Sustainability PolicyOur business objectives

Overview

The Escape has defined three key principles for our approach to sustainability:

Sustainability is a core obligation of the company. This includes office management, procurement and the way we communicate.
We aim to practice what we preach by taking sustainability into account in our actions and corporate decision-making.
We will use our position, purchasing power and marketing voice to influence others towards sustainability in business.

Suppliers

All suppliers should provide information on their environmental credentials and this is taken into account as part of our new supplier evaluation process.

Stationery, printed materials and communications

This includes the stationery we use within our premises, for client communication and also the paper used in our clients’ publications.

All copier paper, including coloured reams for specific purposes, now comprises at least 80% recycled material and much is 100% recycled.
All office pads (flipcharts, bound pads, shorthand notebooks etc), as well as 30% of envelopes, are now made from recycled paper.
Filing and storage products are made from recycled paper include hanging files, lever arch files, box files, document wallets and square cut folders.
Remanufactured toners are currently being trialled.
Double-sided printing is encouraged throughout the office.
E-mail footers now include a statement to encourage the reader to save paper by either not printing, or if necessary, printing double-sided.
Fax toners are donated to Make A Wish Foundation UK and are collected on a regular basis.

With regard to external publications, The Escape reviewed various options during 2008, taking into account factors such as quality, recycled content, environmental credentials of different suppliers and costs. As a result, we have switched to paper that is made from 75% post-consumer waste and 25% mill broke, and produced in an ISO 14001 approved paper mill. It is also totally chlorine free. All printers have been instructed to only use vegetable dyes in the production of Escape literature and electronic marketing materials are encouraged.

For corporate publications (e.g. Annual Reports and magazines), we use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved paper through a print supplier that is ISO 14001 certified.

In addition, The Escape now produces publication/application forms in standard sizes and shapes. This reduces wastage and also provides cost saving benefits. In exceptional circumstances where there is a creative reason and the impact of the end result will be positive, we will produce bespoke shapes or sizes. The printer uses waterless printing technology and vegetable inks.

Waste minimisation and recycling

Bin points have been set up around the office with fact sheets at each bin point as well as other communication and training to make everyone aware of the changes.

Office energy use

A main thrust of our work is to influence behaviours to ensure that unused equipment is fully switched off. “SWITCH IT OFF“ labels are applied to electrical appliances (monitors, computers, printers and photocopiers). We are currently investigating technological solutions to minimise power consumption out of hours on IT equipment.

In terms of procurement, we have introduced a policy of purchasing the most efficient equipment including flat screen monitors that use less energy than CRT monitors.

Corporate travel

Internal travel policy and procedures have been updated to state how staff should be travelling to ensure that emissions are minimised. All staff have been notified of these changes and, where possible, public transport is used.

The Escape has invested in video conferencing and encourages clients to utilise this facility as a means of minimising the consumption of fossil fuels as well as reducing traffic congestion and the resultant levels of carbon emissions.

The Escape systems have been updated to capture staff travel information from hard copy travel request forms and electronically via expense claims in Escape accounting software SAGE.