Do charities need an environmental policy?

Legislation that will protect and enhance our environment for future generations passed into UK law in 2021. While it’s still not a legal requirement for charities to have an environmental policy, shouldn’t we all play our part in protecting the wonderful planet we live on.

The media brings attention to environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, health impacts, biodiversity loss, and rising sea levels.

Individually we are making a small impact, most people now recycle, reuse, have reduced energy lightbulbs and consider our carbon footprint which all helps.

An organisation environmental policy that sets out their expectations for their volunteers, staff, and service users can also make a positive impact on the community and the planet.

In addition to being the ‘right thing to do’, environmental sustainability is becoming ever-more important for business success for example applying for fundings and tenders.

Investors in the Environment delivered an excellent training session to Hunts Forum members on top tips for writing your environmental policy recently.

Some key points taken from the environmental policy training were:

• Ensure you secure senior management buy in and support.
• Use your most valuable resource, your volunteers/staff. Have a brainstorming session or use staff survey, find out their ideas, what is important to them and what they envisage for the organisation’s sustainability journey.
• Agree your organisations overall commitment.
• Consider appointing a green champion (or green team). Someone to lead on ideas generated, implement changes and measure impact.
• Create a list of the key resources relevant for your organisation (e.g. electricity, water, waste, travel, suppliers/purchases) and how they are used.
• Then consider the actions you plan to take and set the objective for the intended actions.
• Consider how, who and when you are going to measure and record the impact for each action.
• Focus on your key areas where you have direct control first, once you are more confident you can move onto key areas of impact that you can influence.
• Keep the policy jargon free, easy to understand and made available to internal and external stakeholders.
• Include the policy within inductions, highlight it within newsletters, make it available on notice boards.

Overall, an environmental policy can help your organisation demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability, aligning your operations with principles of conservation and responsible resource management. By implementing an environmental policy, your organisation can contribute to environmental protection while also inspiring others to adopt eco-friendly practices.