Corporate Social Responsibility
The NWDA is championing corporate social responsibility to all
levels of business across the Northwest. As well as promoting
sustainable consumption and
production, protecting our natural resources and adapting
to as well as mitigating the affects of climate change, we also
promote ethical business practices.
To aid the adoption of responsible corporate behaviour in
Northwest businesses, the NWDA commissioned a study on the Step Change
to Corporate Responsibility Integration in the
Northwest. The study included a Next Steps Framework
as a guide for NWDA to take the region’s activity in corporate
social responsibility to the next stage.
We also take our own corporate social responsibility seriously
and this is evident in the work we are doing to develop a Carbon
Reduction Strategy and a Sustainable Procurement Policy, which will
guide the management of our supply chain.
Our work in developing a sustainable approach to running the
NWDA is also evident in the Wind Turbine at our head office site
which, when running at full power, can run all the computers at the
site.
Supply Chain Management
With regards to Northwest businesses, the NWDA promotes
sustainability in the supply chain through its work in sustainable consumption.
Businesses can benefit from a sustainable supply chain by: getting
better value for money through buying energy-efficient products;
improved organisational environment; and improved reputation.
With regards to our own organisation, we promote sustainability
in the supply chain by: the way we treat our suppliers; the labour
conditions along the supply chain; our support for SMEs and local
production; and the selection of environmentally friendly products
and services we use.
Carbon Footprint
The NWDA’s corporate carbon reduction target is 5% year on year
over the lifetime of the corporate plan 2008/11 - which amounts to
422 carbon tonnes. As part of a commitment to minimise our
corporate carbon dioxide emissions, we analyse and report on our
carbon footprint on an annual basis.
There has been a net increase of 59 tonnes of carbon dioxide
emissions from 2006/07 to 2007/08, which represents a 2.5% increase
on the baseline year. We have therefore not met our corporate plan
target of a 5% reduction in its first year of operation.
Our waste contract currently achieves a 57% recycling rate. We
aim to increase this rate as further improvements are implemented.
In the year 2006/07 to 2007/08, waste to landfill has gone down by
66%. We have also switched all A4 copying paper to 100% recycled
paper, which helps save trees and reduces our carbon footprint.
One of our carbon reduction initiatives is a 15 kW
state-of-the-art wind turbine in our head office grounds in
Warrington, which was installed in June 2008. Standing almost 25
metres high, the wind turbine feeds directly into our electrical
supply and has a carbon dioxide emission saving of 9,675kg per
year. Statistics relating to the energy generated are displayed on
an interactive monitor in the reception area of our head
office.
Other carbon reduction initiatives include a bus shuttle - which
we jointly fund - that operates between the site and the two train
stations in Warrington, and a Bikes for Work scheme, helping
NWDA employees swap car commuter journeys for cycle ones.
May Day Pledge
The NWDA is encouraging Northwest businesses to make a
commitment to reducing emissions by signing up to the Prince of
Wales Network May Day Pledge, which is being led by Business in The
Community (BiTC)
There are six elements of the pledge, and businesses are being
asked to sign up to one or more of them and make a commitment to
corporate social responsibility:
- Measure and report your business’ carbon emissions publicly or
to business in the community
- Manage your carbon emissions, develop a carbon action plan, and
set an absolute carbon reduction target
- Take action to reduce your business' carbon emissions
- Encourage employees to reduce their carbon footprint at home
and at work
- Work in partnership with suppliers to reduce emissions in the
supply chain
- Encourage your customers to take action on climate change
Leadership & Cultural Change
Businesses need to go through a cultural change in order to
transform themselves into organisations that consider corporate
social responsibility in everything they do. Successful cultural
changes need strong leadership. The Leadership & Management
programme is a business service funded by the NWDA and available
through Business Link
Northwest.
Responsible Planning
Corporate Social Responsibility is key to reshaping the region’s
infrastructure. The NWDA is involved in influencing infrastructure planning to
ensure the Northwest makes corporately responsible development
decisions.