Environmental Sustainability Policy
Version 2nd October 2024
Energy Makeovers Environmental Sustainability Policy reflects and reinforces our commitment to environmental sustainability.
This Environmental Sustainability Policy demonstrates our understanding that our actions and operations should reflect our leadership position in the sector, in our own practice, as a participant in a community, and as a participant in the Australian environmental services industry.
Acknowledging that the earth’s environment is under stress from human activity and that changes in climate conditions impact on the entire planet, Energy Makeovers is committed to improving our environmental performance and demonstrating good environmental practices across all our operations and activities including through investments and funded projects.
Energy Makeovers commits itself to good environmental practices and minimising negative impacts on our environment through:
• Applying an environmental lens across all aspects of our operations and activities
• Providing a safe and healthy workplace
• Creating an environmentally sustainable-aware culture, where responsibility is assigned and understood
• Being an environmentally responsible neighbour in our community
• Conserving natural resources by ‘reducing, re-using and recycling’
• Using, in our own operations, processes that do not adversely affect the environment
• Ensuring the responsible use of energy throughout the organisation
• Participating in efforts to improve environmental protection and understanding
• Using our own professional expertise, where possible, to assist in the development of solutions to environmental problems
• Striving to improve our environmental performance continually
• Conducting rigorous audits, evaluations, and self-assessments of the implementation of this policy
• Working with suppliers who promote sound environmental practices
• Enhancing awareness among our employees, contractors, and stakeholders – educating and motivating them to act in an environmentally responsible manner.
1. We will develop clear guidelines for staff and contractors to adopt sound environmental work practices, and adequate training will be provided to ensure these practices are carried out.
a) We will actively encourage a ‘green’ culture amongst staff and contractors by positively reinforcing environmental practices.
2. We will act promptly and responsibly to correct incidents or conditions that endanger health, safety, or the environment. We will promptly report any such incidents to the relevant authorities and inform affected parties as appropriate.
3. We will, where feasible, reuse and recycle materials, purchase recycled materials, and use recyclable packaging and other materials. We will:
a) Aim for all paper stock to be 100% recycled. Where 100% recycled paper is not available or appropriate, we will ensure that paper is not sourced from old-growth forests or from companies using unsustainable forestry practices.
b) Make use of recycling programs for old computer hardware, used toner cartridges and obsolete equipment/furniture.
4. We will ensure that our services and products are safe, efficient in their use of energy, protective of the environment, and able to be reused, recycled, or disposed of safely.
We will:
a) Consider the ‘carbon miles’ that materials, and products have travelled to reach us, buying local wherever possible.
b) Buy products that have been produced using environmentally sustainable and fair-trade practices. We will in our operations minimise materials, water, and energy use, prevent air, water, and other pollution, and dispose of waste safely and responsibly.
We will:
a) Use natural light wherever possible
b) Turn lights and equipment off when not in use
c) Purchase energy efficient office and operational equipment
d) Establish and encourage the use of paperless systems where practical
e) Set printing preferences to double-sided by default
f) Where practicable read electronic documents on screen rather than printing them
g) Consider the environmental impact of travelling to face-to-face meetings and aim to meet via online means where appropriate (e.g., video- or teleconference)
h) Consider the environmental impact of hard-copy post, using electronic forms of communication where appropriate.
5. We will conserve energy by improving energy efficiency and giving preference to renewable over non-renewable energy sources.
6. We will, where appropriate, encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices by our customers and suppliers.
7. We will, where appropriate, utilise our particular knowledge and experience to contribute to environmentally sustainable techniques, technology, knowledge, and methods.
8. We will maintain an open and honest dialogue with staff, contractors, stakeholders, and the public about the environmental, health and safety performance of our operations and services.
9. We will ensure that every employee and contractor is informed of and expected to follow this policy and to report any environmental, health, or safety concern to management so that prompt action may be taken.
10. We will include in our criteria for selection of suppliers and contractors their environmental performance.
11. We will not invest in companies whose business operations conflict with, or detract from, the environmental objectives of this policy.
