Environmental & Ethical Plan
QMSU– June 2013
Summary
In this plan, the QMSU environmental and ethical objectives are outlined and latterly summarised. Where relevant, SMART objects are also
detailed.
Environmental & Ethical Plan | Introduction
In setting Environmental and Ethical (E&E) objectives for Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU), it is essential to outline that our primary
concern is the needs of our members and our values. We will use this for the development of environment, ethical and social best practice.
QMSU guides operations and services by E&E orientated values, but has a duty to allocate resources responsibly and appropriately so that they
maximise the student experience. Queen Mary Students’ Union strives for E&E best practice and commits to consider what E&E impacts any
outputs may have. In making this commitment, QMSU strives to make sure that any ‘small change’ that is easy to make is made and further
commits to look into longer term E&E best practice.
QMSU E&E objectives are:
1. To reduce its environmental impact
2. Commit to E&E policy and action
3. Provide E&E services and products
4. Promote and exemplify E&E best practice.
The plan outlines below these four objectives in more detail and also provides other related plans and objectives to be satisfied.
QMSU E&E Plan
Objective 1: To reduce our environmental impact
As the pinnacle of QMSU Environmental and Ethical (E&E) policies
and plans, QMSU aims to have as little negative impact on its
surrounding environment as possible. QMSU further seeks to
improve this environment where possible through student led
initiatives.
Firstly, QMSU will ensure that its consumption of energy is efficient
and necessary. Heating is managed through central systems
(estates) to ensure that there is appropriate regulation. There shall
be responsibility on individuals to manage their own spaces and
their actions. Staff and officers will be inducted into electrical
equipment shut down processes and made aware of the waste
involved in leaving unnecessary equipment on. QMSU shall
measure and manage initiatives to increase electrical, heat and
water consumption efficiencies on a regular basis.
Transport is identified as a significant contribution to QMSU
environmental footprint. Efforts will always be made to use the
most efficient means of transport and as such the hierarchy of
travelling by train, bus, coach, car and plane as a last resort shall be
endorsed by staff. Staff members who use transport to get to work
are offered environmental solutions such as places to store bikes,
shower and changing facilities or alternative loan schemes to
purchase annual public transport passes through QMUL scheme.
QMSU has a commitment to reducing the amount of waste it sends
to landfill. There is a significant commitment to ensure that there is
efficient recycling of all recyclates possible. There shall be recycling
of office grade paper in all offices and then further recycling
schemes for other materials such as aluminium cans, PET plastics,
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HDPE plastics, batteries, ink and old mobile phones. These shall be
recycled through local government schemes or other charity
organisations.
Objective 2: Commit to E&E policy and action
Setting and planning E&E policy is essential for QMSU to be able to
establish priorities and expectations and to latterly be able to
devise means to measure these. The senior management team
(SMT) shall regularly review all E&E policies. Policies set by students
are a simple way for students to direct priorities for staff although
it is expected of SMT to further interpret and devise their own
internal policies. The E&E policy shall be reviewed at least annually
but working objectives set based on it measured more regularly
either quarterly or twice annually.
Students are invited to E&E working groups to give their input and
to highlight issues they feel important to them as students. Staff,
however, are the drivers of the actions and will be responsible for
delivering objectives and plans and ultimately being the
stakeholders who supply QMSU’s most prominent positive action
on the environment.
SMT will largely be responsible for liaising with the Sabbatical team,
members of the Green Mary group or any other appropriate
student champion to advise them on updates or new working
actions to receive student comments. Policy shall be drawn up as a
collaborative process championed by students and delivered by
staff.
Drawing up E&E plans and policies, QMSU shall encourage and
endorse innovative thought and will not be afraid to try or pilot
new initiatives for which resources allow.
QMSU E&E Plan
Objective 4: Promote and exemplify E&E best
Objective 3: Provide E&E services and products
practice.
