The INOU accepts that helping the environment complements the fight for social justice, as a degraded environment has the biggest impact on the most vulnerable in society. The organisation will strive to ensure that our work practices will be of financial benefit to the organisation, and at the same time, ensure they will not impact detrimentally on the environment. Following a consultation process with all its staff members, the INOU’s NEC recently adopted an environmental and sustainability policy that formally commits the organisation to continue to implement improved waste management, energy consumption, water use systems, and transport systems for staff travelling on INOU business.
The following extracts give a flavour of the content of our new policy:
Waste management
Paper
We will strive to prevent paper overuse and waste by holding documents on our computers. We will be minded by a ‘Think before printing’ approach, i.e., – does this document have to be printed? When printing and photocopying are necessary, we will use recycled paper (subject to availability/price), print on both sides of the paper, and (for internal purposes) use blank side of pre-used paper. Commencing in January 2018, we have been using the blank side of used paper as the default paper in one of our two multi-user printers.
Plastic – towards a low plastic environment (LPE)
We will avoid purchasing single-use, non-recyclable plastics. After current stocks of plastic cups for the water dispenser in the training room are used up, we will switch to using glasses.
Our mini garden
We have invested a considerable amount of resources and work in turning what was an eyesore outside corner of Araby House into an attractive green oasis in the midst of a built-up area – and created a comfortable shelter for our resident cats.
Organic waste
We will continue to compost the organic waste from in the canteen. Already 2016-17’s composted waste has been successfully incorporated into the new plant containers alongside the garden.
Energy consumption
We will strive to reduce, manage and monitor our use of electricity, gas and water all around the building, with each section taking responsibility to contribute to this ongoing exercise. We will work to ensure that PCs, plug-in heaters, photocopier, canteen appliances, immersions, lights, and gas-timing procedures and individual radiators are set up to work in the most efficient ways possible.
Staff transport
The INOU encourages its staff, in so far as is practicable, to use the below pyramid in relation to travel to work, and on work-related business. We note that Dublin Bikes has erected a new stand at the corner of North Richmond Street-North Circular Road.
- Walk or cycle
- Train or bus
- Taxi
- Private car
Environment committee
A high-powered committee has been established to ensure that the policy is implemented in a practical and inclusive manner. To date the committee has installed new signs around the building, and reduced water capacity levels in toilet cisterns.
- Eric Conroy
Financial Controller and convenor of environment committee