General Text

Environmental Policy

Cornwall Planning Group, in line with our core values, seek to minimise and continuously reduce negative environmental impact to a minimum whilst promoting sustainability.

 

Environmental Policy Overview

  • Reduce to a minimum our use of energy (fossil or renewable)
  • Reduce our use of water and make more use of waste water and rainwater
  • Alter our pattern of transport use to reduce our contribution of greenhouse gas emissions
  • Separate our waste streams, re-use, recycle and compost materials wherever possible
  • Only purchase products and use suppliers that meet strict environmental and ethical criteria
  • Maintain a healthy working environment for staff and avoid products and finishes that are harmful to health

 

Energy

Cornwall Planning Group will continuously seek ways to reduce its use of fossil fuels with the objective of ultimately eliminating their use altogether. The office space heating and hot water is provided by a combination of solar thermal panels and a gas boiler. We use most electricity for powering computers and lighting. Electricity is produced by a 60kWp roof-integrated solar PV array and any shortfall is supplied by Good Energy on a 100% renewable tariff. However we will seek to reduce our use of electricity to a minimum. We will aim to reduce our CO2 emissions by adopting the following strategies:

  • During winter maintain a maximum office temperature of 21ºC
  • Ensure all windows are closed when heating is on
  • Not heat the office after 18.00 and at weekends
  • Give a preference to best of class energy performance when ordering electronic equipment
  • Buy only energy efficient computers and TFT monitors
  • Ensure all computer equipment is put to ‘sleep’ mode when not in use and turned off at night

 

Water

Cornwall Planning Group will continuously seek ways to reduce its use of water.

We have low flow taps to our wash hand basins and sinks and our dual flush WC’s are supplied from a rainwater harvesting system.

 

Transport

Cornwall Planning Group will continuously seek ways to reduce staff travel by road and will promote walking, cycling and rail / bus travel where possible. We aim to restrict our projects and traveling distance to within a 50 mile radius of Penzance. Travel to meet with clients and visit sites within Penwith will generally be undertaken by a communal work van.. The team use an efficient diesel-engined van with an average fuel consumption of 50mpg. We will aim to reduce our road vehicle CO2 emissions by 30% in the near future when B30 bio diesel fuel becomes readily available.

 

Waste

Cornwall Planning Group will continuously seek ways to reduce our waste production by re-use and recycling. We currently re-use waste paper for rough printing and only recycle paper when both sides have been used. We carefully separate all card, glass, cans, tins and plastic bottles for recycling. Our office benefits from a council curb-side recycling service. End-of-life computer and electrical equipment is given to local charities for re-use.

 

Ethical Purchasing

Cornwall Planning Group is committed to promoting good environmental and ethical practice through its purchasing policies. For example, we only buy:

Non-toxic cleaning products, e.g: Ecover

Cornwall Planning Group make every effort to avoid products which contain any toxic substances and continue to source the most environmentally friendly product when available. We aim to purchase mainly from small local companies where possible and to ensure that our suppliers and service providers have good ethical standards.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT OF INTENT

The objective of this policy is to attain and maintain high standards of health and safety performance throughout Cornwall Planning Group Limited

All persons conducting activities under the name of Cornwall Planning Group Limited will adhere to this Health & Safety Policy.

The company has identified and will meet or exceed relevant H&S legal (and other) requirements applicable to its activities, in particular the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated Regulations.

The Company Is Committed To Continual Improvement In H&S Performance And To Preventing Injury, Ill-Health Or Dangerous Occurrences, So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable, By:

Demonstrating a visible management commitment to high standards of health and safety performance and the promotion of a positive health and safety culture throughout the Company;

Providing and maintaining a safe working environment that is without risk to health, together with adequate facilities and arrangements for the welfare of employees;

Providing and maintaining plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health; Providing and maintaining means of access to and egress from the workplace that are safe and without risk;

Having in place adequate arrangements for the regular assessment of work activities in order to identify related hazards and to control associated risks;

Having in place effective systems to protect employees and other persons affected by Company activities;

Having in place adequate arrangements to ensure safe use, handling, storage and transportation of articles and substances;

Providing such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees of the Company;

Setting and regularly reviewing Objectives, Targets and Programmes to continually improve H&S performance throughout all areas of the Company. Consulting with the workforce and other (including external) relevant parties on effective management of H&S during all work activities.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY STATEMENT OF INTENT

Cornwall Planning Group considers environmental management to be of prime importance and is fully committed to continual improvement of environmental performance and the prevention of pollution. As such the Company shall work with all relevant parties towards achieving this goal.

All persons conducting activities under the name of Cornwall Planning Group will adhere to this Environmental Policy.

 

The Company Shall:

  • Identify, and meet or exceed all legal and other requirements, codes of practice and regulations applicable to its environmental aspects;
  • Identify and manage those environmental aspects and impacts to minimise harm;
  • Organise operations in order to minimise pollution and disturbance to neighbours and the general public;
  • Provide assistance, training and information that may be necessary to personnel at all levels; Use materials and resources efficiently and with regard to long-term sustainability;
  • Apply the ‘waste hierarchy’ and meet the waste management duty of care at all times;
  • Develop and implement appropriate emergency preparedness and response plans;
  • Set and regularly review objectives, targets and programmes to assist in improving environmental performance across the company;
  • Audit environmental performance on a regular basis to identify opportunities to improve. Promote environmental issues and good practice, both internally and externally; and Review and report on the content and implementation of this policy on a regular basis.