Introduction

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company believes that it has a responsibility to achieve excellent environmental standards and recognises that good environmental performance is good business practice. Reducing energy consumption makes perfect business sense; it saves money reduces running costs improving both financial and environmental sustainability.

We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are committed to continuous environmental improvement and understand that the efficient and effective use of resources is critical in reducing our impact on the environment.

We will comply with all applicable legislation, regulations, standards and other requirements to which we subscribe and will also give advice to our pub operators on areas of environmental legislation which may be applicable to them.

Our approach is to continually improve our environmental/sustainability standards through direct action with our capital investment programmes and also through communication with and education of our pub operators, contractors and suppliers.

Energy

Reducing energy consumption has a positive effect on the environment because less fuel means lower carbon dioxide emissions. We provide our lessees with an Environmental Awareness Guide which includes simple advice and guidance on reducing energy and water consumption and highlights the commercial benefits of doing so. We also consider improvements in energy efficiency measures as part of our ongoing capital investment programme.

Construction

The manufacture of building materials and the process of building construction can have a negative environmental effect. We have a substantial ongoing building refurbishment programme and the minimum standards set out in our sustainable design guide ensure that the implications for the environment are taken into consideration.

In order achieve further clarity on environmental effects each prospective project also undergoes a sustainability development assessment which forms an important part of the development brief.

Recycling / Waste

Recycling waste has positive environmental effects as it diverts waste from landfill and reduces the need to use virgin material. Powerful greenhouse gases such as methane can be released when organic waste such as cardboard decomposes in landfill sites. Our strategy focuses on increasing the proportion of waste which is recycled. This is covered in our Sustainable Design Guide and Environmental Awareness Guide

Supply Chain

We realise that the way our suppliers and contractors operate can also make a difference to the environment. We promote environmental best practice through our tender and procurement processes.

Communication

The Environmental/Sustainability Steering Group coordinates and develops policy, strategy and documents such as the environmental awareness and design guides which are ratified, where necessary, by the senior management team. Environmental advice is communicated to lessees through a number of channels including the use of Publife (the internal Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company magazine distributed quarterly to all employees, lessees and some suppliers: current circulation in excess of 6,000).