We’ve worked in sustainable communications since 1998, so sustainability is not only close to our heart; it’s something that underpins everything we do. We regard sustainable development as a key priority for all organisations, and our biggest impact is working with companies to help them to manage, measure and communicate sustainable business practices.
How we work
We recognise that the sale, design and production of communication materials impact on society and the environment. So, in delivering our communication solutions to clients, we:
- regularly review our suppliers to ensure their performance meets our required standards; this includes assessing their environmental and ethical credentials as well as costs, ability to meet deadlines, quality and service levels
- recommend environmentally sound printers, papers and inks
- send work in progress to clients electronically instead of hard copies by courier (wherever possible)
- use conference calls instead of travelling for long-distance meetings, where appropriate
- proactively look for ways we can reduce the impact of our projects.
Reducing our impacts
We also have a strategy to reduce our direct impacts.
- Managing resources responsibly: Our barn in Cambridge is designed to make use of natural light and has a natural air-conditioning system to minimise energy. We source 100% green energy and encourage efficient energy use through ‘turn off’ reminders and power-save settings. We only use recycled paper, minimise our water use through low-flush toilets, saving a litre of water per flush, and encourage our team to use resources efficiently by running awareness campaigns about water use and waste avoidance.
- Minimising waste: We recycle paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic bottles, ink cartridges and computer equipment. We also compost our organic waste and use eco-friendly cleaning products.
- Reducing the impact of transport: We encourage cycle-to-work days and car-pooling.
- Promoting a happy, efficient working environment: We have flexible working arrangements, promote training and career development for our employees, and celebrate our successes as a team.
- Supporting our communities: We hire local people and provide work experience and placement opportunities to local young people, and source services locally where available. We also raise money for, and awareness of, charities; for example, funds raised from recycling our printer cartridges via Reclaim-it go to Cancer Research.
We aim to continually improve our direct and indirect impacts on the environment and society. Our sustainability team meets quarterly to review our green purchasing programme, which aims to improve the environmental and local sourcing credentials of what we purchase, and other initiatives to improve the wellbeing of our community and employees.