Environmental Policy March 2012 1
Contents 1. MISSION STATEMENT... 3 2. IMPLEMENTATION... 3 3. SCOPE OF POLICY... 3 4. KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS... 4 4.1 OFFICES... 4 4.2 BUSINESS TRAVEL... 4 4.3 AUDIENCE AND ARTIST TRAVEL... 4 4.4. PRODUCTIONS... 4 4.5 GOODS AND SERVICES PROCUREMENT... 5 4.5.1 Office Supplies...5 4.5.2 Other...5 4.6 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS... 5 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN... 6 5.1 MAIN OFFICE... 6 5.2 BUSINESS TRAVEL AND STAFF COMMUTING... 7 5.3 AUDIENCE AND ARTIST TRAVEL... 8 5.4 PRODUCTION... 8 Greenhouse gas emissions offsetting...9 Further areas of consideration...9 6. REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION... 9 6.1 REPORTING TIME- FRAME... 9 Creative Directors: Dan Barnard and Rachel Briscoe fanshen 75 Gayville Road, London, SW11 6JW W: www.fanshen.org.uk 2
1. Mission Statement fanshen theatre company, based in London, tells stories of real people exploring big questions. Our work is built on five core elements: story; localism; internationalism; dual perspective; and collaboration. Through our artistic practice we seek to challenge, confound and surprise, and value the visual along with the spoken in creating dialogue. We work closely with professionals and communities, especially young people, to develop work with relevance and appeal. Led by creative directors Dan Barnard and Rachel Briscoe, and the associate designer Chris Gylee we regularly collaborate with an ensemble of associated artists. fanshen recognise that our work can negatively impact the environment. We are committed to, and enjoy finding ways in which we can reduce the impact of our work both in the office and while on tour. This Environmental Policy currently only covers our office operations but we endeavour to include our productions and tours as well in the near future. We aim to regularly review our Environmental Policy and seek to reduce our impact by setting carbon reduction targets. During 2012 we will measure the carbon impacts of one of our tours (Green and Pleasant Land) for the first time. We are also planning to measure the carbon footprint of our office operations for the first time this year. We are committed to continue monitoring those impacts and to take actions to reduce them 2. Implementation fanshen s Environmental Policy is a statement of our commitment to help reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. The policy is supported by an Environmental Action Plan, which specifies how the policy will be implemented, complete with targets, dates and a named person responsible for delivering it. We will work with our staff, board, artists, supply chain and stakeholder network to ensure we consider and communicate the environmental impacts of our activities. For each financial year we will assess and report our environmental performance to stakeholders. This information will be used to update our action plan for the coming year. This Environmental Policy is endorsed by: Christine Twite (Chairman of the Board) 3. Scope of Policy Our activities have environmental impacts in the areas of: Energy Water Waste Travel 3
Our ability to improve our environmental impacts depends on our knowledge of, and commitment to addressing them and our capacity to change and influence decisions not always within our immediate control (such as audience travel to our productions). We will exert our efforts as much as possible to understand; measure; improve; and communicate our environmental performance. 4. Key Environmental Impacts 4.1 Offices We run our theatre company from our office space in South West London. Rehearsals and performances of our productions take place in different spaces. Primary environmental impacts are: Fossil- fuel energy consumption Water consumption Waste generation Office supplies, production and services (see 4.4.1, 4.4.2 and 4.4.3) 4.2 Business Travel Our productions may tour across the UK and abroad, which involves travel and transport. In addition to business travel there are also the environmental impacts produced from staff commuting to and from work. Primary environmental impacts are: Fossil fuel energy consumption 4.3 Audience and artist travel We provide travel for our ensemble of artists when travelling long distances for touring or for residencies, and we always aim to travel as sustainably as possible. Our artists also need to travel to our rehearsal spaces, which we do not organise. We are also responsible for audience travel to our productions. Primary environmental impacts are: Fossil fuel energy consumption 4.4. Productions Our productions may involve the use of materials for staging and/or props. They may also involve the use of lighting and sound. Primary environmental impacts are caused by: Fossil fuel energy consumption Waste generation Use of materials e.g. wood, steel Toxicity of batteries 4
4.5 Goods and Services Procurement 4.5.1 Office Supplies A few goods and services are procured to run our office operations and each has an environmental impact. Primary environmental impacts are caused by: Resource use for office electronic equipment, furniture and stationery Toxicity of cleaning products, furniture and equipment 4.5.2 Other In addition to the goods and services outlined above, two less visible areas for consideration are: Banking Server hosting of the website and email accounts 4.6 Key Performance Indicators We are committed to measuring and monitoring all those environmental impacts that we can reasonably gather data for, and control the use of. For main office Energy consumption per staff member Water use per staff member Waste production per staff member Greenhouse gas emissions per staff member For staff commuter travel Mode of travel for all staff For business travel Greenhouse gas emissions per staff member For audience and artist travel 5
Greenhouse gas emissions per seat per performance Greenhouse gas emissions per artist For production Greenhouse gas emissions per 1000 of production budget; per crew member; and per m 2 of stage Number of contractors able to provide us with green products and services for the production, including information about their efforts to reduce their environmental impacts i.e. energy efficient technologies, FSC and/or recycled wood etc. For goods and services procurement Number of suppliers/contractors able to provide us information about their efforts to reduce their environmental impacts i.e. contracts with provisions, recycling and composting availability, low carbon alternatives 5. Environmental Action Plan Date: April 2012 March 2013 Staff member responsible for co- ordinating the action plan: Dan Barnard 5.1 Main Office We are committed to monitoring and minimising the environmental impacts of our office practices and business processes as much as possible. We are planning to measure the carbon footprint of our office operations for the first time in 2012, and will use the baseline results to set reduction targets for the future. Action Measure our office environmental impact audit on an annual basis by implementing an internal system for recording and submitting the required data. How Use the free web- based IG Office Tool available on the Julie s Bicycle website. Audit will include quantifying GHG emissions from electricity and gas use, water use and the amount of waste generated and recycled. Undertake ongoing building energy management of the main office in collaboration with the management and Use the web- based smeasure and imeasure available on the Julie s 6
