Sustainability Policy

A) PRINCIPLES

Our Sustainability Policy is guided by the following principles:

1. Exceeding Standards: We strive to comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, and codes of practice, aiming to surpass them wherever possible.

2. Embedding Sustainability: We integrate sustainability considerations into all our business decisions to ensure alignment with our environmental objectives.

3. Engaging Staff: We ensure that all team members are fully informed about our Sustainability Policy and committed to its ongoing implementation and improvement.

4. Reducing Operational Impact: We work to lessen the environmental impact of our office operations and transport activities.

5. Promoting Sustainable Practices: We encourage our clients and suppliers to adopt sustainable management practices by sharing our policy with them.

6. Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuously enhancing our sustainability performance.

B) PRACTICAL STEPS

To put these principles into action, we will:

1. Travel for Meetings

• Active & Public Transport: Prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport for meetings and site visits, except where these options are impractical or overly expensive.

• Travel Costs: Include the costs of more sustainable travel options in our financial proposals, avoiding budget airlines and opting for appropriate carbon offsets where air travel is necessary.

• Virtual Meetings: Favour teleconferencing, video calls, and web-based meetings to reduce the need for travel. These options often save time while maintaining strong relationships with clients and partners.

• Supporting Virtual Solutions: Provide clients with a complimentary webcam for the duration of a project, where suitable, to facilitate remote meetings and reduce travel.

• Travel Emissions Monitoring: Track and monitor the environmental impact of our business travel through an emissions recording system.

2. Purchasing Equipment & Resource Use

• Paper & Waste Reduction: Minimise the use of paper through practices such as double-sided printing and identifying ways to reduce waste.

• Recycling & Reuse: Arrange for the recycling or reuse of office materials, including paper, electronic supplies, and obsolete equipment.

• Energy Efficiency: Purchase energy-efficient equipment and promote good energy management practices in the workplace.

• Renewable Energy Use: Source electricity from providers that prioritise renewable energy and aim to maximise the proportion derived from renewable sources while supporting investment in new renewable energy projects.

C) WORKING PRACTICES AND CLIENT ADVICE

• Sustainability Awareness: Ensure that our associates consider sustainability when advising clients.

• Policy Sharing: Include a copy of our Sustainability Policy in all client proposals to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable practices.

People Over Profit CIC

D) DIRECTORS’ PRIORITIES FOR 2024

In 2024, our Directors have set the following sustainability priorities to ensure continuous improvement:

1. Securing Funding for Solar Panels and Storage: Focus on obtaining funding to install solar panels and energy storage systems, aiming to significantly reduce our energy costs and reliance on non-renewable sources.

2. Carbon Neutrality Plan: Develop a roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, with interim targets to measure progress and ensure accountability.

3. Enhanced Green Procurement: Prioritise suppliers with strong environmental credentials and implement stricter criteria for selecting products and services with minimal environmental impact.

4. Digital Transformation: Increase the adoption of digital tools to reduce paper use and streamline virtual collaboration, aiming for a 30% reduction in physical document handling by the end of the year.

5. Employee Training and Engagement: Introduce new training programmes to ensure all staff are equipped with the latest knowledge in sustainable practices and can contribute actively to our environmental goals.

6. Client Collaboration for Sustainability: Strengthen partnerships with clients by providing tailored advice on sustainability, helping them to meet their environmental goals alongside our own.

7. Community Impact Initiatives: Support local environmental projects and initiatives that align with our sustainability values, reinforcing our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate.

This policy underscores our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, engaging our staff, and working with our clients and partners to build a more sustainable future. Through collective efforts, we believe that we can achieve meaningful and lasting change.