Environmental Policy

To align with the Climate Change Act 2008 (amendment 2019) we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint with the objective of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050. We will achieve this by implementing our Carbon Reduction Strategy, which is governed by the following principles:

• Having in place a robust carbon accounting platform which provides monthly carbon impact information, including setting carbon intensity metrics.
• Understanding our sources of emissions, and prioritising them according to size of impact, and ease and pace of mitigation measures.
• Delivering a programme of specific actions, including
  • Renewable electricity – sourcing our electricity from renewable sources.
  • Reducing business travel – particularly by conducting meetings via video conferencing where possible.
  • Reducing commuting – since Covid 19 all our staff members now work from home.
  • Buildings – ensuring good insulation and energy efficient materials are used when carrying out refurbishment works and obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate for new buildings. We will also identify and implement opportunities for on-site low/zero carbon energy generation such as use of solar panels, air source heat pumps etc.
  • Reducing energy usage – through use of LED lighting systems, setting thermostats correctly, never leaving equipment on standby, and connecting water coolers/boilers etc to timer switches so they are not in use when the building is unoccupied.
  • Reducing the amount of waste we create – through use of electronic systems for communication and storage which reduce the need for printing hard copy documents. We will also reduce paper usage through duplex printing and reuse of scrap paper for note taking or printing of essential internal documents.
  • Sustainable procurement – by including sustainability and carbon reduction considerations when making purchasing decisions, buying recycled products and evaluating the environmental credentials of suppliers for tier 1 purchases.

• Recycling paper, card, glass, tins/cans and plastic – through provision of appropriate recycling facilities in office premises and use of an authorised waste carrier to dispose of recyclable waste to ensure it ends up where it should.
• Recycling furniture and equipment – including IT equipment, mobile phones and office furniture to local charities and schools.
• Responsible disposal of non-recyclable waste (WEEE) – we will dispose of WEEE in alignment with legislation/regulation and maintain records to prove that it has been disposed of in an environmentally sound way.
• Recycling consumables – particularly printer cartridges.