APPLETONS

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY STATEMENT

Appletons is committed to the sustained use of natural resources and the prevention of environmental pollution. It will seek to achieve this in the day to day operation of its offices and through the designs and professional advice it provides to clients.

Office Practice

Energy         Select high efficiency forms of lighting when replacing existing bulbs and fittings.

Review heating systems of all offices and consider options for improved efficiency – reviewed within two years.

Review thermal efficiency of all premises and institute a programme of improvements – reviewed within two years.

Select low energy settings as default on all computers, printers and other electrical equipment.

Minimise use of vehicles by programming journeys, car sharing and use of public transport wherever possible.

Company cars to be makes and models of low carbon emissions and fuel efficient.

Purchasing         Use recycled paper manufactured with non-chlorine bleaching agents for all stationery. Use recyclable consumables wherever possible.

Avoid use of adhesives, cleaning agents and other chemical products which contain greenhouse gases or ozone depleting substances.

Recycling         Recycle paper, packaging, consumables, plastic, glass, dead batteries etc. If suitable, re-use paper for drafts, file notes etc. before recycling.

Professional Services

• Specify alternatives to tropical hardwoods if possible. If not, specify timber from sustainable and managed sources only.
• Avoid use of peat and peat based mulches, composts or soil ameliorants.
• Design planting on sound ecological principles, to promote diversity, and minimise maintenance liability; using native stock wherever appropriate.
• Minimise water use by species choice, soil preparation and mulching.
• Design final levels to minimise import or export of subsoil, topsoil or other fill.
• Reduce need to import topsoil by species choice and use of ameliorants.
• Reduce use of pesticides herbicides and artificial fertilisers in establishment and long term maintenance to minimal practicable levels.
• Specify management practices which minimise damage to wildlife and reduce energy consumption.
• Specify materials/products which reduce shipping and haulage distances.
• Consider the nomination of contractors/sub-contractors who are geographically placed to construction sites to reduce travel and haulage distances.

Implementation

The Director in charge of each office shall be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the policy in that office and shall report on progress to the first Directors’ Meeting held in each calendar year.

All staff, including new members of staff, will be issued with a copy of the policy and will be instructed to review progress and identify work processes where improvement is possible, annually, in advance of the Directors’ Meeting.

An Environmental Management System broadly in accordance with the specification in BS 7750: 1994 shall be prepared and introduced within two years.