The LightBulb Company (UK) Ltd endeavours to follow environmental best practice regarding all of its business activities including the products and services required to run its operations. Wherever practical, the same environmental policy principles are also applied when choosing the company’s suppliers.
Buildings
- When the lease on the existing premises expires in 2008, the company intends to acquire a single building for all its operations. The premises will comply with the Building Regulations and have whatever additional features are needed to ensure that it is a zero-carbon building.
Energy
- Automatic lighting systems are being piloted for installation in all our existing premises.
- Only the most cost-efficient eco-lighting products are used within the company.
- We are reviewing the existing heating facilities including supplementary heating systems / equipment and the patterns of their usage in order to minimise overall energy consumption.
- Our old refrigerators and kettles have been replaced with more cost-efficient models
- External doors will be fitted with door closers.
- Employees are encouraged to keep doors closed wherever practical.
Vehicles & Transportation
- In future, all company vehicles purchased / leased will be amongst the most fuel-efficient and least polluting in their class where possible (low emissions and low fuel consumption).
- Vehicle sharing amongst staff is encouraged.
- A company mini bus will be considered if circumstances warrant.
Supplier Selection, Purchasing & Sales Policy
- We only market the best lighting products from the world’s leading manufacturers.
- Wherever possible, we encourage our customers to purchase the most environmentally friendly products available.
- A minimum order value of £10 is being introduced to eliminate wasteful packaging and despatch of very small orders but delivery to UK locations is now ‘Free of Charge’.
- Our existing non-lighting product suppliers will be asked to submit an environmental policy document to demonstrate their ‘Green’ credentials.
- All our new non-lighting product suppliers must submit an environmental policy document before we consider using their products and / or services.
Employees
- Employees are encouraged to live as close to work as possible.
- Employees are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to and from work.
- Telephone ‘business meetings’ are encouraged wherever possible, providing that it doesn’t compromise company profitability or relationships with customers and suppliers.
- Tele-conferencing facilities will be considered where appropriate.
- Employees will be allowed to work from home if practical.
- Whilst office temperatures are obviously maintained within the legal limits, staff are encouraged to wear warmer clothing in the winter to obviate the use of extra heating.
- Special company summer / winter work wear is being considered for non-office staff.
Education, Training & Staff Involvement
- A manager with responsibility for co-ordinating environmental issues has been appointed.
- A staff awareness campaign to re-emphasise the environmental message is being introduced.
- A small library of environmental books, magazines, CDs and useful internet addresses is being created for staff reference purposes.
- An ongoing incentive scheme is in operation to involve staff by encouraging them to think ‘Green’ and submit useful ‘Green’ ideas.
Waste - Prevention, Disposal, Reusing & Recycling
- Wherever possible, packaging materials are reused rather than being disposed.
- Used paper / card / sensitive documents are shredded and reused for packaging.
- Email communication is encouraged where appropriate to save posting items.
- Printing out emails is discouraged unless it is vital to retain hard copies.
- The use of both sides of all A4 paper is encouraged.
- All waste material is monitored in order to identify ‘rubbish’ which is re-useable or recyclable via the local authority.
- Wherever possible, business documents including product / sales brochures are held electronically rather than being litho printed.
Website
- a new web site is being developed to promote the use of environmentally friendly lighting products and to provide both relevant information on the environment and links to other web sites with similar aims.
