Environmental Management Policy

1. Policy Statement

Scientific Support Services Ltd recognises that the delivery of its operations inevitably can impact the environment in a number of ways, for example, through the generation of waste and the use of energy for heating and lighting. Through a commitment to continuous environmental improvement, Scientific Support Services aim is to ensure that the business operation is undertaken in such a manner as to have minimum impact on the environment. Scientific Support Services believes that this commitment can best be delivered through the following policy objectives:

• ensuring that Scientific Support Services legal duties, statutory obligations, internal policies and procedures are complied with at all times
• reducing our consumption of resources and improving efficiency in the use of these resources
• managing waste generated from our operations according to the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle
• creating an environment which encourages staff to identify and participate in sustainability initiatives
• providing staff with sufficient training, instruction, information and supervision to develop and encourage environmental awareness
• setting goals to assist with Scientific Support Services ethos of continuously improving its environmental performance
• conducting an internal audit of our environmental policy on an annual basis

Scientific Support Services recognises that these environmental objectives can only be achieved through the commitment and cooperation of all Scientific Support Services staff. In practical terms this means a willingness of all employees to demonstrate a commitment to the achievement of our environmental objectives through the implementation of, and adherence to, this environmental policy.

2. Introduction

Scientific Support Services believes that an essential part of reducing its environmental footprint is to understand the environmental impact of its operations. To this end it has conducted an internal environmental impact assessment to:

• identify the main consequences of its activities on the environment
• confirm legal compliance
• plan goals so as to continuously improve environmental performance

Having first considered the environmental impact, together with the nature, operation and management of those impacts, the overall impact is considered low, however Scientific Support Services have identified opportunities for improving environmental performance which have formed the basis for Scientific Support Services key areas of focus and performance goals.

3. Estimating Current Environmental Footprint

The Environmental Impact Assessment has led to the environmental aspirations Scientific Support Services has set itself. For 2022/23 we will focus on the following key areas:

• energy
• waste
• water
• CO2 – Approx. 13.8 tonnes per year

The following sections of this policy address:

• our environmental aspirations for 2022/23
• responsibilities and operational controls
• our approach to communicating and consulting on environmental issues
• monitoring and improving our environmental performance

Goal – Energy

• reduce energy consumption in the areas over which we have direct operational control

Action Plan:

raising staff awareness to:

• switch off lights in meeting rooms when not in use
• switching PCs and monitors off at night/weekends

Goal – Waste

• reduce the amount of waste Scientific Support Services sends to landfill

Action Plan:

• removing individual waste bins
• replacing them with centralised, recycling facilities
• ban the use of single use plastics (bottles, cups)
• reuse/repurpose boxes and packaging materials
• encouraging staff to reduce the purchase of packaged lunches
• reduce the use of paper within the offices and staff home offices
• raising staff awareness and encouraging staff to print only when necessary
• move over, where possible, to paperless systems

Goal – Water

• reduce or offset the volume of water used/wasted

Action Plan:

• raising staff awareness and encouraging staff to use less water at work and home
• collect/save rainwater for watering gardens, plants, cleaning cars and other tasks where clean tap water is not required
• turn off taps between cleaning teeth, cups, plates etc

Goal – Reduce CO2 emissions

• reduce/offset CO2 emissions

Action Plan:

• reduce the number of site visits where possible and practicable
• assess opportunities for replacing company cars with hybrid or electric
• replace conventional light bulbs with more energy efficient LED
• where practicable, encourage all employees to switch to 100% renewable energy suppliers

4. Delivery

Scientific Support Services recognises that the delivery of improved environmental performance is a collective effort which relies on the commitment and effort of staff across the organisation. The following key areas of responsibility are:

Management level

The Senior Management Team (SMT) is responsible for:

• integrating environmental and sustainability considerations into the work of each Directorate

The Office Manager

The Office Manager is responsible for:

• establishing operational procedures which will help deliver/achieve the goals and aspirations set out in this policy

• electric meters
• CO2 emissions
• paper usage
• waste disposal
• waste recycling
• review landlords electric and gas usage

• identifying, assessing and controlling environmental impacts arising out of discussions with staff and contractors
• ensuring environmental impact assessments and their subsequent objectives are reviewed where changes to Scientific Support Services operations have taken place

Individual Level

Employees are responsible for:

• following the principles of the Environmental Management Policy and any related guidance
• undertaking their work with regard for good environmental management notably in the following areas:

• switching off meeting room lights when not required
• switching off PCs and monitors at the end of the day and weekends (unless given other instructions regarding IT maintenance)
• reducing paper use by only printing when necessary
• only using colour printing when necessary and for a final copy
• only using FCS approved paper
• re-use/re-purpose all boxes and packaging that comes into the workplace
• disposing of shredded paper in a responsible and low environmental impact manner
• utilising the recycling facilities
• avoiding single use plastics (bottles, cups, etc) using video conferencing facilities provided where appropriate rather than making business journeys
• assessing the possibility/practicability of replacing company/personal (where used on company business) cars with Hybrid or all Electric models

Going forward, Scientific Support Services are committed to moving towards a more target driven Environmental Management Policy in line with ISO 14001-2015.