environmental policy

Last Reviewed: June 2022

Next Review : June 2023

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Mission statement

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jnf architecture recognises that we have a responsibility to the environment beyond legal regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operation, with regular review points.  We will encourage customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to do the same.

 

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Workplace

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jnf architecture is committed to providing a quality service in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and visitors. Minimises our potential impact on the environment. We operate in compliance with all relevant environmental legislation and we strive to use pollution prevention and environmental best practices in all we do. 

 

We will: 

• integrate the consideration of environmental concerns and impacts into all of our decision making and activities 

• promote environmental awareness among our employees and encourage them to work in an environmentally responsible manner, such as by working electronically wherever it is safe and secure to do so while ensuring that all key information is fully and securely backed up 

• reduce waste through re-use and recycling and by purchasing recycled, recyclable or refurbished equipment, products and materials where these alternatives are available, economical and suitable 

• ensure responsible disposal of remaining unavoidable waste 

• promote efficient use of space heating/lighting, equipment, materials and resources including water, electricity, raw materials and other resources, particularly those that are non-renewable 

• purchase and use environmentally responsible products accordingly 

• include energy efficiency as one of the selection criteria when purchasing new equipment 

• avoid unnecessary use of hazardous materials and products, seek substitutions when feasible, and take all reasonable steps to protect human health and the environment when such materials must be used, stored and disposed of 

• where required by legislation or where significant health, safety or environmental hazards exist, develop and maintain appropriate emergency response programmes 

• communicate our environmental commitment to clients, customers and the public and encourage them to support it 

• strive to continually improve our environmental performance and minimise the social impact and damage of activities by periodically reviewing our environmental policy in light of our current and planned future activities 

• use public transport in preference to travel by car wherever it is possible and effective to do so.

• Paper:

  • Minimise the use of paper in the office.

  • Reduce packaging as much as possible.

  • Seek to buy recycled and recyclable paper products.

  • Reuse and recycle all paper where possible.

•  Office Supplies

  • Evaluate if the need can be met in another way.

  • Evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.

  • Evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.

  • Favour more environmentally friendly and efficient products wherever possible.

  • Reuse and recycle everything we can.

• Monitoring and improvement

  • Comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.

  • Continually improve and monitor environmental performance.

  • Continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.

  • Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.

  • Review this policy and any related business issues at our monthly management meetings.

• Culture

  • Update this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.

  • Work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.

  • Use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.

 

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Designs

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We recognise that the products of our designs will have far more environmental impact than our own operations therefore we are further committed to exercising our professional skills in such a way as to minimise environmental impact in so far as this is possible within the instructions received from our clients. 

 

We are committed: 

• to raise the awareness of clients about sustainability and environmental protection, and help the members of the design team to develop a shared vision of environmental aspirations 

• to ensure as far as possible that building projects are supported by a travel plan that promotes sustainable travel choices through public transport and cycling provision 

• to assess sites for their ecological value and microclimate, and ensure buildings make best use of the natural features of the site including sun, wind and landscape 

• to ascertain the potential for local power generation from renewable energy sources locally or on site 

• to ensure that biodiversity is protected or enhanced 

• to make best use of orientation and shape to reduce the need for artificial forms of conditioning 

• to operate a ‘right-first-time’ culture (through our QM system) for our production information in order to avoid wasteful site reworking 

• to minimise the use of construction materials, and specify materials and components with the optimum balance between environmental impact and performance in use 

• to ensure that building services are inherently efficient and controllable, and that metering encourages monitoring and management of resource use 

• to ensure that buildings are commissioned fully before handover, and that full operating manuals are provided 

• to support clients in the first few months of operation by providing on-site training and advice to ensure that systems are fine-tuned and operate in accordance with the design intent. 

 

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Person responsible for jnf architecture’s workplace and design policy:- 

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Nuno Franco Ba (Hons) Dip Arch RIBA

Position: Director

Date: June 2022