Mission Statement
Progressive Broadcast Hire Ltd recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are absolutely 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 and suppliers to do the same.
Net Zero Strategy
We have committed to the UK Business SME Climate Hub’s Net Zero campaign.
We are currently developing our transition to Net Zero by 2040 at the absolute latest and Progressive Broadcast are hugely proud to be an accredited Albert Supplier.
Responsibility
Clare Cooney is responsible for ensuring that the environmental policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.
Carbon Offset
In 2023 our CO2 emissions from gas, electricity and diesel were calculated to be 12.25 tonnes – this represents a 40% reduction from the 20 tonnes used in prior years and was primarily achieved by investment in a mezzanine space in our business premises that enabled the removal of a highly inefficient heating system.
We purchased tree planting offsets for 42 tonnes for 2022, 2023 and have renewed this commitment for 2024.
We have committed to an ongoing relationship with Make it Wild, who plant trees for us in Yorkshire.
These trees absorb carbon, produce oxygen and support insects, birds and small mammals – and will do so for decades to come.
The amazing impact of trees
These beautiful images come from Make It Wild, our offset provider. They’re a lovely organisation to deal with and they make it easy for small companies like us to affordably account for our impact, knowing that genuinely useful environmental work is being done by them.
Woodland creation is a fantastic way to bring about a huge increase in biodiversity.
From the moment the trees are planted, the lack of mowing or grazing means that the grass between the trees is allowed to grow. This leads to an increase in mice and voles, which provide rich pickings for barn owls and other birds of prey.
As trees grow, they cause local shade and cooling. Even on a small scale, this creates a variety of microclimates which support different wildlife.
Once there are fruits on the trees they become food for birds, small mammals and insects.
When the trees drop their leaves they contribute to soil improvement, via decomposition by microscopic creatures. This is the carbon-rich basis for healthy soil.
Beneath the soil, tree roots interact with fungal networks which become a highly complex but vital communication system. Trees become effectively ‘social’ with the aid of these messengers and transport links.
Trees provide shelter and a wind break; they filter and clean fresh water; they reduce flooding and their roots stabilise soils, preventing erosion.
The Benefits to Nature of Rewilding and Woodland Creation
There is no universally accepted definition of rewilding, but in general, it is about allowing land to return to a self-sustaining ecosystem. This is a dynamic process, with no predefined end point. It often means that humans stand back and let nature take control. Conservation grazing by native cattle and other animals is an important element in many rewilding projects.
Research has shown that managing land using the principles of rewilding has a fantastic impact on biodiversity.
Agricultural land will often have been contaminated with chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides or treated with high concentrations of manure. Although this may be seen as desirable for increasing crop yields, it has a very detrimental effect on soil, native wild flowers, fungi and invertebrates. Once these farming practices are ceased, the soils will gradually begin to recover and plant seeds that are either already in the soil, or arrive naturally, will begin to germinate.
Biodiverse flora will be the first noticeable changes, perhaps beginning with the familiar nettle, docks and thistles, depending on local conditions. Over time, thorny scrub may develop, with gorse and blackthorn dominating. This, in turn, allows for the ‘pioneer’ tree species to arrive, such as Silver Birch, Hawthorn and Elder. These trees will eventually grow to form a canopy, creating shade, which will eventually reduce the scrub cover. Later, woodland flowers may arrive, and later still woodland and meadow fungi species.
In parallel with the botanic recovery, animal life will also increase. The plants will provide the habitat and food source for animal life to thrive. Invertebrates will be the first to arrive, followed by small animals and birds. A large enough rewilded area can ultimately become home to larger mammal species such as hare, deer, fox and badger.
The natural processes of re-generation can be accelerated by planting trees. In the early stages of tree growth their direct impact is limited. However, the cessation of mowing or grazing means that the grass between the trees is allowed to grow. One of the main impacts of this in the initial stages of woodland creation is an increase in mice and voles, which provide rich pickings for barn owls and other birds of prey.
As the trees grow their interactions with the environment are numerous and complex. Their leaves absorb sunlight and, in doing so, cause local shade and cooling. Even on a small scale, this creates different microclimates which support different wildlife.
As soon as there are fruits on the trees they become food for birds, small mammals and insects. Leaves can host ‘leaf-miner’ insects and similarly fungi. Lichens and moss will eventually grow on bark. When the trees drop their leaves they contribute to soil improvement, via decomposition by microscopic creatures. This is the carbon-rich basis for healthy soil.
