We are independently certified by BSI to ISO 14001 in Environmental Management - the world's most recognised environmental management system. This certification requires a continual business cycle of planning, implementing and reviewing in order to meet our environmental obligations, targets and objectives.
We have Environmental Specialists throughout the business who help to facilitate effective communications in relation to our environmental objectives which are set each year. Working towards our objectives is very much a collective effort and everybody is aware of their own responsibilities in helping to achieve them.
Sustainable procurement is also an important factor for us. This means making sure that the products and services we purchase are as sustainable as possible - with a low environmental impact in order to maintain a positive social impact. For example, 50% of the paper we purchase is from a renewable source.
Carbon Neutrality
We are proud to be certified as a CarbonZero company, through CO2balance's Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard carbon offset projects.
Environmental projects
Below are examples of some of the environmental projects we have implemented at WPA.
Electric car charging points
Vehicles that run on electricity emit no direct emissions and are therefore much kinder to the environment. We have 6 electric car charging stations for use by our staff and visitors, allowing 12 cars to be charged at any one time. A large percentage of our company cars are hybrid, aiding WPA's commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 1% per year.
Bike to Work Scheme and servicing
We encourage staff who live locally to cycle to work where possible, so we have a Bike to Work scheme in place to help them to purchase a bike and pay for it in instalments. In addition, we regularly offer free bike servicing to all staff to keep them on the road. This forms part of our project to reduce CO2 emissions by 1% per year.
Our wildflower meadow
We are very fortunate with the location of our offices in that we have a good amount of outside space. We have utilised a section of the space to plant a wildflower meadow which provides shelter and food for important pollinators, including bees which are in decline in the UK. Wildflower meadows have the potential for a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Reduced mowing, fertilisation, pesticide and herbicide treatments of wildflower areas lowers greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution associated with these practices.
Energy efficient lighting at Rivergate
Offices notoriously have a lot of lighting. We undertook an environmental project to replace all of our lighting throughout the business with energy efficient LEDs. This helped our ongoing commitment to energy consumption - we aim to maintain consumption of electricity to no more than the average of the previous two years, taking into consideration seasonal trends.
Recycling throughout the business
This is ongoing and forms a huge part of our commitment to environmental management. As much as possible, we are a paperless office - any paper waste we have is recycled. We have recycling bins throughout the business for plastic bottles and drink cans. Additionally, we recycle confidential paper, cardboard, plastic packaging, company literature, cardboard cups and food waste. Our overall aim is to reduce the use of paper and waste production by 1% each year.
Removing plastic waste
We continue to look at ways to reduce our use of single use plastic throughout the business. Water coolers within our office have had all plastic cups removed, with staff encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles instead. Reusable coffee cups are replacing all single use disposal cups and our on site catering have transitioned their use of plastic food wrapping and packaging to use eco-friendly Vegware range of plant-based, compostable packaging.
Reducing our CO2 emissions
WPA continues to invest in improving its environmental footprint.
As part of our strategy towards reducing CO2 emissions we are replacing our existing 30 year old gas boilers with new energy efficient boilers and control system.
In addition, we are upgrading our remaining office lighting to the latest T5 LED lamp technology.
These works should be completed by the winter of 2023 and will result in an annual saving of around 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management
A responsible business ensures the health and wellbeing of its people; provides quality-assured, legally-compliant products and services; and controls its impact on the environment, minimising energy consumption and carbon emissions while managing waste.
We are proud of our Environmental Management standard, which is one of the highest benchmarks in environmental management and best practice.
Environmental objectives for 2024
- Maintain energy consumption of electricity to no more than the average of the previous two years taking into consideration seasonal trends.
- Reduce the usage of paper and waste production by 1% each year.
- At least 85% of paper purchased will be from responsible sources.
- Reduce CO2 emissions from electricity and pool cars by 1% per year.
- Maintain ISO 14001.
Supporting environmental projects
WPA are proud to support environmental projects and charities in the UK. Here are some of the most recent.
Woodland Trust
We've donated £1,115 to the Woodland Trust through a Trustpilot review incentive scheme, giving a donation of £5 for every review posted. The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, planting, restoring, protecting and caring for our woods and trees.
Longrun Meadow
Longrun Meadow is a beautiful open space within a 10 minute walk from Taunton town centre. WPA were delighted to support the 'Friends of Longrun Meadow' who help to maintain the open space and look after the wildlife and environment of the meadows.
Plastic Free Exmouth
In addition to a team building beach clean on Exmouth beach, our staff helped us raise £314 for Plastic Free Exmouth, an active group working with Exmouth Council, businesses, schools, and individuals to gain certification for a Plastic Free Community with Surfers Against Sewage.
We are proud to be a member of The Ocean Network, a national movement with over 300 businesses supporting environmental solutions.
The Ocean Network has over 140,000 volunteers, inspiring young people to take action on plastic waste in their schools and providing support in towns and cities to becoming Plastic Free Communities.
The Ocean Network
Helpful links
Please see below some helpful links for further information on environmental projects, charities and other useful resources.
- Woodland Trust - www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
- CO2balance - www.co2balance.com
- Cyclescheme - www.cyclescheme.co.uk
- Somerset Wildlife Trust - www.somersetwildlife.org
- Vegware - www.vegware.com/uk-en