Environmental Policy

Influence recognises its responsibility to the wider community in many ways and a key element of this is to ensure that the organisation manages all of its resources effectively and efficiently, and minimises negative impact.

This will include principles on the selection and purchase of products and services.

Ruth Berry is responsible for ensuring that the environmental policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.

There are three aspects to the Environmental Policy:

1. Energy efficiency
2. Waste minimisation and recycling
3. Purchasing principles

Influence expects that all staff will adopt and implement these principles throughout their work, and will act as champions of good practice in their dealings within their organisation.

This policy and its implementation will be monitored on a regular basis and reviewed annually to see if it still meets the needs of the organisation and takes account of the latest examples of good practice.

Improving energy efficiency brings benefits at two levels:

1. Reducing costs for the organisation
2. For the environment:
2.1 In reduced emissions of greenhouse gases
2.2 In reduced use of non-renewable energy sources

Suggestions for minimising energy use include:

• Setting room thermostats to a comfortable but not excessive temperature
• Turning heating down rather than opening windows or using fans
• Setting refrigerator thermostat to an adequate chilled, but not too cold, level
• Switching off room lights when not in use, closing doors to retain heat
• Using low energy light bulbs/fluorescent tubes
• Switching off all electrical equipment when not in use, unless to do so may cause damage to equipment or systems (for example, the network server computer has to be left on permanently). Where the option exists equipment should be set to go into standby mode after an appropriate length of non-use
• Taps should be completely switched off and any leaks or faulty washers repaired as soon practicable
• Only fill the kettle enough for immediate use
• Do not use batteries when a mains power supply can be used
• Use rechargeable batteries where possible

Reducing waste also brings benefits at two levels:

1. To Influence
2. To the environment

For the environment less waste means:

• Less landfill
• Less transportation which adds to congestion and pollution
• Less dumping of non-biodegradable materials
• Less dumping of biodegradable materials which emit greenhouse gases

Suggestions for minimising waste include:

• Ensuring that all recyclable and reclaimable materials are sent for recycling
• Use paper printed on one side only for scrap paper
• Use scrap paper rather than notebooks/pads for written draft work
• Dispose of toner cartridges for recycling/refilling
• Where possible double-side printing and photocopying to minimise paper use
• Do not use new envelopes for internal mail
• Use wider community schemes such as mobile phone recycling schemes
• Offer unwanted furniture and equipment to other groups before disposal and if possible dispose to furniture/equipment schemes
• Do not use CFC based aerosol cans

Adopting an environmentally-friendly purchasing policy has two objectives:

1. To ensure the Company purchases products which minimise damage to the environment
2. To persuade suppliers to offer products which minimise damage to the environment

It is the policy of Influence to purchase products and services which minimise damage to the environment and to inform suppliers of our policy.

Suggestions for implementing this policy include:

Purchase of products made from recycled materials or derived from sustainable sources including:

• All paper products
• Wooden furniture

Purchase of products which minimise environmental pollution or damage including:

• Biodegradable cleaning products
• Organic food
• Avoid genetically-modified food products
• Avoid unnecessary packaging
• Opting for local producers and suppliers (reducing transportation)

 

The purpose of this policy is not to make perfect decisions, but to create a mindset that thinks about the issues and tries to make informed decisions. It is recognised that price is also a factor and many ‘environmentally friendly’ goods and services are more expensive than their industrialised counterparts. Some are simply not up to the job and should therefore be avoided.

Policy Date: 16 April 2014
Policy Review Date: 16 April 2017

 

Back