Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability

We know that water is precious and much of what we do at IWater is about reinforcing how we can reduce harmful human impacts on the water environment. 

 

But we also need to be aware of our own environmental impact as an organisation so we have developed an Environmental Sustainability Policy which identifies our significant environmental impacts, such as energy and water use, travel and production of waste, and helps us to monitor, control and reduce them. 

Institute of Water Environmental Sustainability Policy 

“Smaller carbon footprint, mindful about water.” 

 

The Institute of Water is aiming to be a more sustainable professional body by empowering staff, committees and members to make environmentally driven decisions, strive for sustainable innovation in the water sector and promote an environmentally responsible event culture. We will: 

 

  • identify and analyse any significant environmental impacts of our Head Office operations and our Area activities; 
  • develop an environmental action plan, implement relevant procedures and establish a transparent way of monitoring the results; 
  • aim to reduce our carbon and water footprints by reducing water and energy consumption as well as paper and plastic use, and promoting greener travel choices; 
  • comply with applicable environmental legislation – including any local EMS at venues used – and keep up with regulatory changes; 
  • seek to understand human – environment relationships and ensure that new procedures have no adverse impact on the wellbeing of our people, especially vulnerable participants; 
  • commit to improve the health and wellbeing of our staff and members by sustainable event planning and offering opportunities for social interaction and physical activity; 
  • aim to recognise health inequalities by ensuring that everyone has access to a good quality environment by checking health and risk  documentation at the venues, and promoting  and sharing good wellbeing practices; 
  • look for awareness and competence in environmental sustainability when awarding professional registration; 
    • implement a sustainable event planning procedure and use an effective channel of communication to share  good environmental practices across Institute members; 
    • motivate members and stakeholders to be compliant with our environmental policy; 
    • favour local food suppliers and ethically sourced produce, seek to minimise food waste, and aim to reduce water use; 
    • recognise and reward sustainability-oriented innovations; 
    • influence our community to become environmentally “literate” and aware by providing a range of learning opportunities and by showcasing this policy at our events.