ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
At ITogether we are committed to providing an environmentally friendly place to work and reduce our carbon footprint. We take our environmental responsibility very seriously, and we constantly review our methods of business to ensure we take an environmentally responsible approach to how business practices.
Please read this environmental policy carefully.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Our commitment is to:
Continuously improve our environmental performance and integrate recognised environmental management best practice into our business operations.
Reduce our consumption of resources and improve the efficient use of those resources.
Measure and take action to reduce the carbon footprint of our business activities to meet our published objectives and targets.
Manage waste generated from our business operations according to the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling.
Manage our business operations to prevent pollution.
Give due consideration to environmental issues and energy performance in the acquisition, design, refurbishment, location and use of buildings.
Ensure environmental, including climate change, criteria are taken into account in the procurement of goods and services.
Comply as a minimum with all relevant environmental legislation as well as other environmental requirements to which the firm subscribes.
Monitor and review our performance within the scope of the policy.
To meet our commitments, we will:
Provide the Company Partners oversight and review of environmental policies and performance and allocate resources for their effective direction and implementation.
Set and monitor key objectives and targets for managing our environmental performance at least annually.
Communicate internally our environmental policy and performance on a regular basis and encourage feedback.
Communicate the importance of environmental issues to our people.
Work together with our people/employees, service partners, suppliers, landlords and their agents to promote improved environmental performance.
Promote appropriate consideration of sustainability and environmental issues in the services we provide to our clients.
Review our environmental policy regularly.
This statement represents our general position on environmental issues, and the policies and practices we will apply in conducting our business.
To achieve our sustainability requirements:
Staff are encouraged to minimize photocopying, to double-side copies and use scrap paper whenever possible and appropriate. Emails are only printed when necessary.
Wastepaper. Wastepaper is put back into a scrap box which is then used to make notes or to reuse when printing documents for internal meetings.
All shredding is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, ensuring that the paper is recycled wherever possible.
All cardboard boxes are reused by ITogether staff to resend packages to clients. Any cardboard not used is disposed of into a recycle bin.
Used printer and toner cartridges are boxed separately and then recycled using the local Sainsburys recycling points.
Old electrical goods are disposed of to ensure data protection is not breeched and disposed of in accordance with WEEE.
Combined with the above our offices have been designed with the environment in mind, and sustainable materials used where possible.
CARBON NEUTRALITY POLICY
Our Planet, Our Responsibility – ITogether, Let’s Restore It
At ITogether, we recognise that our actions today shape the world of tomorrow.
We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. Our comprehensive carbon-neutral policy outlines our strategies to mitigate environmental impact and contribute to a sustainable future.
Our Carbon Neutrality Goals:
1. Offsetting Data Centre Energy Consumption:
We understand the significant energy demands of data centres. To counterbalance this, we make regular donations to organisations dedicated to offsetting carbon emissions. These contributions help fund renewable energy projects and reforestation efforts, ensuring that our energy consumption has a minimal impact on the environment.
2. Remote Working Policy:
Our team embraces remote working, with 80% of our employees working from home. This approach not only reduces travel-related carbon emissions but also cuts down on office energy consumption. When we get together at ITogether’s HQ near Leeds, we use energy-efficient lighting and heating to reduce our energy consumption. To further enhance our green credentials, we’ve planted x10 trees in 2024 to make a contribution towards carbon sequestration efforts.
3. Utilising Apple Products:
We leverage the green credentials of Apple products, which are renowned for their energy efficiency and use of recycled materials. Apple’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint aligns with our values, making their devices an integral part of our sustainable strategy.
4. Adopting Cloud Technology:
Wherever possible, we utilise cloud technologies such as VSX to minimise our reliance on physical hardware. By moving to the cloud, we reduce the need for energy-intensive data centres and hardware replacements, thereby decreasing our overall environmental impact.
5. Additional Initiatives for a Greener Future:
• Sustainable Procurement: We prioritise suppliers who adhere to sustainable practices and offer eco-friendly products.
• Energy Audits: We conduct regular energy audits to identify and implement energy-saving measures in our facilities.
• Waste Reduction: We implement comprehensive recycling programs and reducing singleuse plastics within our operations.
• Sustainable Web Hosting: We partner with green web hosting services that use renewable energy sources.
• Digital Documentation: We adopt a paperless working environment and minimise paper usage by adopting digital documentation and electronic signature solutions.
• Office Supplies: We use recycled or sustainable office supplies and reduce single-use items.
• Employee Engagement: We encourage and educate our employees on sustainability practices both at work and in their personal lives.
• Carbon Footprint Tracking: We continuously monitor and report our carbon footprint to identify areas for further reduction.
At ITogether, we believe every action counts. By implementing these initiatives and striving towards carbon neutrality, we are not only protecting our planet but also setting a standard for responsible business practices. Let’s restore our planet for future generations ITogether.
2024. v10