Sustainability and Environmental Policy

Introduction

Sustainability is a key issue for businesses and society in general, as we increasingly realise that current industrial, economic and social systems are contributing to future problems for society. Sustainability is about looking forwards to new, better ways of doing things. Our Sustainability and Environmental Policy aims to direct our behaviours to:

• Environmental – reduce environmental damage to levels that can naturally be absorbed by nature
• Social – develop a healthy and fair global and local society
• Financial – create sustainable business models and stable, prosperous economies. We aim to do our best to work towards sustainability. Our range of environmental, social and financial policies to help us reduce our negative impact give something positive back to the world. These include:

Environmental

• We intend to minimise our carbon footprint by operating a virtual business structure, centred around our project hubs at convenient locations, avoiding excess travel. We also encourage the most efficient, practical mode of transport for each journey.
• Wherever possible our stationery is recycled or recyclable, hence minimising its impact on the Earth. We use wood and paper only from sustainable sources where available.
• We try to avoid using physical stationery and printing documents wherever possible.
• We reduce consumption by only buying products that we need, re-use with second hand products where available and selling our unwanted items where practical, and try to recycle or compost as much of our waste as possible.
• Our our cleaning products are natural, biodegradable and are bulk purchased when possible to minimise packaging.
• We use low energy appliances wherever available.
• We will limit and reduce flying where possible, preferring instead to work with international clients, staff and partners using web communications where possible.
• We try to keep our carbon emissions to a minimum.
• We develop services that can be delivered with no physical goods production or transportation.

Social

• We value our team. We make sure that our team members enjoy their work by giving them every possible opportunity to express themselves, fulfil their potential and fit their work around the other important aspects of their lives
• We allow flexible working by allowing our team members to choose where and how they work where possible.. This helps team members maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• We maintain healthy relationships with our customers and accommodate their needs wherever possible.
• We use local suppliers where possible to reduce our carbon footprint and stimulate the local economy.
• We only deal with ethical organisations, who treat their staff well. Our Supplier management policies create those trusts and ensure goals, vision and policy is aligned,
• We try to create opportunities for young talented individuals with strong ethics and help them to develop their careers by getting them involved in our work and helping to promote them.
• We comply with all equal opportunities laws and regulations
• We actively promote the benefits of socially responsible business.
• We are committed to supporting the policy of ensuring employees have a Living Wage.

Financial

• We will build a strong, valuable brand.
• We will keep costs to a minimum by using virtual operations of the business where possible, using modern communication technologies.
• We will avoid ethical liabilities by implementing our social and environmental sustainability policies.
• We will invest in sustainable businesses, to help encourage the growth of a sustainable economy, as well as providing the business with a strong long-term investment portfolio
• We will implement simple and effective business systems so that the business runs efficiently without reliance on the specialist knowledge or skills of any one individual.

Agreement to follow this policy

The Sustainability and Environmental Policy is fully supported by the board, has been agreed with employee representatives.

Sept 2022. Approved by the board of directors.