Resources

NAVCA recognises that all our activities have environmental impacts. Our organisation has a responsibility to protect our environment and our actions can make a difference. NAVCA trustees and staff are encouraged to consider the effects of everything we do on the national and global environment.

NAVCA has signed the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change, and encourages all our members to do the same. NAVCA was a partner in Every Action Counts (EAC), a Defra-funded programme engaging national and local third sector organisations in work to protect and improve our environment and to deliver sustainable development solutions.

Policies for a greener NAVCA

• NAVCA has a Sustainable Development Policy that suggests practical ways to reduce our environmental impact.
• NAVCA has a Sustainable Development Action Plan and progress is regularly reviewed by a staff group. Our members are actively encouraged to develop their own action plans.
• We have an Ethical Business Development Policy and Sustainable Purchasing policy. We are developing our own ethical purchasing policy.

Greening NAVCA

• We are currently looking into the feasibility of signing up to the Guardian 10:10 campaign.
• Staff are shown ways to help make NAVCA more environmentally sustainable in their induction.
• Our intranet has a 'Green Folder' for staff, including general office tips, green travel, and use of computers.
• Our social networking site navcaboodle has a green issues group to encourage staff and NAVCA members to share information/tips
• In September 2009 changed to green electricity supplier.
• We have regular spot checks to ensure lights/computers/printers are switched off at night and when not needed. Reminders are sent to staff.
• Guidance on efficient use of heating/air conditioning have been circulated to staff.
• NAVCA recycles paper, card, printer toner and light bulbs. Our policy is to print double-sided and draft. We are pushing our landlord for better recycling facilities for the whole building.
• Stationery and office equipment is ordered from the 'green' supplier's catalogue wherever possible.
• NAVCA uses eco-friendly cleaning materials.
• We have replaced our water coolers with filter jugs.
• We only buy fair trade tea and coffee.
• Old computers and other electrical equipment which are still useable are offered to community groups/local charities. Those which no longer work get recycled.
• Occasional staff collections of old spectacles (for visionaid). Books and old mobile phones/chargers are also collected for local charity shops.
• We encourage visitors to come by public transport - information on routes is available on our website.
• We are trialling teleconferencing and videoconferenceing for meetings.
• Information on cycling routes is also published on our website. We have are campaigning for supply of a cycle rack from our landlord.
• Any outside catering is from a local company which uses locally-sourced food and has a generally ethical approach. Reusable trays and glasses are used. We are considering serving vegetarian-only buffets at meetings, and are currently researching the effect of this on our carbon footprint.
• Staff can work flexitime to make getting to work by public transport easier.
  Information on local environmental initiatives eg 'Sheffield Environment Weeks' are circulated to staff.
• Our green successes are celebrated at staff meetings and on our noticeboard.

Making NAVCA publications greener

• There is a section on sustainability in each issue of our email bulletin LINX. Regular articles appear in our print newsletter, 'Circulation'.
• We contributed case studies to the EAC publication Changing the way we work (on greening your office). Copies of this and other EAC guides have been distributed to all our members.
• 'Circulation' is printed on paper that is 80% recycled, FSC accredited from sustainable sources, and is 100% chlorine free. Our printer uses environmentally friendly, vegetable-based ink with no added solvents.
• Our other publications are printed on paper that is either and/or FSC certified, and chlorine free.

Greener events

• Event brochures are printed on paper that is either and/or FSC certified, and chlorine free.
• NAVCA use re-usable bags for delegate packs.
• We always try to choose venues with good public transport links. If people have to come by car we actively encourage car sharing, via our social networking site navcaboodle.
• When booking caterers, consideration is given to the company's ethical/green approach, and use of locally-sourced food.