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BioRegional’s
Organisational Sustainability Action Plan
As an environmental organisation,
ensuring that we minimise the environmental impact of our activities
is vital and, in 2003, we developed an internal Sustainability Action
Plan using the One Planet Living®
principles. All staff can feed into the plan which is reviewed at
quarterly internal board meetings and at bimonthly all staff meetings.
This summary report outlines our key impacts and the strategies
we are undertaking to improve our environmental performance.
BioRegional’s Ecological
Footprint
BioRegional’s UK office footprint
is approximately 48.3gha, which equates to 1.84gha per full time
equivalent staff member; this includes the impact of goods, transport
to and for work, the building footprint, energy and some food. Whilst
this footprint compares very well to many of the best practice standards
for organisations of our size, given that the One Planet level is
1.8gha per person for all activities, it is clear that we will need
to do further work towards reducing our impact to the sustainable
level.
The table below outlines
the main components of our footprint. It is worth noting that the
food element only includes tea, coffee, milk etc (the impact of
food is explored in further detail later in the document). As can
be seen procurement and transport for work are our biggest impacts.
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| Zero
Carbon |
Current activities:
The chart below shows that BioRegional uses significantly
less energy than the Energy Saving Trust’s best practice
target. This is partly due to the design of BedZED, which
minimises the need for heating and cooling due to thermal
mass, and reduces energy use, for example, through day-lighting
and energy efficient appliances. It is also due to the fact
that as an environmental organisation BioRegional employees
are more aware of their ecological impact and, for example,
are more likely to turn lights and computer screens off when
not in use. We also
specify low energy appliances e.g. A-rated domestic appliances,
Energy Star PC’s, energy saving light bulbs and use
rechargeable batteries.
Future plans:
When a new CHP or equivalent
is installed at BedZED our net CO2 emissions should reduce
to almost zero.
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Zero Waste |
Current activities:
BioRegional conducted a waste audit for the office
in 2007. The audit found that each BioRegional worker is producing
approximately 1.18 kg of waste per week and an 87% recycling
rate. This compares to a 1994 study of London offices which
suggests 3.69 kg per worker per week, and a more recent study
of the financial services industry which suggest 9.54 kg per
worker per week. The main waste streams in the bin were non-recyclable
plastics and food waste.
Waste Prevention:
We aim to choose goods with little or no packaging, and sign
up for the mail preference service www.mpsonline.org.uk
to stop junk mail.
Ensure our cleaner has a good understanding of the recycling
system.
We recycle:
white paper seperately to be recycled back into high quality
white office paper, other paper and card, textiles, cans,
glass, compost green kitchen and on-site allotment waste through
on-site composting scheme, CDs, Batteries, when they are no
longer rechargeable, Printer ink cartridges, Tetra packs at
local recycling bank.
Paper use:
Set printer defaults to double sided printing. Print multiple
pages to one page where appropriate.
Provide boxes for scrap (i.e one-sided print outs)
Encourage use of scrap pads (made from single-sided scrap).
Buying Recycled and Reclaimed goods:
Purchase recycled / reusable stationery items e.g. paper,
pens etc.
Where appropriate buy recycled/reclaimed office
equipment such as furniture from greenworks or freecycle and
to get rid of unwanted items.
Where appropriate we aim to repair equipment
rather than throw it away.
Future plans: Carry out further waste monitoring.
Further reduce landfill waste from lunch club by buying less
packaged goods.
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Sustainable Transport |
Current activities:
Transport is the second largest component of BioRegional’s
ecological footprint and is an area we are already trying
to address. For example, to reduce our transport demand we
try to use teleconferencing where possible and some staff
members also live and work on site. BioRegional also offers
staff financial incentives for cycling to work related events.
An internal staff transport
survey was conducted and revealed that most people take the
train to work and only two people drive, this is very low
for an organisation based in outer London.
The overall distance travelled is also relatively low.
However, when business travel is included, the ecological
footprint is relatively high, particularly due to aviation.
In 2006/7 BioRegional staff flew 385,622kms, including 66,984kms
of domestic flights. Whilst due to the international nature
of our work some international travel is necessary, and in
the long term may help to reduce total global ecological impact,
if as an organisation we want to have a sustainable One Planet
footprint, this is an area that will need to be reduced. There
is greater scope for us to reduce short haul flights where
more sustainable alternatives are available.
Future Plans
•
Ensure there are train timetables available in reception.
• Always ask to video conference instead of travelling,
especially internationally.
• Always aim to always travel by public transport /
bike / walk.
• Provide information on transport impacts.
