Environmental Policy

The Inn wishes to commit fully to its responsibility for minimising the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its operation, and will now, through this inaugural Policy statement, seek continuous improvement in its environmental performance. The Inn’s ultimate target is to reduce its carbon emissions in the long-term while also developing short-term initiatives which improve environmental responsibility and ensure that our values are embedded within our community. We aim to be a centre of excellence in environmental management within the Inns of Court and to promote environmental best practice.

This Policy has been formulated by the Inn’s Sub-Treasurer (Chief Executive) and the senior management team and encourages all staff and members to be involved in continuous environmental improvement. This will be achieved by establishing environmental performance strategies, specifically relating to energy, transport, procurement, waste, catering, and building management. These strategies will be reviewed and reported upon regularly. In addition, the Inn will seek a rating of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ or ‘Outstanding’ for all new-build construction projects, and ‘Very Good’ on alteration projects to existing buildings.

The Inn will seek to ensure that all its activities are carried out in compliance with environmental regulations and in a sustainable manner. To support this Environmental Policy, it has sought to engage all staff and members amongst the wider Inn community, inspiring and embedding environmental principles for the future of the Inn.

The Inn has set its first environmental targets as a new five-year implementation commitment to 2024. These include:

• extending the Building Management System to include all major plant across the estate;
• setting environmental targets within all Estates projects, including the adoption of the BREEAM standard for any new construction;
• the full implementation of electronic governance communications, including for committees;
• the identification of more extensive recycling initiatives for the wider environmental benefit;
• engaging local groups and other legal institutions in environmental issues; seeking out and implementing best practice, where relevant;
• including this Environmental Policy on our website;
• the raising of awareness within the Inn’s community to ensure that everyone recognises and respects their environmental responsibilities and acts accordingly;
• policy implementation, regular audit of practices and procedures and reporting to the Executive Committee;
• to review the Inn’s environment impact to establish a baseline, with a view to an audit of progress and performance in 2024.

Further objectives could include:

• initiatives to reduce reliance on paper systems;
• the formulation of a sustainable Green Travel Plan to monitor and improve methods of staff travel, including commuting and Inn business travel for staff and members;
• the establishment of mechanisms for measuring and reducing carbon emissions;
• the development and implementation of a Sustainable Procurement Strategy that works to ensure sustainability, energy efficiency and recycling through a whole life costing approach;
• the implementation of effective energy management to reduce the Inn’s carbon emissions;
• that all estates and maintenance projects explicitly include environmental considerations and liaise with architects and contractors to ensure compliance;
• the implementation of a Water Management Strategy to ensure that more efficient systems of water management are introduced within the Inn.