Sustainability Policy

The Girlguiding North West England sustainability policy acknowledges the connection between the climate and other environmental crises and the threat of current and future homelessness, disease, food and water shortages and poverty for millions of people around the world, as well as the major damage being caused to our natural ecosystems.

It therefore recognises its responsibility to reduce its carbon and environmental footprints and formally commits itself to being an environmentally responsible charity. To take this forward it commits to the following actions:

Management

1. Girlguiding North West England mandates the Executive Manager to take executive responsibility for taking forward and implementing this commitment. We are requested to report annually on progress made, including statistical information in the annual trustee report:

• Energy carbon footprint
• Electricity
• Water
• Travel and transport fuel
• Gas
• Total waste production
• % of waste recycled
• % vegetarian meals provided
• Total paper consumption
• % Recycled paper
• % Renewable energy used
• Any other relevant environmental criteria

2. Girlguiding North West England’s annual impact statement will include a summary of this annual environmental audit of the charity.

3. Progress on improvement of its environmental performance will be a standard item at staff management meetings.

4. All staff and volunteers are expected to help Girlguiding North West England in carrying out its aim of being an environmentally responsible charity, in how they carry out their day-to-day duties.

5. Induction procedures for new staff will include information on the charity’s environmental practices.

6. Girlguiding North West England will ask all our current and future suppliers for their environmental policies and for evidence of implementation of such policies and indicate that such performance will be used as criteria for supplier selection.

7. Girlguiding North West England  will seek to have relevant environmental clauses included in any future contracts agreed with outside bodies.

8. Girlguiding North West England  will include environmental responsibility training in any future staff training programmes, especially for vulnerable staff or members.

9. Girlguiding North West England  will observe existing environmental legislation as a minimum standard and seek to out-perform current legislative requirements where practical.

10. Girlguiding North West England  will encourage and maintain sustainable transport methods for its staff and volunteers, seeking to reduce unnecessary travel and making the transport that is necessary as sustainable as possible and will monitor progress.

All progress on this commitment will be reviewed and reported on annually.