We hate waste
Because we're committed to the protection of the environment and the prevention of pollution, we set up a working group at the beginning of last year which meets quarterly. It draws together people from across all the UK Virgin businesses to share environmental best practise and discuss the implementation of initiatives to minimise our impact on the environment. Over the last 12 months many of the Virgin companies in the UK have worked closely with Envirowise, who have completed reviews of our operations and written reports summarising their findings. Each report has included an action plan, prioritising actions that will minimise waste and reduce energy consumption. Each business is now developing - or expanding - its own environmental plan, and will this year monitor carefully its energy and waste as well as set specific targets for improvement.
“The Virgin Group is working with Envirowise as a Key Account Partner. Envirowise has been impressed with Virgin's commitment to reducing its impact on the environment through using resources efficiently and cutting waste. Envirowise is supporting Virgin companies to understand their current environmental performance, determine their priorities for action, and make realistic changes.”
Christopher Hodgson, Envirowise
Many of the businesses are now recycling mobile phones, IT equipment, paper, plastic, printer toners, glass and aluminium cans – all of which has greatly reduced our landfill waste. We are measuring this more precisely in the coming year and setting ourselves targets. Virgin has even created an internal communications campaign to promote the philosophy that it is every individual's responsibility to minimise their own impact on the environment – this is the Give a Monkey's campaign.
This campaign aims to educate employees about climate change and how changes in their behaviour can make a positive difference. The main themes are - energy consumption, waste minimisation and recycling, water conservation, use of Fairtrade products, mobile phone recycling, and responsible travel choices. Employees are also encouraged to make suggestions on how Virgin can improve their impact through the on-line campaign.
Recycling – IT equipment and mobile phones
At the beginning of last year we joined forces with Computer Aid, who offered to responsibly dispose of redundant IT equipment as laid out in the WEEE Directive. Computer Aid have a fantastic reputation of providing only the highest-quality, professionally refurbished computers for reuse in education, health and not-for-profit organisations in developing countries. Any computers we donate which are not fit for refurbishment are disposed of responsibility with zero waste going to landfill.
We've also created a Group-wide initiative in the last year which enables our businesses to recycle their mobile phones. This has been made possible through a partnership with Greener Solutions who, as well as offering a fully transparent and highly audited End of Life process, are also an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company.