Like many organisations’ across the county, we have been taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

Climate change is really important to us and we want to make sure we are doing all we can to protect our planet. We know we can do more which is why we have a carbon reduction plan in place but we have already taken a number of steps to reduce our print waste, use renewable energy where possible and cut down on our emissions.

 

Renewable energy

Active Gloucestershire are based at City Works in Albert Street, Gloucester. The building we rent is run by the Gloucestershire Resource Centre and to help reduce the amount of water used, water from a local stream is used to supply water and power for part of the building. The building is also partially solar powered.

 

Reducing print waste

We have drastically reduced the amount we print. We rarely use our printer and we encourage all our staff members to use digital documents where possible. We only print things when it is absolutely necessary.

 

We are now a digital first organisation too - thanks to the pandemic! Before Covid-19, we were paper-based but are now moving with the times and have moved all our processes to digital. (The pandemic had some silver linings!)

 

Active travel

We actively encourage our staff to use sustainable travel methods such as walking and cycling and we pay our staff mileage for using their bicycle to get to work*.

In addition to this, we support the cycle to work scheme and have a bike in the office for all staff to use to cycle to their external meetings.

 

For our staff members who have longer commutes, they have reduced the amount of times they come into the office and work from home where they can.

 

Advocates for climate change

We are not only getting our own house in order when it comes to reducing emissions, we are advocates for climate change and have been involved with the development of Gloucestershire’s Air Quality and Health strategy.

 

We also support others to take steps to increase opportunities for active travel in partnership with Think Travel.

 

 

*Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) allows companies to pay cycle mileage tax-free, and NI-free, up to 20p per mile. For more information, go to Expenses and benefits: business travel mileage for employees' own vehicles: Rules for tax - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)