Livelihood Management Policy

Blue Planet Environmental Solutions Pte Ltd. and its subsidiaries in most of the cases operate from sites that are owned by industries or local governance bodies (including Municipalities and Governments) and, therefore, are not directly involved in the acquisition or access to land. Nonetheless, Blue Planet is committed to avoiding any adverse impacts on livelihood through loss of income or access to resources on which someone’s livelihood and income are linked directly due to its operations. BP is aware that it may not be always possible to avoid such impacts while achieving its other commitments to benefiting the environment and sustainability for a wider community. BP adopts this Livelihood Management Policy to express its commitment to mitigate any such unavoidable loss of income and livelihood and look after the welfare needs of the vulnerable sections of the community by improving their livelihood options and living conditions.

 

2. Scope and Applicability

This Policy applies to BP and its subsidiaries which have a direct or indirect impact on the livelihoods of local communities. BP mandates its team to screen the applicability of this Policy in establishing new operation sites or while entering long-term partnerships and includes provisions under this policy into the business/operation plan.

 

3. Policy Elements and Commitments

3.1 Screening and Assessing Impacts on Livelihood: BP is committed to screening the potential of loss of livelihood and income for local communities, groups, and sub-groups living adjacent to operating sites or linked to its supply chain. If BP or its subsidiaries come across such direct, indirect, or unintentional loss of livelihood (even partial), it will engage a competent third party to assess such impacts and advise on appropriate measures to manage and mitigate those livelihood impacts.

 

3.2 Preparation and Approval of Livelihood Enhancement Plan (LEP): BP is committed to preparing an appropriate Livelihood Enhancement Plan for sites where it is required as per this Policy within 6 months (a lesser timeframe where its operations are only for a shorter duration). The BP management requires all its subsidiaries to share a copy of the LEP and an approved budget proposal for its effective implementation.

 

3.3 Focus on Sustainable Livelihood Options: BP commits to consider both land-based and non-land-based livelihood options depending on the location of the site in the urban, peri-urban, or rural area and to be identified through a participative process with the target community or groups. The LEP will provide the most appropriate livelihood support through providing short-term skill training, promoting micro self-employment opportunities, providing scholarships for higher education, or any such intervention that can provide better or alternative livelihood options that are sustainable.

 

3.4 Local Benefit Sharing: The waste management operations of BP and its subsidiaries end up eliminating the negative environmental impacts of waste dump and landfill sites and the reclaimed land is made available for other public purposes. The BP is committed to using its influence and leverage to provide maximum benefit to the local community in general and the vulnerable groups whose livelihood is associated with waste collection and segregation.

 

3.5 Special Attention to Vulnerable Groups: BP’s business of waste management often has a strong interface with economically poor and vulnerable sections of society (identified by the government and widely recognized by UN and civil society organizations). The LEP adopted and approved for implementation therefore shall be responsive to the special needs and considerations of these vulnerable groups including ethnic minorities.

 

3.6 Grievance Redressal Mechanism: BP is committed to setting up a Grievance Redressal Mechanism GRM by the beginning of FY 2025. The GRM is simple enough to be understood and readily accessible to the target groups to express their concerns or provide feedback related to the implementation of the LEP. We will ensure that our

 

3.7 LEP Completion Audit: BP will carry out an independent LEP completion audit as per requirement by an independent, suitable, and competent agency to document the achievements of the planned objectives for the target group.

 

4. Legality and International Standards

This Policy requires the specialised agency carrying out the screening and preparation of the Livelihood Enhancement Plan will review all applicable laws on the involuntary acquisition of land, resettlement, and rehabilitation. The Policy requires the LEP prepared and approved to meet the requirements under International Finance Corporation Performance Standards (IFC PS): IFC PS 1 and PS 5. The LEP and local benefit-sharing initiatives need to align with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly- SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; and SDG 10: Reduced Inequality.

 

5. Actions and Implementation

5.1 Corporate ESG Team: The Corporate ESG Team will be responsible for overseeing the screening and process of engagement of a suitable agency for the preparation of the LEP.

 

5.2 Site EHS Committee: The EHS Committee at the specific site will be responsible for implementing the LEP and preparing progress reports on a quarterly basis.

 

5.3 LEP Implementation Agency: BP in consultation with the concerned subsidiary will decide on the need to engage an independent, suitable, and competent agency to undertake the LEP implementation on behalf of the BP.

 

6. Related Documents

The ESG staff and external agencies carrying out screening of the livelihood loss and preparation of the LEP are required to adhere to the BP’s EHS Manual that specifically describes the Scope of Work and Guidance Note on Preparing LEP.

 

7. Revision and Exceptions

BP shall review this Policy every five years or when such need arises. In case of major concerns or serious improvement suggestions emerging from the grievance mechanism, the requisite revisions will be incorporated into the Policy. BP subsidiaries that operate only from the corporate offices, provide technological solutions, or are financial platforms that neither have an interface with communities nor their immediate supply chain is likely to have impacts on livelihood are exempted from this Policy.