At etetra, we do all we can to protect and enhance the natural and man-made environment and to support the local community and economy. We are totally committed to maintaining our organisation in a sustainable and ethical manner. Etetra has undergone an independent Environmental Assessment to identify areas where our activities, and those of our clients and suppliers, can be made greener. This Assessment has formed the basis for our environmental policy. We comply with all relevant environmental legislation and approved codes of practice. Resource management We are always looking to reduce material resources - using ‘virtual’ resources for marketing, communication and products, wherever possible. We make sure that any disposable material we use, particularly paper-based products, will come from a recycled or sustainable source. Waste management We are working towards ‘zero waste’ through non-paper communications, recycling and the elimination of junk mail. Pollution control We give preference to printing companies using recycled material and non-solvent-based ink in their processes. When choosing suppliers, we make arrangements to cut the amount of travelling involved by taking account of location and using online communications. We promote staff cycling initiatives and ‘work from home’ schemes. We promote the use of non-chemical or eco-friendly cleaning materials. Green initiatives We’ve launched a scheme to plant trees in a specially designated field in Yarmouth to offset our carbon footprint. We’re also encouraging clients to do the same to offset the carbon footprint of the ongoing promotional material we produce. We’ve also instigated the Communitree Project, which will be rolled out nationally. The goal is to bring together charities, trusts, the community and local and national businesses to exchange skills, equipment and ideas to improve the environment. Environmental awareness We actively promote our green practices to our staff, clients, and the local and regional communities. We work in close partnership with our clients and suppliers to ensure they maintain their own high environmental standards. When buying food for agency staff, we prefer local or regional products. For goods produced in developing countries, we purchase Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance products. When buying electrical items, particularly white goods, we choose A-rated products, or units with high levels of energy efficiency. Ensuring standards continue to rise We conduct regular walk-round surveys of our business to see if we are using raw materials, energy and water efficiently, and whether our measures to reduce waste and pollution are as effective and efficient as possible. We include our employees in the environmental reviewing process and incorporate their ideas into greener plans and progammes. All new staff are given an induction into our committed environmental approach – including a reading and discussion of this environmental policy. Any enhancements to our environmental policy are circulated to all staff, and discussed at staff meetings. |