Where there shall be purchase of materials and equipment, QMSU
shall follow a purchase policy, which is environmentally and
ethically sound. QMSU will at minimum purchase fair trade
products for retail and complimentary food stuffs, fair trade staff
uniforms where these are required and further seek to buy free
range standard animal products from local (or at least UK sources)
rather than intensively farmed products (home or abroad). QMSU
will buy non-virgin materials when redeveloping property and in
furnishing offices and social areas.
QMSU will demonstrate best practice as a core working principle to
all commercial services. Retail and catering outlets, bars and the
health and fitness centre shall all operate as model social
enterprises and as such demonstrate three key factors to consider
in operations: social, environmental and financial values.
Students shall benefit from these services socially in being the most
predominant customers and staff. Students shall be provided the
services in line with the demands they make. In staffing these
operations, students would not only benefit financially, but would
also learn skills and work experience. benefit themselves
financially but also by building working skills through employment.
All gross profit from commercial services shall be reinvested into
the membership services. The costs of goods on site shall be further
approved by the CEO on behalf of the students; the costs ultimately
reflecting the value of the products.
Lastly, commercial services will all promote healthy living as part of
an E&E agenda. They shall all provide healthy options, value
ethically correct purchasing and be models of best E&E practice.
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In an education environment, QMSU feels it is equally important to
adhere to E&E best practice but also to encourage its members. It is
important that stakeholders are aware of environmental issues and
also that they feel confident that their local environment is not
detrimental to the wider areas.
QMSU supports and encourages students to run campaigns
promoting E&E issues. This could include raising awareness of
current issues, such as combating climate change, or alternatively
lobbying a body or institution for an improvement. QMSU has a
regulatory role within the College and represents student opinions
to relevant bodies, for example, students pledging for ethical
investment and campaigning for fair-trade status.
To feel confident of its current efficiency and compliance with
policy, QMSU is proud to annually be a part of the NUSSL and
QMUL Green Impact Awards. With a successful history in awards of
this programme, QMSU values the audit and advise NUSSL & QMUL
provide.
Other examples of best practice include smaller initiatives such as:
 SMT ensuring that all refurbishments and developments are of
a sustainable nature;
 Volunteering projects for students to get actively involved in
improving the environment e.g. cleaning up local canals;
 Adherence to the waste hierarchy:
 Eliminate
 Reduce
 Re-use
 Recycle
 Dispose.
QMSU E&E Plan
Duty of Care | Outline
N.B. This is not advice for compliance to legislation; it is guidance towards best pract ice.
QMSU, particularly as a commercial entity, has a duty of care to its membership, to stakeholders and to the environment to satisfy some basic
principles.
Duty of Care
Area
Measure
Noise
1. Any evening events shall hold relevant licences to play
music
2. Efforts are made not disrupt local residents
Waste Management 1. All waste sent to landfill will be weighed before
& Disposal
transporting. Efforts are made to reduce total waste by
compacting.
2. Paper/battery/can recycling is in operation at all sites as
a minimum
3. Recycling of plastics, aluminium and other recyclates is
in operation where viable
4. Recycling of glass from bars is in operation
Provision of Bins
1. Bins have be provided in all areas where disposable
packaging is sold
2. Bins are provided in all working areas
3. Paper and/or recycling bins are provided to all office
staff
Hazardous Materials
1. All fluorescent light tubes are collected by a certified
organisation
2. Cooking oil is collected and disposed of by a certified
organisation
Waste Electronic & 1. Arrangements are made for retailers to collect waste
Electrical Equipment
stamped Electronic & Electrical equipment OR schemes
are in place for staff or students to reuse waste
equipment
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Record
Owner
Status
1. Evidence of licences
2. No complaints
Event,
Venue
Managers
Facilities,
Cleaning,
Venue
Managers
Green
1. Statistics demonstrate
reduction
2. Evidence of operation
Green/
Amber
3. Evidence of operation
4. Glass bins
1. See bins
Facilities & Green
Admin
Manager
1. See designated
collection sites and/or
collection receipts
Facilities & Green
Estates
Managers
1. See evidence of waste
electronic or electrical
equipment.
