Environmental Policy

Policy approved by the Trustee Board of Citizens Advice Oxford on: 13th September 2023

Introduction

A report from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018 warned that cutting global carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 isn’t enough to avoid dangerous temperature changes. The report says we need to limit global warming to 1.5°C. To do this, we must make quick and major changes in many areas of life.

Oxford was the first city in the UK to hold a Citizens Assembly on climate change in 2019. In February 2021, it also became one of the first UK City Councils to aim for Net Zero by 2040, which is ten years earlier than the UK Government’s 2050 goal.

Citizens Advice Oxford (CAO) is committed to helping make Oxford a greener place for future generations. We will work hard to reduce our own environmental impact and support National Citizens Advice’s campaign through our energy advice projects and research.

• This strategy covers everything related to how CAO operates.
• It applies to:
  • All CAO employees
  • Volunteers
  • Trustees
  • Premises
  • Services
  • Agency staff
  • Apprentices
  • Students
  • Interns
  • Secondees
  • Contractors funded by our service

This strategy explains how we will:

• Lead by example: We will manage and reduce our environmental impact to achieve eco-friendly results.
• Include environmental factors: We will consider key environmental issues in our decisions to stay responsible with public and charitable funds.
• Reduce our carbon footprint: We will work on lowering our carbon footprint from our 2019 levels, while ensuring we continue to provide our service with the highest standards of confidentiality and careful handling of sensitive information.

Wider links

This strategy aligns with the Government's main environmental goals¹ and supports Oxford City Council’s Net Zero targets.

Our aim

“To minimize our environmental impact by focusing on energy efficiency and using resources wisely in all our operations. We will also work on reducing travel and waste, and encourage our staff to adopt good environmental practices through education and awareness”.

Themed objectives to achieve our aim

To meet our goal, we have set the following objectives for our offices, outreach centers, and for those working from home:

Minimising waste/Recycling materials

• Reduce Supplies: We will try to use fewer supplies and products.
• Maximize Recycling: We will recycle as much paper (while keeping confidentiality), cardboard, glass, plastic, tins, batteries, and printer cartridges as possible. Recycling bins will be clearly labeled for specific materials.

Disposal of waste

• Reuse and Repair: We encourage reusing and repairing products to prevent early disposal.
• Redundant Equipment: Old IT and office equipment will be donated to other users or recycled after ensuring all data is removed, following our information security and confidentiality policies.

Transport

• Support for Working from Home: We will actively support working from home to reduce the need for travel and help people work from where they live.
• Video Meetings: We will hold meetings by videoconference when possible, especially for larger groups. However, we recognize the importance of occasional face-to-face meetings for staff and volunteers' well-being.
• Travel Choices: Whenever possible, CAO staff and trustees will use public transport (buses and trains) or bicycles.
• Car Sharing: We will encourage car sharing and limit car travel to essential trips only.
• Accessible Locations: All training and meeting venues will be easily reachable by public transport.

Use of energy - switch to a renewable energy tariff

• Renewable Energy: We will work with our landlords to cut down on the energy used in our premises and encourage them to switch to a renewable (green) energy tariff for our electricity.
• Energy Efficiency Measures:
  • Turn Off Equipment: We will make sure lights, computers, printers, and photocopiers are turned off when not in use or at the end of the day.
  • Request Energy-Saving Measures: We will ask our landlord to use energy-saving and water-saving measures, like LED light bulbs, where possible.
  • Print Only When Necessary: We will print documents only when absolutely needed.
• Water Use: We will be mindful of our water usage to further reduce our environmental impact.

Use of water

• Report Leaks: Staff should report any water leaks or dripping taps immediately.
• Water-Saving Measures: Staff and volunteers should use water-saving practices, such as using the dishwasher or sink efficiently to save both water and energy when washing up.

Suppliers and purchasing

• Reuse and Refurbish: We will reuse existing products and choose second-hand or refurbished items when practical and cost-effective.
• Ethical Financial Products: When selecting financial products, including pension schemes, we will consider the ethical and sustainability practices of the companies.
• Ethical Suppliers: We aim to work with suppliers who follow good ethical practices and have a clear Environmental Policy. This includes using products that are made in an environmentally friendly way and are repairable, non-toxic, reusable, or recyclable.

Awareness and education

• Training: We will train all staff and volunteers on their roles and responsibilities in meeting our environmental objectives and maximizing their impact.
• Staying Updated: We will keep up with the latest best practices for the environment in the workplace and update or introduce new policies as needed.

Delivering the strategy

The strategy will be managed by the Citizens Advice Oxford Sustainability Sub Group, which will set the overall direction for CAO's environmental efforts. This group is led by Sophie Brooks, a trustee and professional Sustainability Consultant. Christine O’Hare, CAO’s Chief Officer, will be responsible for making sure the strategy is successfully implemented.

The action plan

The themed objectives will be carried out through an annual action plan. Our Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day implementation of this plan.

Action plan outcomes

Each set of actions will have a baseline, with specific outcome measures and targets to track progress. These will be compared to the baseline position outlined in the action plan.

Review

The CAO Sustainability Sub Group will review the strategy and action plan every year.

¹ For more information, visit http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy/