Publication
Waste statement
Global | Publication | July 2018
Mission statement
Norton Rose Fulbright will ensure that waste consumed by the business is managed as efficiently as possible.
Purpose
This policy details the scope, commitments, risks, responsibilities and requirements associated with Norton Rose Fulbright’s management of waste.
Waste has significant adverse effects on the local and global environment. Effective waste management is central to our responsible business operations, reducing our environmental impact, resource consumption, and financial costs.
Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste entering the business, further minimise the amount of waste produced by the business, and to manage this waste as efficiently as possible.
We are committed to working with colleagues and our supply chain to eliminate wastage and change attitudes towards waste in the workplace.
The business benefits of effective waste management to Norton Rose Fulbright include:
- Cost savings: Reduced waste disposal and procurement costs
- Enhanced corporate reputation: Improved environmental credentials for stakeholders
- Improved customer engagement: Increased ability to attract clients who value sustainability
Scope
This policy represents a minimum standard for Norton Rose Fulbright’s managed buildings around the world.
Commitments
To implement this policy, Norton Rose Fulbright will:
- Comply with all applicable legal requirements relating to waste
- Measure the waste produced and ensure that this relates to the correct scope
- Ensure that waste produced by the business will be managed as efficiently as possible
- Include consideration of waste management practices in procurement activities
- Communicate our waste policy and performance to employees and external stakeholders
- Work to achieve a continuous improvement in waste management
Operational risks
Failure to implement this policy adequately may give rise to exposure to increased costs for waste disposal and the risk of losing contracts due to client procurement requirements. There is also the requirement to maintain minimum standards to ensure that waste is managed in a way that protects that protects the health and safety of employees and contractors.
Roles and responsibilities
Role | Responsibility |
Management committee |
|
Environmental committee |
|
Facilities management contractors |
|
Contractors |
|
All Norton Rose Fulbright people |
|
Requirements
Waste targets
Norton Rose Fulbright will develop a framework for setting waste targets and measuring progress against them. Norton Rose Fulbright will aim to set targets by the end of 2018, and develop an action plan that will enable them to be met.
Waste management
All staff who deal with waste shall be trained and competent in the management of waste through staff induction and further training.
Waste consumption shall be monitored on a monthly basis and checked against previous months to identify abnormal consumption.
Waste disposal shall be carried out in accordance with legal requirements.
Waste from suppliers
Norton Rose Fulbright shall consider environmental impact when choosing suppliers.
Communication
Norton Rose Fulbright ’s waste policy and annual performance shall be made available to employees via the firm’s intranet, and to stakeholders via http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/corporate-responsibility/sustainability.
Continuous improvement
Waste performance and ongoing improvement shall be reviewed on a periodic basis by the Environmental committee.
Appendix 1
From Norton Rose Fulbright website – global sustainability policy
http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/corporate-responsibility/sustainability/
Sustainability policy
We are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment – to protect the planet, ensure resources are available for future generations, and create a better quality of life for all living beings. We recognize that the way in which we operate has an impact on the environment and are committed to integrating sustainability best practice into our decision-making and business activities worldwide.
Our key impacts arise from waste generation, energy use including travel, and resource consumption. We are seeking to minimize these impacts through continual improvement in our environmental performance.
In seeking to improve our environmental performance, we will focus on the following areas in particular:
Waste management: We will manage waste generated by our business as efficiently as possible, and will seek to reduce, reuse and recycle waste wherever possible.
Reduction of greenhouse gases: We will include environmental considerations such as energy efficiency into the acquisition, design and operation of all our buildings where practicable. We will promote the use of travel options or alternatives to travel that minimize our impact on the environment.
Water consumption: We will manage our water consumption by installing water efficient measures in all our buildings where possible and feasible.
Procurement: We will take into account the environmental credentials of suppliers when awarding contracts and will consider environmentally responsible alternatives to products and services which we procure.
Stakeholder engagement: We will encourage and promote environmental awareness amongst our staff through information, instruction and training.
Clients: We will share our sustainability policy and objectives with our clients and, where appropriate, encourage our clients to adopt environmental and sustainability strategies.
Communication: We will communicate our sustainability policy internally and externally.
Law and regulation: We will comply with all laws and regulation relating to the environment.
Review: We will periodically review and, if necessary, revise our environmental policy to ensure that it continues to meet the highest best practice standards.
Governance: Our Executive Committee is responsible for deciding the firm’s sustainability policy, objectives and targets and for ensuring that the necessary organization and resources exist to facilitate their achievement. It is also the responsibility of each and every employee to implement this policy within the practice and to live up to its commitments.
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