Facilities,
Marketing
Managers
Green
QMSU E&E Plan
Control of Substances 1. All staff expected to use such substances are trained 1. Staff training log
Hazardous to Health
and educated into the hazards and how to clean up
spillages
2. There are clear signs to notify staff of the presence of 2. Evidence of signs
hazardous materials
Environmental SMART Objectives |
|
Facilities,
Green
Cleaning
and Venue
Managers
Protecting and preserving the wider environment
Reducing organizational impact on climate change
Objective
Measure & Record
Energy Consumption
Staff are all instructed to turn all lights and computers off when not in Work shut down policies
use and to turn off equipment at the sockets to prevent residual loss
over long periods of time (e.g. holiday)
All heating of large areas (offices and public areas) is managed centrally Thermostats or other heating
and set to 18oC. Heating and air conditioning is off outside of office management systems are in use.
hours.
Computers, lights and wall sockets are marked with energy saving Energy saving stickers are on computers
stickers.
and lights to ensure that they are
switched off out of office hours
Equipment such as automatic urinal flushers, water percussion taps and We use water saving devices and we are
cistern bricks are in use everywhere possible to reduce water compiling evidence in order to ensure
consumption. Water consumption statistics are further monitored every these statistics are acted upon.
quarter to assess efficiency and identify areas for new initiatives
All light fittings will be replaced with the most efficient options All newly fitted lights adhere to lighting
available. Where there are plans for refurbishment, the hierarchy of hierarchy.
lights to be used is LEDs, Fluorescent tubes (with mirrored fittings),
energy saving light bulbs. Tungsten and halogen lights are avoided
unless necessary.
Discourage students and staff from using lift
Poster to discourage lift usage.
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Owner
Status
All
Managers
Green
QMUL
Environme
ntal
Manager
Facilities
manager
Green
Facilities,
Estates
Manager
Green
Facilities,
Estates
Manager
Green
Facilities
Manager
Green
Green
QMSU E&E Plan
All kitchen equipment is (certified) energy efficient and where possible All equipment has energy efficiency
put on timer switches so that it is turned off when not needed.
certificates and timer switches are in
use.
Transport
Students are encouraged to adopt a transport hierarchy for travelling to Coaches are provided to students where
events (such as sports games, entertainments etc), which is to go by appropriate and incentive schemes for
train, by bus, by coach, by car and lastly only if necessary by plane.
public transport are offered.
Facilities & Amber
Admin
Manager
Sports
Green
Club Coordinator
Travel by car is actively discouraged unless the car use is also for Changing facilities or transport loan
transport of goods or materials. Staff members are encouraged to walk, schemes are in use.
cycle or take public transport to work and as such changing facilities and
public transport loan schemes are offered.
Facilities,
HR
Manager
Where staff have unexpected travel outside of travel to work, this is A log is reviewed by SMT who can
recorded in a log so that all means of transport are reviewed and the recommend best transport options for
most efficient methods can be identified for the future.
future travel.
CEO
Where possible, local goods such as food products will be sourced from Local goods are used in catering or
local suppliers.
other areas.
Where possible, to reduce the number of deliveries, goods should be Few retailers are used, purchase orders
delivered in bulk and from as few retailers as possible.
used to demonstrate.
Recycling & Waste Management (as per duty of care)
All waste sent to landfill will be weighed before transporting. Efforts are Monitoring of statistics of waste.
made to reduce total waste.
Paper recycling is in operation at all sites as a minimum.
Paper bins in use.
Recycling of plastics, aluminium and other recyclates is in operation Recycling bins in use.
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Green
& Green
Director of
Operations
and
Services
Director of
Operations
and
Services
Retail
Manager
Director of
Operations
and
Services
Amber
Green
Facilities
Manager
Amber
Facilities
Manager
Facilities
Green
Green
QMSU E&E Plan
where viable.
