SIG Celebrates 10 Years
A Decade of Impact and Growth at Social Interest Group
Read moreSupport our work
Support our work
At SIG, we are deeply committed to environmental sustainability as part of our mission to support individuals in mental health, criminal justice, women’s services, and substance use recovery. We understand that caring for people goes hand-in-hand with caring for our planet. That’s why we have embarked on a comprehensive journey toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This goal is a significant part of our sustainability policy and reflects our commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.
The first step to ensuring we reach our net-zero goal has been auditing our carbon footprint as an organisation. We have partnered with Auditel, a highly respected carbon solutions company known for its expertise in guiding organisations toward sustainability. With Auditel’s support, we are developing a Carbon Reduction Plan that complies with PPN 06/21 standards, a benchmark for public sector organisations looking to manage and reduce their carbon emissions effectively.
This partnership allows us to identify areas where we can make the most significant impact and implement strategies to drive us towards our net-zero goal. This process involved an organisation-wide survey of our staff’s commuting habits, which had a significantly large uptake, with 350 staff members taking part, demonstrating their commitment to this process and how important it is to our community.
We are also examining our business travel, electricity and water usage, deliveries, orders, shipments, and other factors contributing to our carbon footprint. Due to our size, this has been a huge undertaking and a lengthy process, but we must ultimately receive as accurate a picture as possible. The report is due to be completed at the beginning of December
The report from Auditel will help us achieve ISO14001 certification, a globally recognised standard for effective environmental management systems. This certification will help us ensure we do our part to minimise our environmental impact while fostering a culture of sustainability within our organisation. We have a long road ahead before we achieve this certification, but we are taking the first steps in the right direction.
We are also embracing technology to reduce our environmental footprint. Using digital tools for meetings and communications has significantly reduced the need for physical travel, helping to reduce our carbon emissions. Additionally, we are committed to reducing paper consumption by encouraging digital documentation and record-keeping wherever possible. These efforts align with our overall goal of minimising waste and promoting sustainable practices across all levels of our organisation.
Effective waste management is another critical component of our sustainability efforts. Our focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste to meet legislative and regulatory requirements includes the sustainable disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other materials, ensuring we minimise waste sent to landfills. By adopting circular practices, we aim to extend the lifecycle of our materials, reduce our environmental impact, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
As we work towards achieving our ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, we invite our community, partners, and stakeholders to join us on this journey. Together, we can make a difference, creating a sustainable future that supports the people we support and the planet we all share.
Our commitment to sustainability is an integral part of our mission to empower and support individuals, and we are excited to continue this important work in the years ahead. Stay tuned to learn more about our ongoing initiatives and how you can participate in this vital effort.
Celebrating a Decade of Collaboration and Innovation
