As a largely office-based business, we have a relatively low environmental impact. Our FTSE4Good impact rating is ‘low’. But we’re working hard to make it even lower, and recognise the importance of proactive environmental management.

Although measuring and monitoring our impacts accurately is challenging, we’ve made it part of our management reporting process. We focus on three key areas:

Carbon emissions

Our 2005 carbon survey found that energy use and transport are two of our most significant environmental impacts. So we’ve introduced initiatives including buying energy for our sites from renewable sources and continuing to switch our vehicle fleet to diesel engines

Supply chain

We audit suppliers against our own standards, looking at their culture and values, environmental credentials, health and safety, and commitment to corporate social responsibility

Waste and resource management

Since our 2004 waste management survey at key sites we’ve developed more effective waste management policies and targets.

Our CR environmental objectives

• Reduce our environmental impact and help tackle climate change
• Maintain ethical and environmental procurement policies
• Improve management of environmental risk at higher-impact sites
• Improve recycling - encouraging employees to recycle handsets, IT equipment, paper and toner cartridges