Environmental Policy

Mission Statement

Man Bites Dog recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment and our community beyond legal and 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 operating methods, with regular review points. We will encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to do the same.  

Responsibility

The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring that the environmental policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met & we are committed to the following:  

Our Work

Man Bites Dog will continue to specialise in sustainability, in particular research highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the global drive towards zero carbon. As part of that work, Man Bites Dog shapes client campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of the urgent need for businesses to directly combat climate change. These campaigns generate data and insights that inspire action, influencing public and corporate opinion to help put sustainability at the top of the agenda. 

Policy Aims

We endeavour to:
• Improve the environmental benefits provided by our services
• Comply with and exceed all relevant legal, customer & third-party regulatory requirements.
• Establish measurable environmental & business objectives that are consistent with the context and strategic direction of the organisation and address risks and opportunities associated with them.
• Continually improve and monitor environmental performance & reduce environmental impacts, incorporating environmental factors into business decisions.
• We will minimise the use of paper & packaging in the office, buying recycled & recyclable paper products.
• We will reuse and recycle where possible.
• We will endeavour to prevent pollution where possible.

Energy and water

• We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.
• Lights and electrical equipment will be switched off when not in use & eco bulbs used where possible.
• Heating will be adjusted with energy consumption in mind.
• The energy consumption and efficiency of new products will be considered when purchasing.

Office supplies and purchasing

• We will evaluate if the need can be met in another way.
• We will evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.
• We will evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.
• We will favour environmentally friendly and efficient products wherever possible.
• We will reuse and recycle everything we can.
• We will actively support local suppliers to reduce mileage and support our local community economy.
• We will use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.

Travel

• We will reduce the need to travel, restricting it to necessary trips only.
• We will promote the use of travel alternatives such as e-mail or video/phone conferencing.
• We will make additional efforts to accommodate the needs of those using public transport or bicycles.
• We will invest in technology to enable communication and collaborative working and actively support flexible working to reduce travel.

Maintenance and cleaning

• Cleaning materials used will be as environmentally friendly as possible. 
• Materials used in office refurbishment will be as environmentally friendly as possible. 
• We will only use licensed and appropriate organisations to dispose of waste. 
• All waste will be separate and recycled, measured, monitored and reported.

The organisation will achieve these commitments by

• Complying with and exceeding all relevant legal, customer & third-party regulatory requirements.
• Implementing and maintaining an Environmental Management System that is independently certified as compliant with ISO 14001.
• We will continually monitor the environmental impacts of the business activities.
• We will continually improve and reduce environmental impacts, by achieving objectives set by the management team.
• We will incorporate environmental factors into business decisions, adopting best practices for its activities wherever possible.
• We will increase employee awareness through training in good environmental practices and initiatives. Ensuring that all employees, suppliers and customers are aware of their role in supporting the organisation’s commitments and environmental objectives.
• We will review this policy and any related business issues at our monthly management meetings.
• We will involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance, providing staff with relevant environmental training.
• We will update this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
• We will measure where possible, our environmental impact through recycling reports and energy usage.
• We will work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.
• Suppliers will agree to our code of conduct, which includes environmental commitments.
The implementation of this policy is fundamental to the success of the organisation’s business and must be supported by all employees as an integral part of their daily work.

The implementation of this policy is fundamental to the success of the organisation’s business and must be supported by all employees as an integral part of their daily work. 

This policy is publicly available to interested external parties upon request. 

Signed on behalf of the Senior Leadership Team 

Mary Maher 

Managing Director 

Policy reviewed: October 2024 
 

Addendum 

Our Commitments & Objectives 

As part of our commitment to the SME Climate Commitment, a global initiative that aims to mainstream climate action in the small and medium-sized business community, we pledge to: 

• Halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 

• Achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

• Disclose our environmental progress every year.  

In doing so, we join the official pathway for small and medium-sized businesses to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion’s Race to Zero campaign alongside governments, businesses, cities, regions, and universities worldwide, sharing this mission and working towards a sustainable future for all. 

To realise our environmental commitments, we undertake to: 

• Track and analyse environmental data: Continuously monitor and evaluate our environmental impact. 

• Ensure supplier compliance: Encourage and ensure that our suppliers adhere to environmentally responsible practices. 

• Enhance environmental communications: Improve our environmental narrative and messaging inside and outside the business. 

• Offset our carbon footprint: Implement measures to offset carbon emissions in areas that are hard to abate, alongside continued efforts to reduce emissions. 

Baseline Environmental Assessment 

In partnership with Greenly, we conducted a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions assessment covering 2023, which serves as a foundational step in defining a clear carbon reduction trajectory and achieving our decarbonisation targets. This evaluation was conducted in accordance with international carbon accounting standards.  

Total emissions: Our total GHG emissions amounted to 167tCO2e, broken down as follows:   

• Scope 1: 0tCO2e (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources). 

• Scope 2: 7.4tCO2e (indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heating and cooling consumed by Man Bites Dog).  

• Scope 3: 160tCO2e (all other indirect emissions that occur in the value chain, including upstream and downstream emissions).  

Note: Out of the total 167tCO2e, 30tCO2e (18%) were measured using activity-based data. The remaining emissions were calculated using monetary analysis, converting £ sterling into tCO2e based on average values from studies.  

Assessment areas: The assessment covered all aspects of our business operations, including:  

• Services purchases 

• Food and drink  

• Travel and commute  

• Product purchases 

• Digital  

• Energy  

• Other (activities and events, assets, and waste). 

Targets  

Short-term targets (within one year) 

To meet the 2015 Paris Agreement target of a 50% reduction in GHG emissions between 2020 and 2030, we need to achieve a 5.9% reduction (-10 tCO2e) in emissions within one year: 

• Reduce Scope 2 emissions: Aim to reduce Scope 2 emissions by 10% (-0.75 tCO2e) through energy-efficient practices and equipment upgrades.  

• Reduce Scope 3 emissions: Target a 6% (-9.6 tCO2e) reduction in Scope 3 emissions by optimising supply chain practices and encouraging sustainable behaviours.  

Medium-term targets (by 2030) 

• Halve total greenhouse gas emissions: Achieve a 50% (-83.5 tCO2e) reduction in total GHG emissions from the 2023 baseline.  

• Increase renewable energy use: Ensure that more than 50% of our energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources.  

• Sustainable business practices: Embed sustainability into all aspects of our business operations and culture.  

Long-term targets (by 2050) 

Achieve net zero emissions: Reach net zero emissions across all Scopes by 2050.