The purpose of the British Council to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the United Kingdom and other countries and to increase appreciation of the United Kingdom’s creative ideas and achievements.

The British Council works in three main areas –

			Inter-cultural understanding and positive social change
			The UK’s creative and knowledge economy
			Climate change

The British Council recognises that its activities can impact on the environment and is committed to minimising its own impact by preventing pollution and continually improving its environmental performance. This will be achieved through the setting and review of objectives and targets within the framework of a broader Environmental Management System (EMS).

A formal certified EMS will be developed and maintained to cover the activities at our three largest UK premises: Spring Gardens, Bridgewater House and Telford Way. The principles of environmental management and the objectives of the British Council will all apply at our other UK premises and a framework for environmental management will be rolled out to our overseas estate.

We will demonstrate our commitment by:

			Reviewing and understanding the range of environmental impacts arising from our activities;
			Ensuring that we comply with all relevant environmental legislation, and with any other environmental obligations, requirements or commitments;
			Setting environmental objectives and targets for activities having the most significant impact, which will take account of the goals and aspirations of our partner and funding organisations;
			Ensuring that the policy is understood, implemented and maintained at all levels in the organisation and is supported by suitable education and training;
			Openly communicating our progress in reducing our environmental impact to interested internal and external stakeholders; and
			Periodically reviewing this Policy to take account of changes in the organisation, legislation, Government targets or other internal and external factors.

Our current focus is to:

			Increase the efficiency of our energy and water use across our estate, and manage the carbon emissions of our own activities;
			Minimise the generation of waste and implement re-use or recycling initiatives wherever possible;
			Use our procurement influence to deliver more sustainable outcomes through working with suppliers and contractors;
			Monitor and continually improve the environmental impact of our business travel as a global organisation and explore innovative mechanisms to deliver this international work effectively.
			Use our skills and strengths as an organisation to promote key sustainability messages globally, firstly by engaging with the climate change agenda.