Environmental Management

We recognise that our activities, products or services may have an effect on the environment. It is our aim to reduce that effect to a minimum, by implementing an effective system for managing our environmental impact.

Our policy on environmental management

By regularly assessing the significance of our interactions with the environment, we will set objectives and targets relating to our operations. In particular we will continually strive to:

• prevent or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants

• minimise consumption of natural resources and energy

• reduce, reuse or recycle wastes

• meet or surpass applicable regulatory and other requirements

• adopt best practice guidance in our operations and activities where feasible

• promote our environmental policy among our employees, our suppliers, our customers, our local community, our University and others in our industry

This policy applies to all Cambridge University Press's activities, products and services and is reviewed on a regular basis. 

Peter Phillips

Chief Executive

Last review date of 1 April 2013

Our environmental achievements

• We retain registration to ISO 14001, the International Environmental Management standard, having first gained certification in 2007 

• We retain the UK Carbon Trust Standard, having first gained certification in 2010. At our latest recertification, we reduced carbon emissions by 15% compared to the previous certification period

• A new waste management system was introduced to the UK office environment in 2012 allowing bio waste and a wider range of dry recyclables to be separated and composted or recycled. In 2012, 527 tonnes (89 per cent) of waste was recycled compared to 68 tonnes (11 per cent) sent to landfill. These figures represent reductions of 50 per cent of recyclables and 56 per cent of landfill from 2011

• To celebrate World Environment Day, we planted 12 native trees on our Cambridge site in June 2012

• We have two on-site conservation areas, the first established in 2011 and the second in 2012. Colleagues have volunteered over 360 hours in the areas, planting, watering, digging ponds and building fences and log piles. In 2012, the Wildlife Trust awarded the older conservation area the Wildlife Gardening at Work Award. Recent camera pictures have spotted two badgers and a deer frequenting the area

• In 2011 we joined the car sharing scheme LiftShare, which helps colleagues save on travel costs, cut carbon and reduce local congestion. We also have a Cycle to Work scheme and promote events like Walk to Work week

• Our colleagues have been volunteering on Wildlife Trust nature reserves since 2008, taking part in activities like coppicing, fencing, hedge laying and hay strewing, encouraging sustainability and diversity of plant and animal life. Our people have given thousands of hours to Wildlife Trust projects since the volunteering programme began