity. ADB regularly monitors energy use and maintains all equipment to maximize efficiency, minimize impact on the environment, support the ADB-backed Philippine Clean Air Act, and minimize costs. A number of measures have been introduced by the Energy Conservation Committee, including more energy efficient lighting. A major segment of roof was recently replaced with materials designed to reduce heat absorption and thereby the air conditioning power requirements. From 2003 through 2006 the Headquarter’s electricity consumption has been reduced by about 4.1%, despite an increase in the number of people using the facilities.

Water. The Headquarters’ water conservation objectives, targets and programs have successfully reduced consumption by 26.4% from 2003 through 2006. Since 2004, savings exceeded $25,000 despite a sharp increase in water prices. The quality of potable water supply is maintained through carbon filtration and chlorination, and regular analysis for possible microbial contamination. These efforts are made possible through the Water Conservation Committee.

Paper and printing. ADB sources its paper from mills that have ISO 14001 or Forest Stewardship Council certificates. All paper used in the Headquarters’ building are chlorine free and post-consumer waste, and the percentage of re-used paper is increasing steadily.

Paper use in the Headquarters’ building has decreased through reducing, reusing, and recycling schemes implemented by the Paper Conservation Committee. All paper with print on both sides is shredded and sold to paper recyclers, which in turn are audited by ISO Internal Auditors, to ensure that the paper is properly recycled. Paper use has decreased by about 15% in 2005 and another 15% in 2006, with savings of over $62,000 for the two years. Paper consumption per staff also decreased substantially in recent years, falling from 40 reams in 2001 to 27 reams in 2006 - a 33% improvement in paper use reduction.

Used toner cartridges from our copy centers are reclaimed by the service providers as part of a manufacturer’s “take back” agreement to lessen environmental impact of activities in the Headquarters’ building.

Solid and hazardous wastes. To reduce negative impact on land, careful sorting of waste materials, recycling of draft paper for in-house reuse, reuse of envelopes and other office supplies, recycle food waste to livestock farms, and composting of garden trimmings is done in the Headquarters’ building. Since 2004, solid waste generation has been reduced by about 12%. Scrap materials such as used boxes, cartons, newspapers, wood pallets, and plastics wrappers and bottles are sold to recyclers accredited by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Our generation of hazardous waste (used oil, paint cans, etc.) was greatly reduced (60%) from 2004 to 2005 after introduction of several measures, and expect to achieve continued improvements in the coming years.