1. Introduction
The purpose of this policy is to communicate how we plan to integrate ESG into our business operations, our values that shape the nature of our business, our goals, and how we plan to achieve them.
Here at Sanderson Weatherall (SW), we are a group of commercial property experts providing consultancy services for owners, occupiers, investors, developers and financial advisors on property and associated assets.
We recognise the significant impact the property industry has on the environment; therefore, we are committed to promoting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices throughout our day-to-day operations.
2. Purpose/mission statement
We uphold the highest social and environmental performance standards, by retaining our B Corporation and ISO 14001 accreditations. We are committed to promoting ESG and Sustainable practices throughout our business and providing clear, measurable metrics that inform our stakeholders and society of our activities and impact such as our Net Zero by 2035 commitment.
We foster an inclusive and supportive environment where our regional offices and teams thrive. We are committed to investing in our people’s well-being and growth. we strive Enhancing the social value outcomes and positive impact within the local communities where we live and work.
3. Scope
This ESG policy will be integrated into all business operations, encouraging employees and the wider supply chain and community to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices.
4. Environmental Social Governance Commitments – net zero by 2035
With the help of our carbon consultants, Flotilla, along with our memberships including the SME Climate Hub, Better Buildings Partnership and the UN’s Race to Zero and increasing pressure from society and updates to legislation for businesses to address their impact, we have committed to being net zero by 2035. Below are our ESG commitments to help us achieve this.
4.1. Environmental
Our Carbon Reduction Plan sets out our plans to reduce company emissions and aid our progress to net zero by 2035. With support from employees, the plan includes improvements to travel, energy use and efficiency, facilities and supply chain.
• Our travel policy will be reviewed, monitored and upgraded regularly to mitigate air pollution and prioritise low emissions. This includes increasing the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in the fleet and promoting our Cycle2Work scheme, use of public transport for commuting and business travel and the use of Microsoft Teams to collaborate virtually, further minimising business travel.
• The viability of renewable energy and green tariffs for all offices is under investigation, as well as increasing our procurement of energy-efficient technology and investment into carbon offsetting projects.
• Our future offices will be procured based on their EPC rating and transport connectively, ensuring efficient and sustainable practices.
• To improve our impact on the natural environment, we must consider how the local ecosystems are impacted by our services. Through initiatives such as our work with local communities and our biodiversity tracker to log all biodiversity opportunities, our focus is to lead nature-positive operations.
• Efforts into conserving water are under investigation, including understanding the feasibility of installing water meters, and establishing a water baseline across all serviced offices.
• All offices are equipped with recycling and general waste bins. We work with cleaning companies who use eco-friendly, biodegradable and phosphate-free cleaning materials that contain non-hazardous chemicals. We aim to reduce paper usage through our ‘Follow me’ printing system which utilises recycled printing paper, alongside encouraging digitalisation.
4.2. Social
4.2.1. Tackling economic inequalities
• We strive to be a company who unlocks new opportunities, such as entrepreneurship, supports small new businesses and engages with and supports likeminded businesses through our various memberships (e.g. SME Climate Hub, Better Buildings Partnership).
• We aim to continue delivering talks at colleges, universities and careers fairs, and work with schools, colleges and universities to assist young people with their careers, being an advocate for the industry. We also offer work experience, apprenticeships and graduate student placements to a diverse range of people, removing barriers for those who may struggle with employment.
• We aim to provide a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace for all. We have a diverse workforce, and we continually work towards reducing inequality both internally and in our local communities.
4.2.2. Supply chain resilience
• We aim to collaborate with our supply chain, sharing ideas, updates and concerns, and operate a fair and responsible approach to working with our supply chain partners. We also aim to undertake a more responsible onboarding process when working with new businesses in the supply chain, encouraging them to consider more sustainable options themselves, in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
• We provide company-wide training on cyber security to enable us to identify and manage cyber security risks, including in the supply chain.
• We aim to create a diverse supply chain, especially supporting new businesses and other SMEs, enhancing the maturity and prosperity of the supply chain market. We also support innovation and the use of disruptive technologies in the supply chain to deliver higher quality goods and services.
4.2.3. Wellbeing
• We aim to ensure all employees maintain healthy lifestyles and are provided with mental health and wellbeing support through our wellbeing officers, as well as promoting wider support suppliers, clients and communities.
• We provide, and will strive to maintain, a clean and safe working environment in line with our occupational health and safety management system, which is certified under OHSAS 18001.
