Both Yorkshire Building Society and Praxis have unveiled green measures aimed at reducing its environmental impact.
Yorkshire Building Society has achieved full carbon neutral status and has switched from its standard electricity supplier to ‘green electricity’ in all of its 131 branches across the UK. Green electricity is generated from entirely renewable sources, such as wind and water, and should see the Society reduce its CO2 emissions by around 50 per cent by the end of 2008.
80 per cent of all energy used by Yorkshire Building Society will be switched to energy produced from renewable sources over the next four months. The remaining 20 per cent of the energy used is from gas power.
Yorkshire has for a number of years been reducing its CO2 emissions, and whilst it has now achieved full carbon neutral status, accredited by the CarbonNeutral Company, it has a number of other initiatives planned aimed at continuing to reduce its carbon footprint. These include identifying further recycling opportunities, promoting lower CO2 and alternatively fuelled company vehicles and an awareness campaign amongst employees to encourage energy saving practices.
To attain carbon neutral status the Society has embarked on a programme for offsetting every tonne of CO2 emitted and reducing the same volume somewhere else in the world. This carbon credit scheme is popular with a number of responsible businesses around the world.
Mary Blackwell, Yorkshire’s environment manager, said: “As a mutual organisation it is important for us to be a responsible corporate citizen not only in the communities where we operate but also to the wider environment. Becoming carbon neutral is one way we have been able to demonstrate this and to announce our achievement today, World Environment Day, seems appropriate.
“We have agreed targets with the CarbonNeutral Company for reducing our carbon footprint year on year and I’m confident that we will achieve these goals. We have got lots of activities planned over the coming months, which will encourage staff to think green whilst at work and also at home. I’m determined that the effort we are putting in will make a real difference.”
Sue Welland, founder and creative director of The CarbonNeutral Company, said: “We are delighted to be part of the CO2 reduction plan of Yorkshire Building Society. By switching to green electricity, the Society has made significant reductions at source, and the offset is being appropriately used as a complement to enable it to achieve a net zero footprint from today. This kind of complete commitment is what’s needed to effectively tackle climate change.”
Meanwhile, Praxis has pledged to help turn the mortgage industry ‘green’ and is heading out and about to clean up its city.
In April, the mortgage packager launched an environmental campaign and has set its sights on achieving the prestigious ISO14001 award by the end of 2007. And, on World Environment Day, Praxis has launched a string of initiatives to lift its efforts.
There is now a ‘pledge wall’ in Praxis’ reception – where employees can write their ‘green’ promises, such as to print fewer emails or use the stairs rather than the lift during the working day – as well as community activities and a new company charity.
Richard Stettner, managing director of Praxis, said: “We are encouraging everyone here to take a moment and think about their daily routine – there will be at least one small thing they can change to improve the environment and we want them to pledge to do it.
“But it is not just this that we have introduced today. Groups of Praxis staff will soon be heading out and about to help out in their community to do our bit in Birmingham and we have now selected PURE, which aims to tackle climate change, as our charity.
“We have also introduced a new chart, in our reception, to show exactly what environmentally-friendly steps we are taking - so visitors know what a difference we are making and they can follow suit.”
A nine-person Green Committee has now been set up at Praxis and staff will also mark World Environment Day by paying to wear something green to raise money for PURE. Praxis will match every pound donated by employees with a pound of its own for charity.
PURE’s head of fund raising, Phil Wolski, said: “The Trustees are delighted that Praxis has taken measures to combat climate change and have also adopted PURE as its corporate charity.
“Measuring and reducing emissions, then offsetting those that cannot be eliminated are the appropriately responsible actions of any leading UK company.”
Richard Stettner added: “It’s great to see the industry finally taking notice of such a vital issue. Thanks to our ‘green’ launch in April and the Council of Mortgage Lenders signing this declaration in May, the environmental responsibility of the mortgage industry is firmly in the headlines. Now we need to ensure even more companies and organisations follow our lead.”
