Environmental Policy
Author: Leanne Werner and Helena Smith
Responsible Executive: Director
Date of document: Nov 2020
Date of next review: Nov 2023
1. Introduction and rationale to policy
Wilder is committed to work in a responsible manner and to protect the environment. We recognise we have a responsibility beyond legal and regulatory requirements to reduce our environmental impact and to continually improve our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods.
Wilder further recognises the role of social and environmental issues in enhancing the delivery of services, increasing operational efficiency, improving cost control and helping to meet the current and future needs of the communities in which we operate.
We create spaces for wildlife in the city. We design, plant and maintain outdoor spaces. We promote biodiversity through wildlife-friendly planting and low-carbon gardening practices. We also support education in wilding practices and set up community and staff gardening clubs.
Our ethos:
We buy plants from local growers where possible
We use peat-free compost
We minimise plastic use
We use organic bulbs and pesticide-free plants
We use reclaimed wood for our planters
All our plants are wildlife-friendly
2. Policy Statement (including scope and aims)
Although the Director is responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented, this policy applies to all Trustees, employees, volunteers, interns, consultants and suppliers who provide goods and services to the organisation. All have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of this policy are met.
The aims of this policy are to:
* Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements
* Continually improve and monitor environmental performance
* Continually improve and reduce any adverse direct and indirect environmental impact of our activities with the goal of minimising future liabilities and reducing our carbon footprint
* Raise employee and customer awareness
* Maximise the quality of life for our tenants and service users
Staff are required to demonstrate their knowledge and learning
of:
1. What greenhouse gases are, and their relationship to weather and climate.
2. How climate here and elsewhere is likely to change, and how we know this.
3. How changes in the climate are likely to affect us locally, regionally, in the UK, and in other parts of the world.
4. How our actions impact on the amount of greenhouse gases produced and the impact that they have.
5. What we can do to reduce our impact and the benefits and disadvantages of taking action.
6. What we are already doing locally and nationally.
7. Where we can go to get help. What help is available to us locally.
3. Policy
In order to implement the aims of this policy Wilder will:
* Assess the environmental impact of our activities
* Identify and adopt best practice standards
* Comply with the regulations, legislation and codes of practice designed to protect the environment and promote sustainable use of resources
* Set improvement objectives
* Monitor and evaluate performance and progress in meeting improvement objectives
* Ensure that Wilder’s policies and procedures are underpinned by our commitment to work in a responsible manner to improve and protect the environment
* Set targets for reduction in carbon footprint and feed into the business plan
* Promote awareness of this policy and provide opportunities for all staff to be involved in its development and implementation
Main areas of consideration to achieve the stated aims will include:
* Promoting efficient and responsible use of energy and water in order to reduce carbon emissions
* Minimising waste and promoting recycling
* Promoting use of non-motorised transport
* Embedding the principles of environmental stewardship and sustainability within staff training
* Regularly monitoring environmental performance and practice
4. How Wilder helps communities to take climate action
Wilder inspires people to take climate action by creating a network of people, projects and companies all committed to improving biodiversity. Our aim over the next 3 years is to:
• Depave at least 1 acre to create beautiful wildlife-friendly spaces
• Rewild 1 acre with wild lowers
• Create 6 urban community gardens
• Plant 30 fruit trees
• Plant 30 green walls
• Create 10
green roofs
• Install and plant 60 sustainable wildlife-friendly pollinator planters
• Create 20 ponds
• Create 6 rain gardens in schools
• Install 30 bird and bat boxes
• Create 30 bug hotels and log piles
4. Review of this Policy
This policy will be reviewed every 3 years to ensure that it complies with any changes in good
practice, legislation or regulation.