Manager
Recycling and collection schemes of unique recyclates through Evidence of campaigns for collection of
campaigns (e.g. collecting old phones, stamps etc for charity)
materials
Facilities
Manager
Green
Reduction of waste print cartridges through recycling and/or refilling
Facilities
Manager
Catering/
Retail
Manager
Venue
Managers
Green
Facilities
Manager
Green
To reduce the amount of paper used, only required amounts of media There are no boxes of excessive
publication (e.g. paper & flyers) are purchased
publications around offices
Marketing
Manager
Amber
To reduce amount of material printed, online or electronic distribution Online alternatives to all media are
of media is favoured over printed material
available and distributed IPAD’s and
Laptops are available for meetings
Student
Green
Voice
&
Dev.
Manager
CEO
& Amber
Cafes and Shop’s promoting use of own mug to reduce waste
Empty cartridges are collected for
recycling or refilling.
Posters promoting use of own mug
Recycling of glass from bars is in operation
Glass bins in use
Considered Purchase
To reduce the impact on deforestation, 100% recycled paper is bought Recycled paper is used in printers and
in preference to regular paper
notepads
Purchase of non-virgin materials and specifically wood are bought Furniture and construction materials are
where available to reduce unnecessary consumption of virgin materials
certified by relevant commission
Work in collaboration with Bookshop to promote recycling old text Promote recycling on Union screens
books.
Reusable, or at least biodegradable crockery, cutlery and glasses are Shops and catering outlets supply either
distributed in preference disposable plastics or paper are used to biodegradable or reusable crockery etc
further reduce unnecessary waste
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Green
Green
Director of
Operations
and
Services
Marketing
Manager
Retail/
Catering
Managers
Green
Green
QMSU E&E Plan
Appendix I: Summary of Environmental and Ethical objectives for QMSU
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QMSU E&E Plan
Appendix II: QMSU approved E & E Working Values
1. Protecting the quality of the land, air and water.
2. Carrying out an environmental audit and ensuring it is reviewed
every one to three years.
3. Ethical investment, banking and purchasing, which does not
involve companies who have links to unethical practices such as
arms trading, third world oppression, production of tobacco
products and animal testing.
4. Recognising the consequences and impact of our actions and
services.
5. Allowing its students and staff consumer choice through labelling
of goods which are unethical in some manner. For example G.M
foods, third world oppression, unethical investment, fair trade and
the distance goods have travelled.
6. Using recycled or green products wherever possible. (I.e. paper,
cleaning materials), and continually searching for more
environmental alternatives.
7. Reducing the production of waste.
8. Cutting down on the amount of disposable products used. (i.e.:
plastic cutlery and crockery, glasses, unnecessary photo-copying
and printing.)
9. Reusing where possible. (I.e. scrap paper, envelopes, crockery,
glasses.)
10. Considering the ethical and environmental implications of any
policy or decision and weighing this against the gains. (I.e.
Promotion and advertising; is it really expedient to use hundreds
of flyers/posters when recruiting for a limited number of people.
Does that plastic bag/packaging really need to be used)
11. Increasing the standard of all waste being recycling in the next five
years.
12. Moving towards use of greener types of energy.
13. Disposing of waste in the most environmentally responsible way
possible.
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14. Promotion of environmental and ethical concerns and ecological
challenges we face (i.e. supporting Road traffic Act) and the nonpromotion of issues which are detrimental to this. (I.e. smoking,
cars.)
15. Raising awareness of these issues to our members through
campaigns and demonstration of best practice.
16. Considering the environmental implications of any building
design/work/refurbishment. (E.g.; energy efficiency, insulation,
energy sources, avoiding using detrimental materials)
17. Considering the green alternative in any policy, which is also
usually more financially sound and has increased sustainability.
18. Ensuring the areas surrounding are as green as possible (with
foliage), and avoiding building on the green we have left.
