Below
is a brief overview of our environmental principles,
what we've done, are doing and want to do to reduce
The Personal Group's carbon footprint and impact
on the environment in 2008 and beyond
Energy
to reduce the consumption of energy and resources
as much as possible and to measure, monitor and
audit with a view to continually improving our current
practices.
Goods and Services
to purchase, wherever possible, environmentally
friendly goods and services and influence our suppliers
and contractors to support our environmental policy.
Recycling
to Reduce, Re-use, Recycle: to take opportunities
for waste minimisation; to use renewable, sustainably
managed and recycled materials where practicable;
to implement a comprehensive recycling scheme.
Travel
to encourage staff to use the least damaging forms
of transport whenever possible.
What we have done
in these areas:
Energy:
•
We have installed
multi-functional devices (for faxing, printing
and photocopying) in our offices which will
reduce energy and paper usage.
•
We use energy saving lighting
which automatically goes off when not in use.
•
Our computers are energy star
compliant and go off after 20 minutes.
•
All new electrical equipment
is R.o.H.S.
•
Our Company fleet cars have
low carbon emission (two are hybrid cars),
and our car policy encourages the usage of
lower-carbon vehicles.
•
A number of our staff are involved
in a car sharing programme.
•
We promote the cycle to work
policy.
•
When possible our sales staff
work nearer to their home area.
•
Encourage our sales staff to
have hybrid cars.
•
Replace one face-to-face meeting
per month with a conference call.
•
Use video conferencing where
available.
•
Invest in video conferencing
facilities on site.
•
Encourage our people to switch
off lights when a room or corridor is left
empty and at the end of the working day, even
though we have automatic switching-off systems.
Goods
and Services:
•
We use paper from
sustainable forests (for internal and external
use, including our benefit books).
•
Our principal bank is The Cooperative
Bank, which has a strong reputation for concern
for the environment.
Recycling:
•
We currently recycle
ink/toner printer cartridges and mobile phones.
•
We recycle the majority of
our office paper at our Head Office in Milton
Keynes.
•
All computer equipment is “Weee”
disposed.
•
We scan when possible instead
of photocopying.
•
Where possible we recycle our
old PCs through the Computer Aid scheme, including
through the 2007 IT Transformation plan.
•
We recycle mobile phones and
printer/toner cartridges through our charity
schemes. This ensures that the proceeds from
the recycling go to The Personal Group’s
chosen green projects; the Action Aid Scheme
for the printer/toner cartridges and the Redeem
Scheme for the mobile phones, which benefits
our local Hospital Radio.
Carbon
reduction:
•
We have conducted a high level
review of the expected extent of carbon emissions
by the whole group during 2008. This analysis
of the sources of our "carbon footprint" and
their extent has included all energy usage
at John Ormond House, our home and field based
employees and all flights including international
flights connected with our annual convention
planned for the USA in 2008.
