7-days to Sustainability- Case Study 4
19 June 2012
This week we heard from Toby Bedford, Partner, at Cording Group, an investor-manager of commercial property in the UK and Europe. The Group took part in the 7-days to Sustainability campaign last week and found some great ways to turn the week into an employee engagement exercise.
Cording Group has developed a Green Team, led by Toby himself, which relays tips and advice to all employees, via receipt of a daily email, to get everyone involved and thinking about sustainability.
Toby commented: “Working towards the 7-days to Sustainability award has been a thoroughly worthwhile individual and group achievement. We have created our own Green Team to raise awareness and ensure what we have learnt will be put to good use for the long term. For example, where possible, we all walk to work and purchase recyclable envelopes.”
Planet Positive was thrilled to see some of the improvements Cording Group has already made:
• Drinking tap water instead of bottled. Did you know that plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting? Tap water is cheaper too!
• Buying Fairtrade products wherever possible i.e. sugar and coffee.
• Ordering FSC envelopes from our stationers.
• Encouraging staff to use bikes instead of taxis, trains, or buses to navigate London.
• Switching off computer monitors if inactive for more than 20 minutes. New remote access system that will allow staff to switch off their computer at night and over the weekend, yet still allowing them to gain remote access.
• Added a list of do’s & don’ts showing what can and cannot be disposed of above the kitchen bins.
And, here are just some of the steps Cording plan to continue with:
• Buying locally and eating seasonally (cutting down on emissions from transport).
• Look out for the brands: Soil Association and Fairtrade, which are both sustainable and ethical.
• When booking business lunches, consider The ‘Sustainable Restaurant Association’.
• Increased conference calls or meetings over Skype, rather than getting a taxi.
• Encourage the use of biking to work. A commuter switching from public transport will save on average £1,112 per year.
• If you do have to drive then check your tyres regularly. FACT – underinflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 5%.
Finally, here is one of the great tips from Planet Positive given to staff at Cording during the week:
• TOP TIP: take your own mug/flask into Starbucks and you get 25p off your drink!
Congratulations to Cording Group for all their hard work.