19. Interacting with other Student Union’s and national organisations
on the issues we face, and supporting their campaigns.
20. Encouraging and protecting environmental education to be
incorporated into academic courses.
21. Complying with all National and EU environmental laws.
22. Publication of all environmental assessments, reviews and
findings.
23. Ensuring funding and resources for environmental concerns.
24. Applying pressure on the University to adopt and comply with an
environmental policy.
25. Reviewing our environmental policy and performance annually.
26. Campaigning for environmental change at local and national level.
27. Ensuring that all staff and the Executive have ethical and
environmental training and thus acquire the skills to take
environmental concerns into consideration.
28. Pursuing compatibility with the Carbon Trust through assisting and
encouraging the College to do also.
QMSU E&E Plan
Appendix III: Environmental Policy (Used to guide objectives)
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Electricity
Reduce lighting where possible. Turn off lights in unoccupied areas,
install censored light where possible, report flickering or broken lights,
and turn off signage put up on other lights not necessary for security
and safety.
Turn off signage on all equipment to power down when not in use.
Turn off printers, copiers, computers and monitors nightly and on
weekends if they aren't needed. Don't be fooled by thinking
screensavers save energy; they only prevent the screen image from
burning in.
Staffs are encouraged to shut down PCs that will not be used for more
than one hour.
All monitors should be set to go onto standby after 10 minutes, and
staff should be instructed not to change the settings.
Instead of lighting the whole office, use more localised 'task lighting'
by lighting only the working area (e.g. desk lamps). A common
wasteful practice is having lights on next to windows. If possible,
switch off lights, or rows of lights, parallel to, or under
windows/skylights.
Before going on holiday, switch your computer off at the plug to
prevent residual background electrical leakage.
Heating
Doors and windows should always be shut if heating systems are on.
Radiators should be kept clear and unobstructed. Furniture in front of
radiators will lead to warm furniture and cold staff!
Portable electric heaters are inefficient and expensive to run. They also
influence existing thermostats and heating systems, exacerbating any
heating problems. If an area is cold, there is a heating problem that
needs fixing ASAP.
Paper
All PC's should be set to both side prints by default.
Everyone should 'Print Preview' before printing.
Where possible, it is preferable to reduce the number of printers by
sharing via networks. We use the photocopier that is networked to all
PCs - that way we can print two-sided as default.
All staff encouraged to use their own ceramic mug which can be stored
in the pantry.
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Where applicable, use whiteboards in offices to reduce the use of
post-it notes.
Don't over-order publications (flyers, SU newspapers) simply because
it is cheaper to order bigger quantities. Take into consideration the
environmental cost and only order the amount you know you will
require. Alternatively, consider employing students to deliver the
publications around the residencies.
Ensure that you are recycling white paper in the recycling bins
provided.
Ensure that all photocopying is doubled sided where possible with long
documents and meeting papers printed booklet format (A5) except for
staff members with visibility difficulties or use IPAD for meetings
documents.
Envelopes: All staff should re-use used large envelopes and padded
'Jiffy' bags that arrive as mail. Standard re-use labels can be bought
from stationers or have your own re-use labels printed. Either way,
reusing envelopes will reduce the amount sent to landfill and reduce
stationary costs, saving around £20 per year.
Glass
Ensure that all glasses in the bar are recycled in the bins provided and
according to the operational guidelines provided by the Venue
Manager.
Transport
Remember the transport hierarchy: In order of least environmental
impact, it is Walk, Cycle, Train, Bus, Car-share, Car, Plane.
When possible and if you are discussing issues with colleagues across
the country, use the Video conference for meetings rather than
travelling.
Misc.
All new staff should be introduced to this environmental policy as
part of their induction. By following the steps of the staff
environmental policy, staff and officers are showing an ongoing
commitment to reduce energy waste in the Union and are
furthering the aims of the organisation by conducting their work
life in an environmentally friendly manner.