Environmental Policy Statement

 

Established in 2012, KAI Interiors is an award-winning interior design studio founded in 2010 by Michaela Reysenn. Following many years working in the hospitality industry and being a restaurant owner, Michaela built the KAI team. The team consists of passionate designers who create interesting and immersive interiors for clients and customers to enjoy. We continue to design innovative spaces, constantly pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box, and using our knowledge of the operational aspects of running F & B businesses concerning Interior Design.
We pride ourselves on attention to detail, quality finish and exceptional customer service and recognise the need to exceed expectations on all of our projects. We are dedicated to excel at all stages of every building project to ensure that the key objectives for quality, cost and programme meet our clients’ needs from design through to completion for every project that we undertake.
We recognise the need to operate the business in a manner that reflects good environmental management and are aware of the environmental impacts of our operations and will balance business aims with the need to protect the local and global environment. It is our duty to ensure that we comply with environmental legislation and that good environmental management is practised in all our activities and we will seek to influence our clients to demonstrate a positive environmental commitment.
The objective of this policy is to make clear our aims to improve environmental performance across all of our operations, supported by specific objectives and targets – our aim is to provide a clear and well structured strategy for reducing our environmental impact as much as practically possible and in particular we operate the following policies:

• We assess and minimise any negative environmental impacts, and maximise any positive impacts of our operations.
• We developed management processes and operational procedures to prevent pollution.
• We implement a continual improvement process by assessing and monitoring performance against specific environmental objectives and targets relevant to our business activities.
• We raise awareness of environmental issues through training and development of all employees, contractors and associates and encourage initiatives that enhance environmental performance.

This environmental policy will be communicated to all staff as part of induction and ongoing training; it is supported by the undersigned Director; will be reviewed annually and will be freely available to clients, shareholders and the general public. The Director is personally responsible for the environmental performance of the organisation and signs this policy statement in acknowledgement of this overall responsibility and will communicate it to all employees, associates and contractors.

 

Signed by ………………………………………………………………………….. Date. November 2022.

Michaela Reysenn Director

 

Our environmental policy

The Environmental Policy aims to outline measures we will take to reduce, reuse and recycle waste within the organisation. We have stated our commitment to
• Identify all environmental impacts that the Company contributes to and establish environmental management procedures that can be incorporated into all business decisions, in a cost effective manner.

• Regularly measure and evaluate our environmental performance, and improve where necessary.
• Promote a culture of continual environmental improvement within the Company.
• Delegate the responsibility for environmental matters to the appropriate levels in the Company.
• Consistently increase the awareness and provide necessary training to all our employees to ensure environmentally responsible concepts are integrated into their normal working practices.
• Demonstrate control of all our operations and ensure that all are performed with due consideration of the environment.
• Identify, prevent and mitigate against potential accidents that could result in an environmental impact, so that if an accident did occur the consequences would be minimised.
• Use products that have a negligible environmental impact, where such options exist.
• Minimise the storage and use of all articles and substances, where appropriate.
• Reduce the consumption of resources (energy, materials, packaging), where feasible.
• Minimise waste through a commitment to reuse, recover or recycle, where feasible.
Strategy and action plan
We acknowledge the influence that our daily working lives and activities have on the environment and are committed to the continual improvement of the way our business impacts on the environment and by our policies and actions shall inspire the confidence of our clients, employees, suppliers and contractors. We will:
• Aim to minimise the use of all materials, supplies and energy it uses.
• Minimise waste produced in all areas of the organisation, reuse and recycle waste where possible, and aim for waste-free processes
• Aim to include environmental and ethical considerations in purchasing
Waste reduction, re-use and recycling
• We use both sides of paper by printing draft documents on the back of paper which has already been used on one side
• Effective use of IT (including e-mail) prevents unnecessary printing and duplication (adjusting font sizes and margins to allow documents to fit onto one piece of paper, print preview prior to printing, thorough proofing of large print-runs before printing)
• We circulate or display non-urgent information, as opposed to printing copies.
• All wastes are collected for reuse, then ultimately segregated and recycled where appropriate, including – cardboard cartons, paper, timber pallets and toner cartridges.

