Approach, Deployment, Assessment and Review are the main elements for the assessment of pollution reduction category

Approach: This covers what a facility does and the reasons for it. Excellent facilities will have sound approaches. Having a sound approach means having a clear rationale that focuses on the facility's present and future needs; ensuring processes are defined and developed in order to support and deliver the approaches.

Deployment: This covers what a facility does to implement the approach and the extent to which the approach is present in the appropriate parts of the facility. In an excellent facility, the approach will be implemented in relevant areas in a systematic way. This means the deployment will be well planned and introduced in a manner suitable for the approach and the facility.

Assessment & Review: This covers what a facility does to review and improve both the approach and the deployment of the approach. In an excellent facility, the approach and deployment of it will be subject to regular measurement, learning activities will be undertaken, and the output from both will be used to identify, prioritize, plan and implement improvement.

Results: This covers what a facility is achieving through its operation and implementation. In an excellent facility, the results show positive trends and/or sustained good performance. Targets will be set at an appropriate level and met or exceeded. The link between approaches adopted and results achieved will be clear.

An excellent pollution reduction approach requires the systematic execution of an in-depth examination of the facility activities aspects influencing environmental issues. It provides the picture of the environmental footprint of the facility, which constitutes the basis for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of a sound pollution reduction policy and strategy with clear objectives and targets.