GWE Business West Environmental Policy Statement

GWE Business West recognises that its activities have an impact on the environment.  In our activities, working practices and business relationships we are committed to reducing our carbon emissions, protecting and enhancing all aspects of the environment over which we have control and influence, ensuring we are a role model for other organisations/client groups.

We aim to:

• Reduce our carbon footprint as an organisation;
• Do all we can to comply with, and where possible, to better codes, consents and directives, environmental legislation and regulation;
• Reduce to a minimum our environmental impact whilst delivering services;
  Operate in a socially responsible manner;
• Lead by example within our area in integrating sustainability into business practice.

More specifically we will:

• Improve the efficiency of energy use in our buildings and processes;
• Minimise water use in our buildings and processes;
• Prevent or minimise the risk of pollution arising from our activities;
• Reduce the impact of staff travel on the environment;
• Use resources wisely by reducing resource use and re-using and recycling materials wherever possible;
• Support local sourcing of goods and service where possible and take environmental considerations into account when selecting our suppliers and contractors;
• Encourage the use of fairly traded goods that meet internationally recognised standards.

We will ensure our policy is implemented throughout our activities by:

• Raising awareness and encouraging participation from our employees in environmental matters so they can better understand the environmental impacts of their own jobs;
• Informing our suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors of the requirement to comply with this policy when supplying goods and services;
• Raising awareness amongst Business Link, Chamber of Commerce and Initiative Members and encouraging them to adopt their own environmental policies and practices;
• Annually reviewing this policy and its effectiveness;
• Publicly reporting on our performance.