Environmental Policy

Introduction

Good-Loop recognises that we share with all organisations a responsibility to protect and nurture the environment. By exercising proper control over its activities, Good-Loop will promote the use of sustainable resources and discourage practices that are wasteful or damaging to the environment.

This policy contains a variety of practical measures to be taken in order to enable Good-Loop to make a contribution towards protecting the environment at all levels of our activity. A twice-yearly review of the policy will enable monitoring of achievements, and will identify opportunities for further improvements.

Key Aims

• To reduce unfavourable impact on the natural environment of Good-Loop through our work and consumption.
• To conserve and support use of sustainable resources.
• To follow "the waste hierarchy":
  1. Reduce;
  2. Reuse or reclaim;
  3. Recover (Recycle);
  4. Dispose - as last resort.
• To establish and follow environmental good practice, and comply with all relevant environmental regulations and legislations.
• To develop organisational awareness of the need to care for the environment, and measures that can be taken. 1

Carbon neutrality

Good-Loop aims to be carbon neutral.

• We have completed the BIMA Carbon Negative course to accurately calculate our base footprint across scope 1, 2 and 3. See BIMA Carbon Negative
• We continuously work towards offsetting and reducing this carbon footprint. See our Cool-Earth offset profile
• We use data-centres that are 100% powered by renewable energy.

Use of materials

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Use double-sided printing and photocopying.
• Reuse printed paper for draft copies, internal notices, rough pads, draft printing, and informal hard copies of documents.
• Encourage electronic filing and archiving.
• When producing letters, avoid running over on to another page if not necessary.
• Recycle packaging materials.

Electrical and Waste conservation

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Minimise electrical consumption by switching off electrical appliances when not in use for long periods or over night, including lights, printers, computers, computer monitors, and heaters.
• Minimise waste by using washable crockery, cutlery, cups, glasses, etc rather than paper plates, plastic cups, etc.
• Use Green energy suppliers, and review annually to gain benefits from market developments.

Purchasing

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Purchase recycled products e.g. 2nd-hand computers.
• Purchase Fair Trade products.
• Order printed stationery (letterhead, envelopes) from a printer with sound environmental principles and with a responsible environmental policy.
• Favour suppliers who use little packaging and who operate according to sound environmental principles.
• Use local suppliers to minimise "fuel miles".

Disposal of materials

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Recycle all paper waste, including shredded confidential documents.
• Provide clearly labelled containers for material to be recycled, with notices of what can and cannot be recycled.
• Recycle paper, cardboard, glass, aluminium, etc.
• Return all toners and cartridges to suppliers or recyclers.
• Advertise redundant furniture and equipment for reuse, or donate to charity.
• Take unused non-toxic items to charity organisations for reuse.

Chemicals

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Use non-ozone depleting chemicals.
• Use only biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally sound cleaning products and materials.
• Use all products sparingly.
• Provide an environment free of hazardous materials.

Employees' awareness

Good-Loop will, where appropriate and possible:

• Provide environmental information and education for employees, encouraging employees to behave in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Organise staff training in environmental awareness.
• Invite guest speakers to inform and motivate staff about social and environmental issues.
• Use signs and notices as reminders.
• Include relevant information in new employees' orientation.
• Post this Environmental Policy on our website.
• Encourage existing staff to set examples for new employees.
• Create awareness of the benefits to the environment of commuting by walking, bicycling or using public transport.
• Make information on recycling systems available to all staff.
• Support staff wishing to make a peaceful protest, for example attending a climate strike event.
  • This includes providing legal support if required, and counting time in police detention as work time.