GEMI currently has three types of activities: Work Groups, Networks and Committees. 

Work Groups develop focused tools (from concept to finished product) with designated resources

GEMI has identified three signature issues that it will be focusing its activities on for the next couple of years.  GEMI is still in the discussion phase as to how best to address these issues to meet the needs of its members and the organization as a whole.  The issues are: Climate and Energy; Supply Chain; and Water Sustainability.

• Climate Change and Energy
  

  GEMI's "Business and Climate" web-based tool, www.gemi.org/businessandclimate, is designed to help companies assess the most appropriate ways to address climate change-related emission reductions and reduce energy consumption.




• Supply Chain
  

  GEMI has developed two supply chain/procurement tools:

  • Forging New Links: Enhancing Supply Chain Value Through Environmental Excellence, which is designed to identify and illustrate opportunities for EHS professionals in collaboration with other functions within their companies, to enhance supply chain performance.
  • New Paths to Business Value: Strategic Sourcing--Environment, Health, and Safety, is designed to address the business value of managing Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) in Procurement. It is designed to help identify when, why, and how to pursue added business value by addressing the EHS performance of suppliers and contractors, and understand how their products and services might affect your business.



• Water
  

  GEMI has developed two water sustainability tools:

  • Connecting the Drops Towards Creative Water Strategies: A Water Sustainability Tool and supplemental web site, www.gemi.org/water, which addresses the challenges and opportunities of water sustainability.
  • Collecting the Drops: A Water Sustainability Planner (www.gemi.org/waterplanner), a detailed and comprehensive water sustainability-planning tool that can be used by a company to establish baseline performance, assess opportunities, set goals and evaluate progress against objectives.

Networks conduct ongoing discussions on member-driven topics, and may serve as prelude or postscript to a Work Group

• Emerging Issues Network
  The GEMI Emerging Issues Network meets throughout the year to learn more and share information about the emerging EHS and sustainability issues the members are addressing.



• Metrics Users Network
  The Metrics User Network provides how-to knowledge in using the GEMI Metrics Navigator™ and sharing best practices relative to sustainability metrics in business.



• Pandemic Planning Network
  The GEMI Pandemic Planning Network is in its information gathering phase and meets quarterly to share lessons learned about the topic.

GEMI Committees work on procedural, administrative or strategic issues as directed by the Board

• Benchmarking Committee
  The Benchmarking Committee identifies and benchmarks key environmental, health and safety management practices. Examples of benchmarking topics include: interaction with corporate board of directors, EHS cost accounting practices, EHS auditing practices, relationships with suppliers/contractors, sustainability and community relations. NOTE: After one year, benchmarking survey results are posted on GEMI's public web site on the Benchmark Survey page.



• Communications & Marketing (C&M) Committee
  The C&M Committee is responsible for extending GEMI's presence abroad through national and international press relations. The committee establishes well-defined guidelines for the creation and use of GEMI materials and reviews publications as they are developed as well as the development of the monthly member newsletter, GEMI NEWS. The committee also focuses on developing a simple, standard marketing plan for tools, and approves materials to be posted on the GEMI web site.



• Membership Development Committee
  The objective of the Membership Development Committee is to implement a strategic membership development plan, targeting environmentally responsible U.S. and non-U.S.-based companies. For more information, please visit our membership information page.



• Senior Advisory Council (SAC) Committee
  The SAC is comprised of the Vice Presidents or the most senior environment, health and safety / sustainability representative of GEMI member companies. The SAC meets annually and assists in the development of future GEMI project topics and activities.



• Tools Committee
  The Tools Committee organizes and monitors the projects and activities of GEMI's Networks, Work Groups and Committees that create specific "tools" to be utilized by GEMI members and shared by business to improve environmental, health and safety activities.  It also oversees the organization's signature issues and how best to address the issues to meet the needs of its members and the organization as a whole.