Energy and water consumption
• Use of energy efficient light bulbs
• Turn off policy
• Use of power-down features on electrical equipment
• Monitor water systems to ensure water’s not wasted by dripping taps etc.
Purchasing
• Purchase of remanufactured toner cartridges where possible
• Purchase of less environmentally damaging products where information exists
• Purchase recycled samples & pitch more recycled materials to clients.
General environment
• Maintaining the office as a pleasant and effective working space
• Carrying out a weekly ‘housekeeping’ exercise and tidy-out to prevent build-up of wastes
• Regularly service all equipment to maintain optimum operating efficiency
Transport Policy
We have identified transport as having a reasonably significant environmental impact and we take great care in ensuring that it is reduced as far as practicable.
• We ensure all staff either walk, cycle or take public transport in order to reduce carbon footprint.
Compliance with legislation
We comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by keeping the building clear of litter and refuse, taking account of the statutory Code of Practice on litter and will comply with legislation related to environmental issues, paying particular regard to the requirements of:
• The Environmental Protection Act
• Controlled Waste (Duty of Care) Regulations
• Waste Management Regulations
Pollution control
The Company will strive to reduce all forms of pollution.
• Minimise pollution to air, water and land from the activities of the company and work with others to ensure best practices are considered for all aspects of work undertaken prior, during and after completion of works.
• No noise is generated by our activities but if so it will be kept to a minimum where possible in order to limit the nuisance to the general public and surrounding areas

Environmental training and raising of awareness

We engage with suppliers, customers, associates and contractors to make sure that they are aware of our environmental policy and aim to persuade them to share the same principles. The results of our environmental endeavours will be published for employees, suppliers, contractors and clients to see on a regular basis.

 

Training on Policies

We have an extensive induction and training programme for all employees and provide operational staff with bespoke environmental training at induction to ensure their full comprehension of the issues. In addition, we continually monitor employee’s activities and provide additional training wherever necessary. We ensure operational staff are fully aware of energy efficiency measures that can be taken.
The aim of this process is to ensure everyone understands and supports the issues, that sound relationships are established based on mutual respect with suppliers and contractors and that clients are aware of the environmental awareness and credibility of the business. This strategy is by no means inclusive and there may well be other areas in which the company can improve and we will continually review this policy, within 12 months of the date below, or sooner, should circumstances require.

 

Our environmental action plan

 

To achieve our policy, we shall –

 

• Set clearly defined objectives and targets addressing environmental issues that are designed to record and improve our environmental performance
• Promote our environmental activities with our staff, partners and other stakeholders and let them know of our concern for the environment
• Train, educate and inform employees about environmental issues that may affect their work
• Monitor, audit and review our performance, including an annual review of this policy

 

Greater health and environmental awareness has led to an increasing adoption of greener products and systems, the result has been that the following are in place at the office :-

 

• Purchase of paper, cardboard packaging etc. made from recycled materials
• Undertaking electronic preparation, transfer and storage of information wherever practicable to avoid the use of paper
• Use of scrap paper for notes and messages etc.
• Recycling of paper, cardboard, bottles and cans used at the office
• Encourage all at the office (and site office) to avoid waste by limiting power use and ensuring that lights, equipment and heating are switched off when they are not required
• Encouragement of use of public transport by staff whenever practicable

 

In support of our Environmental Policy we have incorporated some simple steps to ‘green the workplace’ and have incorporated the following practices:

• Switch off all computer equipment, appliances, motors and machinery when not in use.
• If the workplace is too hot, turn the heating down instead of opening a window
• If it is too cold in winter, ensure radiators and heaters aren’t obstructed and keep doors shut
• Check if lighting is on unnecessarily in the middle of the day
• If you are the last to leave, make sure you turn everything off behind you, including machinery, printers, drinks machines, fans, lights, etc.
• Apply the three ‘Rs’: recycling is great, but reducing waste and re-using is even better.
• Reduce water use through raising awareness and simple adjustments to taps and toilets.
• Work together for a greener workplace – talk to your colleagues about working out solutions that will reduce our environmental impact

 

To make sure that we continue to improve our Policy we will adopt the following actions –

 

• Create and publish a realistic environmental policy statement to provide evidence of our drive to develop a greener business
• Comply with all relevant legislation – in order to achieve this, we will research the Gov.UK website – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency to get together a list of the regulations that may apply to us – with particular reference to our Duty of Care
• Sign up to specific email monthly updates from https://www.law-now.com to keep up to date with environmental regulations and guidance that affects our organisation
• Measure and monitor our energy consumption to ensure we are not using energy unnecessarily
• Complete a database of local suppliers and businesses for our ‘local’ supply chain
• Investigate the amount of energy and fuel we use and consider how we can reduce the impact.

 

Signed by …………………………………………………………………………..Date: November 2022 .
Michaela Reysenn, Director