1. Introduction
assistTec is committed to the protection of the environment through all its activities, products and services and to play a proactive role in contributing to achieving sustainability wherever they have influence.
This Includes prevention of pollution and other specific commitments relevant to the context of the organisation.
2. Sustainability Plan
Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to assistTec professional activities.
The aim is to follow and to promote good sustainability practice, to reduce the environmental impacts of all activities, products, processes, services and to help their clients and partners to do the same.
To comply with this Environmental Policy AssistTec produce an annual Sustainability Action Plan to identify all areas where sustainability can be improved and to agree the on-the-ground actions and initiatives that are needed in order to meet the targets.
The activities covered in this plan include;
- Management & Communications,
- Education for Sustainability
- Purchasing Choices
- Energy
- Waste
- Transport
- Water
The Sustainability Plan is based upon the following principles:
- Minimising the impact on sustainability of all office and project activities.
- Integrating sustainability considerations into all business decisions and continually improving the integration of sustainability into the working environment and business processes
- Ensuring that all staff are engaged in and fully aware of the Sustainability Plan and are committed to implementing and improving it.
- Ensuring clients and subcontractors are aware of the Sustainability plan and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices.
- Accountability and transparency in the sustainability performance.
3. Enviromental Objectives
assistTec has established environmental objectives at all relevant functions, levels and processes as needed for their Environmental Management System.
These objectives demonstrate that they have taken into account significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations and considered all risks and opportunities Environmental aspects can create risks and opportunities associated with adverse environmental impacts, beneficial environmental impacts, and other effects on the organisation.
The objectives are as follows;
Commit to the prevention of pollution, where it is practicable to do so;
- Minimise waste by evaluating operations and ensuring they are as efficient as possible.
- Minimise toxic emissions through the selection and use of vehicles / transport we use by trying to plan the allocation of work in the most productive manner.
- Actively promote recycling both internally and amongst its Customers, Contractors, Sub Contractors and Suppliers.
- Source and promote a product range to minimise the environmental impact of both production and distribution.
- Implement a training program for its staff to raise awareness of environmental issues and enlist their support in improving the Company’s performance.
- Identify and agree with customers, employers, suppliers and subcontractors the environmental aspects of all activities and aim to meet or exceed legislative and best practice requirements;
- Systematically identify the nature and scale of environmental impacts and eliminate, reduce or control impacts to environmental receptors;
- Comply with relevant environmental legislation and guidance, policies and other corporate and industry best practise initiatives to which AssistTec subscribes;
- Regularly review legislation and best practice developments and ensure, where appropriate, these are incorporated into existing management practises and procedure;
- Undertake open and timely measuring, monitoring and reporting of environmental performance through regular review and audit;
- Through the sustainability plan set, review and communicate measurable and monitored sustainability objectives and targets;
- Ensure resources needed for the implementation of this policy are available. These include human resources, including specialised skills and knowledge, natural resources, infrastructure, technology and financial resources.
- Ensure emergency response planning is in place to ensure full compliance with all applicable environmental legislation and to minimise the environmental impact of any accidents or incidents.
- Build the highest possible standards of environmental best practice into all assistTec systems, facilities and equipment.
- To consider the complete lifecycle when procuring product and services including potential significant environmental impacts associated with the transportation or delivery, use, end-of-life treatment and final disposal.
4. Compliance and Communication
Communication allows assistTec to provide and obtain information relevant to its significant environmental aspects, environmental performance, compliance obligations and recommendations for continual improvement.
This Environmental policy is communicated, understood and applied within the organisation, to all third-party suppliers and subcontractors and is made available to all other interested parties as appropriate.
The ultimate responsibility for Environmental performance lies with the Directors who will ensure that it is given equal priority with other major business objectives. They will ensure that;
- all significant effects are identified and reported to the Directors;
- detailed Procedures and Work Instructions are provided at all areas of environmental sensitivity requiring close operational control;
- The level of operational control, verification, measurement and testing required by assistTec is defined, after due consultation with the Regulatory authorities, any other relevant national regulations and the views of interested parties;
- Through training, allocation of resources and competency AssistTec that persons doing work under the organisation’s control are aware of:
- The significant environmental aspects and related actual or potential environmental impacts associated with their work;
- Their contribution to the effectiveness of the environmental management system, including the benefits of enhanced environmental performance;
- The implications of not conforming with the environmental management system requirements, including not fulfilling the organisation’s compliance obligations.
Implementation of this policy is a responsibility at all levels within the organisation.
5. Contractor Compliance
When working with assistTec all third-party suppliers and subcontractors are expected to comply with the principles in this policy and with all relevant environmental legislation and guidance and industry best practise initiatives.
assistTec will monitor the Contractor’s performance and take any action deemed necessary if a Contractor is found to be non-compliant with this Policy, including contract termination.
6. Validity and Document Management
This document is valid as of 20th June 2023
The owner of this document is the assistTec General Manager, who must check and, if necessary, update the document at least once a year.