Sustainability Policy

Introduction

The East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) is committed to sustainability. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda is integral to EEEGR’s activities and organisation management. EEEGR will aim to follow and promote good sustainability practices, reduce the environmental impacts of all activities and help EEEGR members, clients, and partners to do the same.

Principles

EEEGR’s Sustainability Policy is based upon the following principles:

To comply with, and exceed where practicable, applicable legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
To integrate sustainability considerations into all EEEGR business decisions.
To ensure that all EEEGR staff are fully aware of EEEGR Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.
To minimise the impact on the sustainability of all office, events and transportation activities.
To make EEEGR members, clients and suppliers aware of the Sustainability Policy and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices.

Travel and Meetings

EEEGR will, where possible, attend meetings virtually, and/or via teleconference. These options are often more time-efficient, whilst not sacrificing the benefits of regular contact with members, clients and partners. If face-to-face meetings are needed, public transport should be considered instead of own vehicles. Car sharing will be encouraged if multiple members of staff are attending the same meeting.
If travelling to mainland Europe, there will be consideration of rail travel as an alternative to air travel.
EEEGR will reduce the need for staff to travel by supporting alternative working arrangements, including home working etc, and will promote the use of public transport.

Purchase of equipment and consumption of resources

EEEGR will minimise the use of paper and other office consumables, by double-siding all paper used and reducing paper consumption by turning paper documents into electronic. As well as identifying other opportunities to reduce paper and office waste.
EEEGR were possible, arrange for the reuse or recycling of office waste, including paper, computer supplies and redundant equipment.
EEEGR will reduce the energy consumption of office equipment by purchasing energy-efficient equipment and good housekeeping.
EEEGR will aim to purchase fair-trade and/or organic food and beverages.

Working practices and advice to clients/suppliers

EEEGR will encourage undertaking voluntary work with the local community and/or environmental organisations and make donations to seek to offset carbon emissions from any activities.
EEEGR will ensure that any suppliers that we appoint take account of sustainability issues and provide EEEGR with their Sustainability Policy.
EEEGR will include a copy of the Sustainability Policy in all proposals to clients.

Events

EEEGR will reduce where appropriate the environmental impact of staff and visitor travel by promoting sustainable transport to use and work with contractors to maximise the sustainability of our transport activities. Where possible, provide a virtual event solution for attendees who want to reduce their carbon footprint by not travelling.
EEEGR will aim to ensure all food and beverages provided are sourced locally, produced to good sustainability and animal welfare standards. Where possible ensure containers and food carriers provided are fully recyclable or compostable.
EEEGR will aim to use energy efficiently, maximising the use of low carbon energy and renewable energy.
EEEGR will where appropriate reduce total waste produced by minimising consumption, using resources productively, increasing reuse and recycling and using refurbished recycled and recyclable equipment, products, and materials from accredited sustainable sources.
EEEGR will ensure where possible all event collateral is digital e.g. e-delegate bags are used throughout all EEEGR events to reduce the use of paper and wastage post events. EEEGR will ensure any suppliers working on EEEGR events have a sustainability policy and is in line with EEEGR’s.
EEEGR will promote and encourage diversity and inclusion, ensuring services delivered are accessible, inclusive and appropriate.