A Greener Society
Introduction
At the Newcastle we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and that's why we pursue a policy of sustainability and continue to invest in ways to minimise the impact the Society's operations have on the environment.
Over the past few years we have introduced a number of green initiatives in order to become a 'Greener Society' and help develop an awareness of environmental issues amongst our staff and members.
Our aim is to do business in a sustainable and low impact manner whilst continuing to deliver a first class service.
Protecting the environment
Reducing the impact the Newcastle Building Society has on the environment has been a priority for many years. During this time we have introduced the following activities.
Gillian Tiplady, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, promoting Cut the Carbon with Go North East and players of the Newcastle Vipers Ice Hockey
Cut the Carbon Campaign
The Newcastle has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 10% by summer 2010. This target will primarily be achieved by encouraging staff to leave their car at home for a minimum of one day a week and use public transport instead. In addition, the Society supports national and international events such as European Mobility Week which promotes the benefits of leaving your car at home and getting more active.
IT Energy Reduction Campaign
One of the easiest ways we can cut the Society's carbon emissions is to use IT equipment responsibly. By turning off machines that are not in use and switching off lights that are not needed we can make those small savings that add up. We have also invested in hi-tech power saving printers and fax machines which minimise the amount of energy used.
Recycling
In 2007 a recycling scheme was launched throughout the business which set out to recycle materials such as aluminium cans, plastic bottles including milk bottles, paper and cardboard. To date more than 85 tonnes of material has been directed away from harmful landfill sites and sent to specialist sorting plants to be recycled. A variety of methods are used by the Society to recycle such as sorting the material at the source to collecting the material in one place and using a 'crusher'.
Print Reduction
All staff at the Society are tasked to reduce the amount they print in order to save paper. We encourage staff to question whether they need to print a particular document and if so are asked to use the duplicate option where possible. An investigation is currently taking place to explore where recycled paper can be effectively used within the business.
Plans for the Future
At the Society we have a number of exciting plans in place for the future adding to our environmental policy. We aim to introduce a 'bike to work' scheme where staff have access to a loan to buy a bike providing an alternative to using the car. We are also looking to promote other initiatives such as car sharing with the aim to reduce our carbon emissions further.
Our Partnerships
We have developed a number of key relationships in order to achieve our environmental objectives.
Energy Savings Trust (EST) provides essential advice, support and information to businesses looking to limit their environmental impact. We work together to launch energy saving incentives and increase the awareness of environmental issues to staff.
Newcastle and North Tyneside Councils work closely with the Society to promote the use of public transport by providing concise green travel plans to staff.
Go North East have helped promote more sustainable methods of traveling to and from work. They have supplied bus passes to encourage people to use public transport as an alternative to their car.