Environmental policy

1. Purpose and scope

2. Guiding principles

2.1 This policy seeks to minimise our negative environmental, social and economic impacts and maximise positive impacts. We will do this by embedding sustainability into all decisions that we make, at both a strategic and operational level.

3. The policy

3.1 We are committed to:

• Measuring and minimising our carbon footprint in line with annual and longer-term targets set out in our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy
• Measuring and minimising our use of other natural resources
• Operating in a manner that supports and encourages the natural diversity of plant and animal life
• Building resilience to the effects of climate change
• Engaging and empowering our workforce to act individually and collectively to support sustainability
• Striving for continuous improvement.

3.2 These aims will be delivered by:

• Minimising our use of fossil fuels for energy and travel
• Working with third parties to minimise our indirect carbon emissions
• Minimising our use of materials – including single-use plastics - and, where possible, re-using, repairing or recycling what we do use
• Minimising our water consumption
• Using our outdoor areas for biodiversity-friendly planting and green infrastructure
• Implementing measures to enable business continuity during extreme weather events
• Implementing processes to support systematic consideration of these objectives during decision-making
• Educating and empowering colleagues through digital communications, signage, training, in-person events and other opportunities such as working groups and ‘champion’ roles
• Using our unique position within Scottish society to encourage and support others to become more sustainable
• Where appropriate, implementing dedicated strategies, policies and procedures to apply these commitments to key areas of organisational activity
• Conducting regular target-setting, monitoring and reporting to allow us to track progress and target key areas of need and opportunity.

3.3 The success of this delivery will be measured through an end-of-year sustainability policy assurance activity which will consider this policy in conjunction with RoS’ Green Travel Policy and Sustainable Procurement Policy.

4. Roles and responsibilities

4.1 The Sustainability Team is responsible for the content of this policy, and its review. They are responsible for ensuring its implementation in practice and for monitoring this over time. They are responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures, guidelines, or standards as are required to support this are maintained and ownership for these assigned appropriately.

5. Approval and review

5.1 This policy will be reviewed by the Sustainability Team and approved by the Policy and Practice Group annually, unless earlier review is appropriate.