IEEP environmental policy (April 2010)

STATEMENT
As an environmental research organisation we consider it essential that we are aware of the environmental implications of our own day-to-day activities. We fully recognise our responsibility to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and strive to make sustainable practices and high environmental awareness a norm.

IMPACTS
Our most significant environmental impacts are:

Emissions into the atmosphere from the use of carbon based energy in offices and fuel in transport, work-related travel being our main environmental impact;
Consumption of resources by our use of raw materials, office supplies and furniture;
Production of waste materials;
The environmental performance of our suppliers and partners;

OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to continually improve our environmental performance through minimising resource consumption, reducing waste, reusing and recycling materials, and considering a commitment to sustainable practices when choosing suppliers and partners. The following outlines how we address our different impacts:

Transport

We are committed to reducing the total amount of travel through the use of new technologies and through developing virtual meeting facilities
We encourage the use of available low impact travel for daily home-work commuting. This is done through public transport loans, a 'no company car' policy, and bicycle schemes in both Brussels and London offices
We have flexible working practices to reduce the need to travel to work and during work, including significant recent investment in remote access to email and computer servers
Train travel is strongly preferred over other modes of longer distance transport and is used exclusively on many of the key routes used by staff, e.g. between Brussels, London and Paris

Energy use

Keep energy use to a minimum by doing the following:

Efficient use of heating systems and proper insulation in the offices; using natural light and ventilation where possible
Purchase low-energy equipment, particularly in computers and lighting
Turn off all equipment when not in use

Paper use

As a policy studies institute, much of IEEP's work involves the generation of reports or other potentially paper-based outputs; we similarly receive many printed books and reports and maintain a small paper-based library. Recognising the material, energy and pollution impacts of paper creation and use our policy is:

Minimising paper usage, primarily through the increasing sophistication of electronic document creation, exchange and archiving
Re-using paper wherever possible
Using 100% recycled paper for all documents
Recycling all paper when not reusable
Stopping unwanted material being sent to IEEP

Office practices

As for the remaining office supplies and equipment we:

re-use office supplies (folders, envelopes, etc.) as long as they remain fit for their use
recycle materials, including toner cartridges, glass, etc
arrange regular servicing of machinery to ensure operation at maximum efficiency, and minimal adverse impact
try to minimise the use of supplies
favour purchasing environmentally friendly products
provide vegetarian catering at our events in the Brussels and London offices;
maintain staff awareness and involvement with regular in-house debates on various environmental subjects (i.e. nuclear energy, meat industry).

COMMITMENT
To deliver this Policy we are committed to do the following:

Keep improving our environmental performance and measure our progress regularly; maintain involvement at every level of the organisation
Actively communicate our commitment to our partners, suppliers and stakeholders
Inform and educate our staff regarding the environmental effects of their activities and encourage the staff to read and comment on the environmental policy
Comply with relevant environmental legislation and keep up-to-date with the developments in sustainable practices
Develop more detailed travel guidelines for staff for 2010
Become a Carbon Trust Standard certified organisation in 2010

This Policy will be reviewed in six months on 25.10.2010.