Environmental Policy
ISO14001:2015 Clause 4.2
MATT Architecture is an architectural practice that endeavours to leave a space better than how it was found. By complying with the ISO 14001: 2015, we are continually engaged with improving our environmental strategies and aspirations to allow us to deliver professional services of the highest standards. We are committed to achieving environmental best practice throughout our business activities wherever this is practicable.
This Environmental Policy has been established to be consistent with the purpose and context of MATT Architecture. It provides a framework for the setting and review of environmental objectives, in addition to our commitment towards continually improving the practice and our design.
The procedures set out in this statement are regularly reviewed and updated, with a full annual external audit to ISO14001:2015 standard. Refer to ER04 Environmental Objectives – for in-depth objectives that relate to this policy.
Our commitment to maintain key objectives are as follows:
- Directors and the members of the organisation conduct internal environmental reviews and publicise the results. The reviews measure our performance and ensure that we are meeting our policy goals as well as compliance requirements.
- Continually promote sustainability and environmental services to consultant, clients, and future staff members to develop high-quality services.
- Establish office-based certifications to audit the business to a very high standard – such as B-corp.
- Reduce waste and overall material consumption by 5% over the course of the next year.
- Target achieving minimum BREEAM excellent in 100% of applicable projects.
- Monitor external environmental impacts and ensure the firm’s resilience to the potential risks. Offsetting any emissions that cannot be reduced.
We recognise that environmental risks are part of the normal checklist of risk assessment and management. As part of our risk assessments, where appropriate, environmental impact assessments may be requested.
This policy is communicated to all interested parties as well as being made available to the wider community through publication on our website and company notice board.
1
Practice
Within our workplace, we are committed to the health and safety of our employees and visitors, whilst minimizing our potential impact on the environment. The practice operates in compliance with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, and approved codes of practice and remains up to date with new regulations.
We aim to:
- Encourage employees to use public transport or cycling whilst promoting virtual meetings, when possible, to reduce unnecessary travel.
- Facilitate training to encourage our employees to develop/maintain/invest in environmentally responsible behaviour.
- Maintain a high standard of recycling and reuse by purchasing recycled or recyclable equipment.
- Ensure responsible disposal of remaining waste.
- Measure and take action to reduce the carbon footprint of our business activities to meet our published objectives and targets.
- Purchase stationery and office supplies from environmentally conscious providers. This as well as considering energy efficiency in the purchase of new office equipment.
- Avoid the use of hazardous materials. When such materials must be used the company will make sure it is stored and disposed of in methods that prevent unnecessary pollution.
- Where significant health, safety, or environmental hazards exist, develop/keep appropriate emergency response programmes.
- Promote our environmental commitments to our clients and publicly.
2
Design
Seeing as the built environment is a main contender of climate change, we feel it is our duty to use our professional expertise to promote sustainable & environmentally conscious design for every project.
We aim to:
- Design to promote recycled materials or those with low embodied energy and to minimise waste and pollution.
- Design to optimise public transport/cycling and walking by establishing a travel plan to support users with designated facilities.
- Design to protect and enhance biodiversity.
- Seek sustainable building accreditations for all projects.
- Encourage and specify suppliers that consider the environmental implications by asking them to supply proof of their environmental credentials.
- Collaborate with like-minded and sustainably driven consultants.
- Improve design efficiency through our QMS systems to benchmark, measure, and communicate to avoid abortive work and/or site reworking.