Beneath the soil, tree roots interact with fungal networks which become a highly complex but vital communication system. Trees become effectively ‘social’ with the aid of these messengers and transport links.
Trees provide shelter and a wind break; they filter and clean fresh water and their roots stabilise soils, preventing erosion. They reduce flooding by taking up water.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide, in order to photosynthesise, to produce the sugars they require to grow. This is crucial, as carbon dioxide is the principal greenhouse gas causing climate crisis. Possibly most important of all, trees produce Oxygen – yes, they give us the very air we breathe.
Make it wild – carbon offsetting certificate 2024.
(Make it Wild Carbon Offsetting Fact Sheet)
Recent Sightings at Make it Wild!
It is our intention to account for as much of our impact as we can, in so far as is possible for a small business.
While previously we were on a 100% renewable tariff, market uncertainties put our provider into administration in 2021 and we were unable to secure a fully renewable tariff. We will be free to move our contract at the end of this year and intend to once again seek a 100% renewable supplier.
Policy Aims
We endeavour to:
Make our zero emissions Nissan Leaf Van the first choice for deliveries and phase out all internal combustion vehicles as vehicles reach the end of their life.
Use closed loop systems for office consumables. We are conscious of the impact of deliveries and packaging and so we have moved the supply of office consumables to a company who provide a closed loop system that eliminates single use plastics and provides a carbon neutral delivery.
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.
Increase employee awareness and training.
Use suppliers who share our ethics
- Recycling is done for us by Biffa with all recyclable materials separated.
- Our water filter – which has eliminated our need for plastic water bottles – is provided by AquAid who are committed to sharing their profits with Christian Aid and their own charity, The Africa Trust.
- Our cleaning and catering supplies come from Green City who are a local, ethical firm or purchased directly from Cheeky Panda.
- Much of the refurbishment of our building has been done by David Marshall of Creative Carpentry Solutions, who is committed to environmentally sustainable work and who we met through his ongoing relationship with our wonderful friends and neighbours, The GalGael Trust.
Paper
We minimise the use of paper in the office. This is achieved in the greatest by transmission and receipt wherever possible, of documents by email. This includes both purchase and sales invoices and sales statements. It is also company policy to purchase paper goods that are either recycled and recyclable or that meet forestry commission approved standards.
We reuse and recycle all paper where possible.
We reduce packaging as much as possible and packaging materials are routinely reused until this is no longer practical at which point they are then recycled.
Energy and Water
We seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the 100% renewable energy provider we used went into liquidation in 2021. We are currently in transition to a green tariff elsewhere but cannot do this until our account has settled into place with the emergency provider.
Lights and electrical equipment are switched off when not in use.
Heating is controlled via a smart system called Hive and is adjusted with energy consumption in mind and heating is provided by an energy efficient, on demand and therefore waste free system.
The energy consumption and efficiency of new products is taken into account when purchasing.
We have recently replaced the roof of our building with highly insulated Kingspan panels.
For the future, we are currently trying to find appropriate micro-renewable options that are suitable for our building.
Office Supplies
We evaluate if the need can be met in another way.
We evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.
We evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.
We favour more environmentally friendly and efficient products wherever possible.
We reuse and recycle everything we are able to.
We have an ongoing contract for waste management with a local recycling firm. They collect all recyclable material, with the exception of batteries. Batteries are collected separately and recycled via a specialist agent.
Electrical items which require to be disposed of are done so in accordance with WEEE legislation, via an account with the local authority waste agency.
We have phased out the use of single use plastics in the office.
Transportation
We reduce the need to travel, restricting to necessity trips only.
We 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 bicycles by allowing indoor storage of bicycles and providing access to the cycle to work scheme for all employees.
We have shifted part of our vehicle fleet to a Nissan Leaf electric van which is used as the first option for all local deliveries.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Cleaning materials used are environmentally friendly and BUAV approved wherever 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.
Monitoring and Improvement
We will comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
We will continually improve and monitor environmental performance.
We will continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.
We will incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
We will increase employee awareness through training.
We will review this policy and any related business issues at our monthly management meetings.
Culture
We will involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.
We will update this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
We will provide staff with relevant environmental training.
We will work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.
We will use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.
Last reviewed 06/02/2024
Next Review due by 28/02/2025