encouraging staff to undertake home energy management. Purchase goods and services from suppliers with strong environmental credentials (e.g. using post- consumer and/or FSC paper products). Bicycle website. Contact JB for the code entitling you to a free trial. Request details from suppliers Preference suppliers with strong environmental credentials. Recycle as much as possible (including CDs and batteries). Provide recycling bins. Compost food waste, if applicable. Minimise waste including paper. Provide composting bins. Develop effective waste management with regards to toxic and hazardous substances, as well as recycling procedures. Reduce paper consumption by printing thoughtfully, double- sided, reusing paper, using recycled paper and increasing the use of electronic filing. 5.2 Business Travel and Staff Commuting We are committed to monitoring and minimising the environmental impacts of our business travel and encouraging staff to consider low GHG emission commuting options. Action Conduct an annual audit of business travel to assess travel and quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that travel. Evaluate organisational benefits of business travel where applicable. Use train and coach services whenever possible. How Staff to complete monthly travel tracker or info gathered from expense records. Use the free web- based IG Office Tool available on the Julie s Bicycle website. Discuss merits of attending the event for organisational reach and maximise value from business trip. Research options and book tickets in advance to get best rates. If being invited to an event request to use public transport services. 7
Ban taking flights within the UK. Support car pooling and lift sharing. Encourage staff cycling and walking. Only take internal flights when no other option is feasible and the attendance is deemed essential for company s outreach with stakeholders. Staff share information about travel planning. Provide facilities and financial support for walkers and cyclists, such as showers, storage facilities, expenses and access to tax- reducing schemes such as CycleScheme (www.cyclescheme.co.uk). 5.3 Audience and Artist Travel We are committed to minimising the environmental impacts associated with our artist travel and audience travel to our events and encourage our stakeholders to consider low GHG emission travel options (e.g. cycling, public transportation, etc.). Action Encourage the use of bus, tube, train and coach services whenever possible. Support car- pooling and lift sharing. Encourage cycling and walking. How Research options and promote them on your website for your audience and artists. Share information about travel planning on your website. Provide facilities and financial support for walkers and cyclists, such as showers and storage facilities. 5.4 Production We are committed to minimising the environmental impacts associated with our productions through the use of material, lighting and sound. Action Measure the carbon footprint of your production. Use energy- efficient technologies such as LED lighting and low energy sound consoles when resources permit. Opt for sustainable and reycled materials for props and staging. Reuse and recycle sets and props as much as How Use the free web- based Production IG Tool available on the Julie s Bicycle website from the beginning of April. Ask your suppliers for the environmental credentials of their products. Avoid the use of tropical hardwood. Use FSC and/or recycled wood where possible. 8
possible. Store sets and props post- production where possible. Consider the weight/cubic capacity/packaging of materials and equipment to minimise transport impacts. Use companies like Set Exchange and Scenery Salvage to recycle sets. Greenhouse gas emissions offsetting fanshen will only offset our carbon emissions after all reasonable practical actions to reduce our emissions have been taken. Offsetting is a last but significant final action. We will support offsetting companies with at least Gold Standard accreditation for GHG emissions offsetting projects. Further areas of consideration We will undertake research to access the feasibility of purchasing a renewable energy tariff for office energy use; having a green lease agreement as part of our office rental tenancy should we move locations; and consider the environmental credentials of our banking. 6. Reporting and Communication Our 2011 office carbon audit of our office space to be measured this year will be our baseline year for understanding our company s environmental impacts and what decisions we can take to reduce those impacts. Data collected from this year will be used to inform the setting of our environmental goals and targets for improvement in future years. Each year we will assess the scope for assessing our environmental impacts and extend the scope for understanding, measurement and action as appropriate. The consideration of our environmental impacts will be a standing item on all internal meetings concerning office operations, staff behaviour, artist and staff travel, and office supplies; A mid- year meeting will be held to discuss environmental impacts and progress towards meeting improvements targets for that year; An environmental report will be prepared annually and electronically circulated to staff and our artists. We will publish the environmental report on the fanshen website along the environmental policy, and our office s annual audits. 6.1 Reporting time- frame April 2012 Publish environmental policy for year 2012 so that it is available to the public. Scope the carbon footprint of the office space to establish a baseline (2011). 9
September 2012 April 2013 Mid year meeting to discuss office environmental impacts and work out a strategy for reducing them. Update environmental policy with an analysis of 2012 reduction targets, including a carbon footprint for the office space for 2012, and set reduction targets for 2013. Update and publish the revised environmental policy so that it is available to the public. 10