• Working with local community to improve cycle routes
to BedZED. |
Local and Sustainable Materials |
Current activities:
BioRegional is signed up to the Mayor’s Green Procurement
Code and tries to buy recycled, sustainable and low impact materials
wherever possible. Due to expansion, we have had to purchase
a significant amount of IT equipment in the past year which
has contributed to our relatively high footprint associated
with procurement.
Future Plans:
• Look at the feasibility of sourcing reconditioned
IT equipment.
• Develop a formal procurement policy. |
Local and Sustainable Food |
Current activities:
Food is not generally included in the emissions / footprint
calculations of organizations. However, as it makes up approximately
a quarter of the ecological footprint of the average resident
in the South East, and a significant amount of food is consumed
at work, it is vital to include this impact.
Whilst the ecofootprinting graph included
in the introduction only includes the impact of tea, coffee
and milk consumption, if external catering is included, for
example, lunches for visitors and catering for tours, the
food impact increases significantly (as seen below).
At BioRegional we run a lunch club scheme,
whereby staff take it in turn to provide lunch for each other
for the week, helping to reduce packaging and energy and time
used for preparing dishes. This has proved to be a very successful
and popular initiative. However, despite the lunches being
vegetarian / vegan and locally sourced the associated ecological
footprint is still significant. The graph below outlines the
estimated impact of food at BioRegional, including food for
lunch club.
In 2006 we held a vegan
week and 22 people committed to being vegan for the week. This
resulted in a total ecological footprint saving of approximately
0.31 global hectares (or 55% reduction in foodprint compared
to 'standard diet')!
A food
buyers group has also been established – helping us
to reduce packaging, food miles and chemicals, as well as
ensuring a fair wage for farmers. A regular (bi-monthly) community
café has also been established, using mainly local
ingredients.
We also set up a BioRegional mini allotment
in 2005 and continue to use this to grow salad and herbs for
the lunch club. Our show home garden and conservatory also
provides vegetables for lunch club.
Future plans: More information
on food impacts on fridge / kitchen / notice board area. |
Sustainable Water |
Current activities:
Due to the design of BedZED, water use in the office is reduced,
for example, through aerated taps and low flush toilets which
also re-use rain water. We also have (aerated) showering facilities
available for cyclists.
In 2006/7 we used a total of 49.2 m3 of water or 49,200 litres.
This equates to approximately 1,878 litres of water per employee.
For small offices the target figure is 4,400 litres, more
than double the BioRegional average.
Future plans: New water efficient
dishwasher.
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Natural Habitats & Wildlife |
Current activities:
BioRegional offices have a sedum roof and 17 different animal
species have been found on the roofs. We are also hoping to
develop a Biodiversity Action Plan for our offices and BedZED.
Future plans:
• Bird boxes on north face.
• In show home aim for edible and low water, low care
plants.
• Seed bank / rare plants.
• Sports pitch – edible planting.
• Invertebrate hotels on the roof. |
Culture & Heritage |
Current activities:
As an environmental organisation,
BioRegional already has a strong culture of sustainability,
helping us to reduce our ecological impact and also contributing
towards health and happiness, for example, through elements
such as the lunch club. We also have an annual business planning
day which enables everyone to input into the future direction
of the organisation. We also have an annual away day, which
in 2006 involved visiting a local vineyard.
A guitar club was set up in 2006 enabling staff to learn
guitar together, for free. Free French conversation classes
are also held at lunchtimes most weeks and we are hoping to
increase these skill sharing sessions.
We now have a notice board and an excellent intranet with
information on cultural events for employees to attend in
leisure time.
Some of our projects such as Carshalton Lavender (which was
recently saved from threat of development through local support)
and charcoal also help to protect and enhance local culture
and heritage.
Future plans:
• Monthly visits to cinema / theatre
etc. one person organises and then next person organises for
the next month.
• Monthly lunchtime workshops to learn skills from each
other.
• Monthly social event.
• Organise lunch time skill swaps.
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Equity & Fair Trade |
Current activities:
At BioRegional all our tea and coffee is fair trade. Our insurance
comes from an ethical insurance company and our offices are
also accessible for disabled users.
Future plans:
• Use local suppliers.
• Salary transparency and fairness.
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Health & Happiness |
Current activities:
An annual anonymous staff happiness survey has been undertaken.
The 06/07 survey revealed that staff are largely happy and feel
that we are effective and well managed, and an organisation
that tries to treat its staff fairly. People are fond of each
other and feel there is a strong team spirit on the whole. Most
people feel valued and supported in producing quality work,
and empowered to get on with their job without interference.
In 2006 a new training policy was also implemented.
Future plans:
• More working from home
• Improve communication systems
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Last updated 3rd September
2007
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