In December 2009, after a year with much travelling, we decided to address the Carbon Footprint of Aspiro Education Limited. It had been all too easy to hop on a plane or get in the car. The nature of our business means travelling to our clients - and we have a lot of clients - but we knew we could use public transport more and adjust other aspects of  our journeys.

We believe that small changes have impact so we targetted our office practices as well as our travel plans.

This is the ongoing story of our efforts to reduce impact on the environment and hopefully it will inspire you to make small changes too.

Aspiro Education Ltd. recognises that its work has direct and indirect effects on the local, national & global environment. We are committed to aiming to reduce our negative impact on the environment.

Our progress so far - reduction in Travel Carbon Footprint (tonnes per year) 
Calculated using the Direct Gov Carbon Calculator. Opens in a new window.

Our aim is to reduce the impact of our travelling by increasing our use of public transport, reducing the distance travelled and by considering new working practices that reduce travel. We also need to be aware that in some cases reducing our travelling can increase that of others which may have an overall greater nagative effect.

Actions:

• Use the train instead of air travel for medium journeys when practical
• Use the train instead of driving for medium journeys when practical
• Use the bus/train for short journeys e.g. to &  from the station/airport
• Walk rather than drive on very short journeys e.g. to the Post Office
• Organise bookings such that events in the same geographical area are on consecutive days when practical
• Experiment with video conferencing

Our aim is to save water & energy, especially the energy used overnight. We have focussed on making it easy to turn off electrical items.

Actions taken in  2010/2011:

• Switched to energy efficient daylight bulbs
• Replaced sockets & multi-socket extension cables with sockets & extensions that have switches.
• Rearranged plugs such that all items that can be switched off overnight are on the same extensions.
• Rearranged plugs such that all items that need to be on 24 hours a day, e.g. answer phone are on a separate socket to those that can be switched off.
• Invested in an energy monitor.
• Unplugging phone chargers & laptops when not in use.
• Inserted a hippo bag in the toilet cistern.
• Less colour printing ( a colour laser print repeats the same action four times rather than once for a B&W).
• Reduced shredder usage by using both sides of the paper.

Future Actions for 2011/2012

• Setting up the computers to enter standby mode
• Putting the computers into standby when they are not in use
• Consider introducing an inkjet to the office.

Our aim is to reduce waste, by decreasing what we buy, reducing what we use and recycling where we can.

Actions taken in 2010/2011:

• Recycling toner cartridges
• Opting for Black & White over Colour printing where possible, increasing the life expectancy of the drum cartridge
• Using draft print quality when appropriate, prolonging the toner cartridges
• Using both sides of the paper - either double sided printing or use as scrap paper.
• Sorting waste into recycling & shredding, only shred what is necessary.
• Buying environementally friendly office products where practicable

Future Actions for 2011/2012:

• Send more official communication by email
• Increase the purchase of environementally friendly office products.