ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Aims

Karol Marketing / Fusion acknowledges that as a business, we have an impact on the environment, both directly and indirectly.  We want to have a positive impact on the world around us and be a responsible business.  This means continuously learning and adopting new approaches to sustainability and environmental issues as our business evolves.

Sustainability and social issues are central to our business strategy and activity, and influence our activities as we strive to become an organisation that people wish to interact with, whether they are clients, employees or suppliers.

Responsibility therefore sits at the heart of everything we do.  We aim to achieve best practice in employee relations, workplace standards, training and development, diversity and equality, as well as environmental policies.  Our corporate responsibility is about ensuring that we take into account the social, community and environmental consequences of all of our activities.

In its provision of PR services, Karol Marketing / Fusion seeks to protect and enhance, in particular, the environment and the well-being of its staff, clients and members of the public with which it engages during the conduct of its business. It requires all its offices and staff to comply with this policy.

Environmental Policy

We are committed to good environmental practice as part of our overall approach to corporate and social responsibility. We recognise that we have a responsibility to minimise our impacts on the environment as much as possible, and to conduct our business in a way which contributes to the sustainability of the environment in which we work and deliver our services, whilst continuing to deliver a high-quality service to our clients. 

Our policy is to take the environment into account in all appropriate decision making, not only in compliance with UK and EC legislative and statutory environmental requirements (which we view as a minimum standard), but in recognition that a quality environment should be available to all, not just to those who can afford it.  Our commitment, therefore, is a proactive and anticipatory approach, which incorporates:

• sustainable development in all our activities

• conservation of energy, both in the office and while working at home

• use of renewable resources and the sustainable management of resources

• recycling of resources wherever possible to a higher standard than that required by UK law

• compliance with UK and EC legislation as a minimum, relating to the protection and preservation of the environment, transfer of waste, prevention of pollution to the environment, preservation of trees, plants and wildlife

• prevention and removal of nuisances which affect the quality of life of the end users and the public in general

• assessment of the environmental impact of our proposed actions upon the end users and society as a whole.

Whilst we are a private company, we do not seek to make a profit at the cost of environmental quality.  We therefore incorporate environmental concerns into our business planning process.

Staff members are made aware of the company’s Environmental Policy, and regular updates are provided via inclusion in the company staff handbook. All employees are aware of the role they are required to play in implementing the policy and are encouraged to identify opportunities to continue to minimise negative environmental impacts.

Environmental Issues

Environmental issues for our direct business operations currently include:

• the use of power for our offices, including electricity for lighting, computers and printers

• the production of waste products, including waste paper and toner cartridges

• travel to client meetings and to consult with stakeholders and beneficiaries across a broad geographical area

• compliance with environmental regulations in relation to all areas of our business operations.

Environmental Action

Some of the specific ways in which we support environmental action, reflecting the issues outlined above, include: 

• energy efficiency eg keeping electrical equipment and lights switched off when not in use, ensuring our premises are well insulated and using other heat saving devices

• planned launch of a ‘work from anywhere in the world’ policy – allowing team members to work from anywhere in the world 3 weeks of the year

• planned launch of our green transport initiative – reducing commuting costs for colleagues who use public transport

• our building is fitted with and utilises 4kw solar panels

• as part of the redevelopment of the building we also replaced all of the single glazed sash windows in the building with energy efficient double-glazed windows that are in keeping with the local area

• all internal halogen lighting is currently being replaced with low energy LED alternatives

• we are committed to reducing our waste and have installed recycling bins throughout our offices

• we have installed cycle racks outside of our building to encourage employees of Karol to cycle to work – we also have shower facilities for those cycling or running into work

• as part of our commitment to use sustainable materials wherever possible, all paper use in the office is made from sustainable recycled sources

• we have used the ¼ acre land surrounding our office building to include a nature garden, complete with wild meadow planting to attract bees and insects, as well as hedgerows and trees for local birds

• our team has a hybrid working set up – working from home three out of five days to reduce the environmental impact of commuting

• keeping up-to-date with latest developments and legislation relating to environmental protection including waste transfer and disposal, water and air pollution, conservation and preservation

• maintaining staff awareness and where necessary, implementing training in relation to energy efficiency and the impact of our projects and services upon the environment, together with the encouragement of a positive and proactive approach towards energy conservation and environmental protection

• undertaking internal meetings and client meetings by video or telephone where appropriate to reduce the need for travel

• the use of local suppliers for office products where required, minimising the environmental impacts of transporting goods.

We shall continue to work in partnership with our clients towards the promotion of the minimisation of environmental damage, environmental protection and improvement. We are committed to minimising the environmental impacts of our business activities wherever possible.

Employee Commitment

We are committed to providing the best standards of staff welfare within the constraints of our business size and scale. Our staff’s well-being is of paramount importance to us as a people-oriented business.

Our policies include:

• a comprehensive performance review and workforce development programme to support colleagues in their career progression, which aims to promote the professional and personal development of each member of staff, provide a conduit for staff feedback, and ensure excellent employee relations and workplace standards

• the consideration of flexible working arrangements to support staff fitness, health and childcare commitments.

Leadership Commitment

We are dedicated to upholding these environmental principles and embedding them in every aspect of our work. We will allocate resources, provide necessary training, and encourage innovation to ensure the successful implementation of our environmental policy.

Regular Review

This environmental policy will be reviewed annually to evaluate our progress, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure our commitment to environmental sustainability remains steadfast.