Environmental and Sustainability Policy – July 2023
1.1 To create and sustain truly vibrant communities is our Vision. To support this vision, we provide first class and accountable housing and services, whilst continuing to minimise the impact we have. We will improve the local environment and reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the carbon emissions of our homes and buildings through the adoption of sustainable technology, resources and practices.
1.2 Accepting our environmental responsibilities, and considering the climate change risks such as overheating and flooding (which will be more prevalent in the future), we will strive to have climate resilient, efficient buildings and a healthy overall environment to help to protect our long-term sustainability.
1.3 We are committed to protecting biodiversity eco systems and promoting sustainable development as a corner stone of our business strategy. We will actively seek partnerships to participate in the implementation of local initiatives.
1.4 Ongo is committed to compliance with legislation, and to the continual improvement of environmental performance throughout our operations, services and activities. Note – in 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This means that the economy must remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it emits.
2.1 This policy applies to all areas of the Ongo Group including Ongo Roofing Ltd. (trading as Ashbridge Roofing Solutions) and Ongo Heating and Plumbing Ltd. (trading as Hales & Coultas), our activities, our procurement and management of contractors, goods and services.
Because we want to…
3.1 The aims of this policy are to ensure that we:
- Work towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
- Recognise our contribution to meeting sustainability principles and the part we play in protecting the environmental inheritance of future generation
- Improve local biodiversity and our open spaces by engaging our stakeholders, forming partnerships to promote positive environmental practice and communicate with our customers on the changes we have made.
- Accurately collect and monitor data on all aspects of sustainability
- Achieve sustainable principles in new developments, e.g. energy efficiency, water conservation etc.
- Minimise waste from our business operations
- Extend energy and water efficiency principles in our building design
- Implement changes in existing buildings to reduce energy or water use
- Seek new opportunities to improve our working practice to not affect our surroundings
- Promote sustainable transport amongst our partners, colleagues and customers
- Provide energy saving, waste minimisation and water conservation advice to our colleagues and customers
- Encourage the environmental awareness of our colleagues, partners and customers
- Prevent pollution and other environmental risks arising from business activities
- Create, maintain and promote environmental purchasing principles in our business activities and for the benefit of our customers
- Improved environmental performance by contractors and suppliers
- Ensure compliance with legal and other requirements
4.1 Ongo are committed to compliance with all relevant environmental legislation and other requirements, including approved codes of practice and standards which will ensure ongoing improvement.
4.2 Ongo will continue to monitor and set clear targets to reduce our overall environmental impact. We will incorporate environmental and sustainability good practice into all areas of our business where appropriate.
4.3 Continue to develop and maintain a programme to identify, review and monitor areas of significant environmental and sustainability impact and work to reduce this. We will do this by:
- Completing regular walk-around surveys of our business functions to see if we are using water and energy efficiently and whether measures to reduce waste and pollution are effective
- Using this information to identify and adopt best practicable options to address highlighted issues
- Encouraging our colleagues to be resource-efficient and environmentally responsible when carrying out their day to day work. For example, minimising business travel by using online meeting functionality and agile working practices and systems wherever possible
- Minimising waste created across the business, ensuring it’s disposed of responsibly; being reused or recycled where possible
- Reducing water consumption in homes, including encouraging the take up of water meters, dealing with leaks efficiently, etc.
- Focusing on and increasing the energy efficiency of our homes, utilising SMART and renewable technology wherever possible
- Maintaining open spaces in a way that maximises sustainability and delivers a positive environmental impact
4.4 We will make sure colleagues at all levels of the organisation are appropriately educated by providing a range of awareness raising initiatives to enable them to be environmentally aware and make conscious efforts to have minimal environmental impact in everything they do.
4.5 We will assess the environmental and sustainability impact on our current and future business operations, ensuring that the impact is minimal and support our environmental and sustainability targets going forward.
4.6 Ongo will calculate and measure our carbon footprint and continuously seek to explore and take advantage of opportunities to offset or reduce it in efficient, effective and innovative ways.
4.7 We will ensure that, wherever possible, we use responsibly sourced materials for all building works and ensure contractors and consultants carrying works on our behalf uphold the same or similar environmental and sustainability standards
5.1 It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure that:
- All colleagues are aware of this policy
- All colleagues are trained on the policies relevant to their role to enable them to be fulfilled
- Sufficient resources are provided to implement this policy.
6.1 Other policies and internal systems to bear in mind are:
- Health & Safety Policy
- Health & Safety Management System
- Procurement Policy
- Procurement and Tendering Procedures
- Damp & Mould Policy and Procedure
- Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
- Strategic Development Plan6.2 Legislation and regulation relevant to this policy includes:
- The Environment Act 2021
- The Climate Change Act 2008
- Building Regulations
7.1 In three years’ time or earlier if changes in legislation occur.