As a conservation organisation, we are committed not only to promoting and helping others to prioritise environmentally friendly practices, but also to ensuring our own work is conducted as sustainably as possible. There are many ways in which we do so – from solar panels, composting and water butts on our main office buildings, to encouraging the procurement of office materials and paper from recycled and sustainable sources.
In 2020 we updated our internal sustainability policy and reinforced the role of our staff-led sustainability group to ensure the successful implementation and communication of the policy across the organisation.
The Wildlife Trust BCN is committed to reducing its environmental impact wherever possible through:
- Raising environmental standards across all aspects of our work
- Carrying out a carbon audit by setting of a meaningful target and implementing a process to reduce our carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels
- Empowering and encouraging staff and others by helping them take direct actions at work and at home
Our Sustainability Policy
We acknowledge that, by working to meet our charity’s objectives and through our latest 5-year plan (2021-2025), our Wildlife Trust will have some level of impact on the environment. Whilst we deliver significant conservation outcomes, in terms of restoring and creating new habitats, as well as engaging with others to do their part, we are fully committed to operating in as responsible a manner as possible to reduce our impacts. A summary of our policy is included here.
Transport
We are committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, wherever possible, through: promoting walking, cycling and car sharing in our work environment; reducing goods transport by procuring locally wherever possible; replacing petrol-fuelled tools with electric when pertinent and possible; and by increasing capacity for, and use of, teleconferencing/video links for group and external meetings to reduce staff travel.
Carbon
We will undertake an audit of the Trust’s carbon footprint across our operations, and use this to develop a process to set meaningful and measurable targets for reduction.
Procurement
We will assess and choose any products or services bought based on their ethical and sustainable credentials to ensure the most effective option balanced for wildlife wherever possible. This includes, but is not limited to, whether they are recycled/recyclable, non-toxic, local, Fairtrade and/or sustainable (e.g. FSC-registered paper). Wherever possible, we will also attempt to re-use/repair before replacing items that are broken or worn out.
Water
We will review and ensure minimal water use in Trust-operated buildings and activities, prevent water pollution by using eco-friendly products for cleaning etc., and maintain/install and use rain water harvesting and irrigation for our wildlife-friendly gardens.
Energy
We are committed to reducing our reliance on non-renewables where possible and improving energy efficiency in buildings that are Trust-owned, across our operations and by encouraging others to do the same for buildings that the Trust leases. This includes utilising renewable energy technology (e.g. solar panels) and measures wherever possible, improving energy efficiency, and exploring opportunities for building and transport upgrades and improvement.
Waste, recycling and use of plastics
We are committed to the best practice of ‘avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle’, including avoiding sending items to landfill, across all our operations and sites wherever possible. This includes traditional dry recycling, as well as composting and the reuse of equipment. We will continue to seek alternatives to single-use plastic across as much of our work as possible.
Capacity building
We are committed to empowering our staff and volunteers to embed best practice across the Trust by raising awareness, encouraging knowledge exchange and providing toolkits.