We are delighted to announce the launch of Parkeray’s new environmental objectives.

As part of our ISO14001 accreditation, we are required to measure our environmental impacts and to ensure that we continue to improve our environmental performance.  Our environmental objectives have not changed substantially since we first obtained ISO14001 accreditation and so were long overdue a refresh!

The first step in the review process was to look at where we have a significant negative or positive influence on the environment.  To try and provide some sort of focus we have decided to prioritise tackling those impacts that have a significant effect on both the environment and the health of those people working on and living around our sites. 

Our new environmental objectives, therefore, focus on three main areas; air quality, our contribution to climate change and to improve how we manage the waste generated by our activities.  

Air Quality: Reducing our impacts on internal and external air quality.
The burning of fossil fuels to transport materials used on our sites and in the office contributes to the already high levels of air pollution around us.  The aim of this objective is to encourage the use of low or ultra-low emission transport.  In conjunction with the other objectives to reduce quantities of waste and use materials efficiently, this should help to avoid unnecessary journeys.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute to poor internal air quality both during application and in occupation.  We plan to work with our supply chain to replace high VOC finishes and materials with low VOC alternatives. 

Climate Change: Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change
All of our activities result in the emission of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.  The first step in this process is to ensure that we are using energy efficiently, to purchase renewable electricity wherever possible and finally to consider offsetting our carbon emissions.  Following on from this we will look at setting a net-zero carbon target for the company. 

Circular Economy: Encouraging the transition to a circular economy
The traditional linear economy results in the extraction of raw materials, processing into products, use and then disposal of items at the end of their life.  The circular economy approach aims to reduce the consumption of raw materials by ensuring that when products reach their end of life they are either reused or materials recycled into new products.

We will support the transition to a circular economy in three main ways:

• Ethical & sustainable sourcing of materials – maximising the use of recycled materials
• Reducing the overall quantity of waste arising from our activities – reducing the quantities of materials consumed. 
• Increasing the reuse and recycle of materials – maximising the life of materials within the supply chain.

These broad objectives will be used to develop further detailed targets in the coming months.  In parallel with the review and development of our new environmental objectives we have been working on a new wellbeing strategy, more information will hopefully be forthcoming later in the year.  Stay tuned!