4.2.4. Community impact
• We recognise the impact the property industry has on the environment and its people; therefore, we strive to give back. All employees are granted 2 CSR days to be taken during working hours to take part in or host an activity that supports the local community and/or environment.
• We extend our support to charitable organisations with further pro bono services and donations through fundraising events. Our recent venture signing up with Matchable, a platform designed to help staff find CSR volunteering opportunities that align with personal interests, will accelerate SW’s social value efforts, making CSR days more rewarding.
4.3. Governance
4.3.1. Transparency and accountability
• To solidify our commitment, we must remain open and transparent. This will occur through our annual reporting, compliance with industry standards, implementing a robust ESG framework and regular training for employees.
• Our efforts will also remain publicly available, to hold to us to account.
4.3.2. Accreditations
• To provide assurance that SW complies to industry standards and regulatory requirements, we will continue our retention of accreditations and memberships (e.g. B Corp, ISO standards and RICS). This will help us to continuously adopt sustainable practices, foster innovation, deliver added value to our clients and minimise our environmental impact.
4.3.3. Risk management
• Implementing ESG practices into business is a constantly evolving project with many associated risks, such as regulation updates, extreme weather effects on assets, and changing consumer preferences in line with sustainable credentials. We will prioritise risks based on their likelihood and potential impact and keep an open dialogue with stakeholders.
4.3.4. Organisational structure
• Our ESG committee is made up of employees from various offices across the UK. They meet monthly to discuss ESG topics and opportunities and encourage the uptake of ESG practices by fellow employees.
• The Board review our ESG performance annually, and approve any objectives set for the following year. This ensures ESG is represented and of high priority at the executive level.
4.3.5. Procurement Policy
We are committed to sourcing low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable products and services. We expect our suppliers to uphold our ESG principles, including transparent carbon reporting, waste reduction, and robust diversity and inclusion practices. Our approach is further strengthened by our B Corporation certification. This policy applies to all employees involved in purchasing goods and services, particularly IT equipment, office supplies, artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure.
We are dedicated to adhering to RICS guidelines, best practices, and policies concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in surveying. We also proactively evaluate our supply chain’s application of AI to ensure procurement risks are thoroughly assessed.
• We are committed to sourcing environmentally preferred products that:
– Minimize resource consumption
– Are energy-efficient
– Are designed for recycling or reuse
– Contain fewer hazardous substances
• We prioritise product standards, such as:
– EPEAT Silver of higher for all IT equipment purchases (e.g. laptop, monitors).
– Preference for product with certifications in:
– Materials selection
– Energy efficiency
– Design for recycling
– Reduction of hazardous substances
• We encourage responsible disposal and upcycling of IT assets:
– EGO Technology is our approved partner for secure data removal and end-of-life IT asset management.
– Employees may recycle old monitors or IT equipment through our internal WEEE recycling program.
– Upcycling initiatives are supported for laptops and other electronics where feasible.
• We optimise our cloud and IT storage by:
– Prioritising cloud services and data centres that demonstrate carbon efficiency, such as Microsoft Azure.
• We reduce waste by:
– Following the principles of the Waste Hierarchy across our operations, focusing first on waste prevention, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and responsible disposal.
5. Environmental Management System
We operate under an, ISO 14001 accredited, Environmental Management System (EMS) that supports continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and the integration of sustainability principles across all business functions, consisting of:
1. Policy & Commitment; Establishing environmental objectives and commitments.
2. Planning; Identifying environmental risks, legal requirements, and setting targets.
3. Implementation & Operation; Developing processes, training employees, and integrating sustainability into daily operations.
4. Monitoring & Evaluation; Tracking performance, conducting audits, and ensuring continuous improvement.
5. Review & Improvement; Regularly assessing effectiveness and making necessary adjustments.
6. Implementation
To ensure our ESG aims are integrated into our operations, training will be provided to encourage engagement, and internal audits will provide an indication into our progress. The commitments above also provide performance indicators to measure against regularly, to ensure we stay on track, or highlight areas to improve. Our ESG committee will oversee ESG integration and subsequent actions to ensure we remain committed and on track to net zero by 2035.
7. Review
Crucially, this policy, and all associated operations, will be reviewed regularly and constantly adapted to any necessary changes. This will also be circulated internally and externally to remain open and accountable, and invite any further interest, ideas and queries.