Environmental Policy

The Severn Deanery is committed to sustainable development and reducing the impact on the environment from its operations.

Its aims are to:

In order to launch this policy we need an energetic, willing and dedicated commitment from all Deanery staff.

The Deanery will concentrate on working in five areas: paper, energy and water, recycling, purchasing and transport.

AIM: To reduce the amount of paper used in the Deanery and increase the amount of paper recycling.

Objectives:

Encourage employees to print less. Ensure that all printers print double-sided.
Encourage all staff to recycle waste paper and cardboard in appropriate bins.
Encourage employees to send e-cards instead of paper cards (free E-cards: are available at www.jimpix.co.uk).
Make sure that businesses sending post to employees who have left are contacted to amend their distribution lists.

AIM: To reduce the amount of energy (electricity, water and gas) used in the Deanery.

Objectives:

Increase employee awareness and commitment to energy saving practices at their desk e.g. by shutting down computers and other powered equipment when they are out of use - especially at the end of the working day. The Environmental Awareness Representative to be responsible for reminding colleagues to do this at regular intervals.
Check the building thermostats and ensure that all heating and air conditioning is necessary.
Check if appliances are on “standby” unnecessarily, make employees aware and take action.
Encourage employees to switch off lights when rooms are not in use and sunlight is at high levels.
Ensure that taps/plumbing are not dripping and arranged to get leaks fixed.
Install signs as reminders not to leave lights on or taps running.
Ensure that mobile phone chargers are unplugged when they are out of use.
Ensure that photocopiers are on timers to be on during the day during the working week only.
Monitor employee work areas to ensure that they are putting energy saving practices in place.

AIM: To recycle non-paper waste generated by the Deanery.

Objectives:

Ensure that plastic, tins, cans, aerosols and batteries are recycled.
Continue to recycle print cartridges via www.grandappeal.org.uk.
Run regular stationery “amnesties”, where staff empty their desks/working areas of unwanted office supplies, to be put back in the stationery cupboards.
Ensure that cupboards containing used/available stationery products (e.g. files) are sorted, clearly labelled and made known to employees, to encourage products to be reused.
Check bins to make sure that all products that should be recycled are being recycled!

AIM: To ensure that office supplies purchased are both manufactured in a sustainable way and are necessary for the running of the office.

Objectives:

Ensure that the Deanery uses recycled and recyclable paper products wherever possible. Consider buying paper products (especially photocopier/printer paper) with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo.
Acquire energy efficient electrical goods with A energy efficient ratings.
Buy light bulbs with the highest energy efficiency ratings and ensure that environmentally friendly products are purchased by any supplier to the Deanery.

AIM: To promote environmentally friendly forms of transport wherever possible for Deanery employees.

Objectives:

Link meetings which are out of the local area, to avoid travelling longer distances multiple times.
Where practical, keep promoting the use of trains before using cars for business meetings out of the area.
Encourage employees to share their commute with someone else who lives locally or if they are attending the same meeting.
Encourage Deanery employees to locate external meetings at venues which are readily accessible to public transport.
Encourage visitors to use trains to come to meetings e.g. by providing them with rail information.
Encourage Deanery employees to use video-conferencing facilities when possible.