ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICY & PROCEDURES
Introduction
The earth’s environment is under severe stress from uncontrolled human activity, threatening the survival of our society and the performance of Whistlewood Common Limited’s (WCL) mission.
WCL accepts that it must work to preserve the environmental sustainability of the planet at all levels of its operations, in its own practice, as a participant in a community of practice, and as a participant in the UK social discourse.
WCL aspires to minimise its impact on our environment and maximise the effective use of resources. We strive to achieve this by increasing communication and awareness of our efforts in accordance with this policy and fostering responsible environmental behaviour amongst any staff we may employ, volunteers, and users at all levels.
WCL is committed not only to complying with applicable law in all of its operations but to minimise risks and impacts through the development of robust and documented systems to implement, measure, monitor, and disseminate excellent environmental performance both within its operations and to the broader community.
Purpose
This Environmental Sustainability Policy aims to integrate a philosophy of sustainable development into all the organisation’s activities and to establish and promote sound environmental practice in our operations.
Policy
WCL commits itself to minimise the impact on our environment through:
- Providing a safe and healthy environment
- Having an environmentally sustainable aware culture, where responsibility is assigned and understood
- Being an environmentally responsible neighbour in our community
- Conserving natural resources by reusing and recycling
- Using processes that do not adversely affect the environment
- Ensuring the responsible use of energy throughout the organisation
- Participating in efforts to improve environmental protection and understanding
- Taking steps to improve environmental performance continually
- Conducting audits, evaluations, and self-assessments of the implementation of this policy (this will be actioned by engagement with members, volunteers and stakeholders)
- Working with suppliers who promote sound environmental practices; and
- Enhancing awareness among our volunteers, members and site users – educating and motivating them to act in an environmentally responsible manner.
Responsibilities
It shall be the responsibility of all WCL members and volunteers to establish and maintain policies and procedures and to bring these procedures into effect.
Procedures
- WCL will develop guidelines for any volunteers and site users to adopt sound environmental work practices, and adequate training will be provided to ensure these practices are carried out.
- WCL will try to act responsibly to correct incidents or conditions that endanger health, safety, or the environment. It will promptly report any such incidents to the relevant authorities and inform affected parties as appropriate.
- WCL will, attempt to, reuse and recycle materials, purchase recycled materials, and use recyclable packaging and other materials.
- WCL will try to ensure that its services and products are safe, efficient in their use of energy, protective of the environment, and able to be reused, recycled or disposed of safely.
- WCL will try to minimise materials and energy use, prevent air, water, and other pollution, and dispose of waste safely and responsibly.
- WCL will try to conserve energy by improving energy efficiency and giving preference to renewable over non-renewable energy sources when feasible.
- WCL will try to utilise its particular knowledge and experience to contribute to environmentally sustainable techniques, technology, knowledge and methods.
- WCL will try to contribute to the maintenance and increase of biodiversity through its management of the site
- WCL will make efforts to meet applicable government and voluntary requirements, as well as the requirements of WCL’s environmental policy.
- In order to continually improve its environmental management system WCL will make efforts to conduct audits and self-assessments of its compliance with this policy.
- WCL will maintain an open and honest dialogue with volunteers, stakeholders, and the public about the environmental, health and safety performance.
- WCL will make every effort to ensure that all site users, contractors and third-party users are informed of and expected to follow this policy and to report any environmental, health or safety concerns to the board.
Signed: WCL Board (AC, PJ, GT, CG, RD)