ACR notches up another Green Star

The Investors in the Environment scheme marked the end of its second successful year with an awards ceremony aimed at rewarding the achievements of those businesses which have demonstrated a commitment to an eco-policy.

We were one of the founder members of the scheme, organised and managed by PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) and were at last night’s ceremony.

There was an impressive turn out and it was incredible to hear of the impact the scheme has had. Tens of thousands of pounds have been saved by businesses through the adoption of eco-policies. Thousands of tonnes of waste have been diverted from landfill. Carbon footprints have been reduced. Recycling has increased on a huge scale. And the scheme has now become a franchise being adopted by environmental trusts as far afield as Yorkshire.

It was great to see how broad a spectrum of businesses have signed up to the scheme, from small owner-managed concerns to the Peterborough offices of Mars PetCare and Ikea.

We were delighted to once again receive not just the highest Green Award but also a Great Green Star Award. This particular certificate was given to the handful of companies which the auditors felt had embedded their eco-policy into the fabric of their business.

For us, our reduce, recyle, reuse policy has become second nature. We just do it. And that’s because as individuals and as an agency we have changed our habits. According to psychologists, it takes just a matter of weeks to change the habit of a lifetime. That’s not a long time. And as Kim Coley, the self-proclaimed queen of Investors in the Environment, said at the ceremony: “It’s about changing the world.”

Eco policy earns us extra award

Three of us went along to the Investors in the Environment first anniversary celebrations and awards presentation yesterday evening.

We knew we had achieved the scheme’s highest ‘green’ level award and were invited to receive our certificate from the leader of the council Marco Cereste. It was wonderful to see such a wide range of businesses there, all of which had engaged in the project, organised by Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT).

We received the certificate marking the success of our environmental management system – and then we were presented with another one!

The second – a Great Green Star Award - was a very welcome surprise. It was awarded to the handful of companies signed up to the Investors in the Environment scheme which the auditors felt had embedded their eco-policy into the fabric of the business.

That pretty much sums up how we feel about our environmental management system. It’s just what we do now. And why wouldn’t we? It saves us money, makes us more efficient and saves the planet!

Anne Corder Recruitment scores green again

We’ve only gone and scored ourselves another environmental accreditation – and this one at the highest level possible.

After undergoing one of the toughest audits I’ve ever seen we achieved a ‘green’ level award from Investors in the Environment – and that’s even better than a bronze and silver in this instance!

When I say tough I mean tough – the auditor actually went through our bins and noted that some of the lids hadn’t been removed from bottles in the recycling waste! That makes our achievement even sweeter – it certainly wasn’t an easy win!

The scheme is led by Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) and has been designed to help businesses in and around the city save money and reduce their impact on the environment.

We had to meet a host of criteria – demonstrate an improvement in resource efficiency with utility bills to prove it, have a workable recycling system, adopt a green travel plan, take a carbon footprint test….the list was extensive.

Even so, the auditor told us we had exceeded the requirements in some areas.
So do forgive us if we allow ourselves a little pat on the back.

* We’re still keen to work with other businesses to help demonstrate how adopting even a strand of our paperless working strategy could improve your eco-credentials and efficiency. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss this area of our work.

ACR backs Forest for Peterborough

All the candidates we place in permanent roles this year won’t just land a job – they’ll get a tree!

As an agency we’ve take n on the challenge issued by Peterborough Environment City Trust (Pect) to help create a ‘Forest for Peterborough’.

The idea isn’t to actually create one forest but to plant pockets of a variety of trees, creating ‘green corridors’ to improve the surroundings for residents and give wildlife a welcome boost.

We’ve worked closely with Pect on a number of projects over the last couple of years – and this one, launched by tv personality and eco campaigner Clive Anderson, falls in perfectly with our eco-credentials and strategy of community involvement.

So, each time we place a candidate in a permanent role this year we will plant a tree. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an entirely new role, one where a temp has been made permanent or where a contract role becomes a permanent position. The candidate will receive a certificate and be offered the chance to plant their own tree – or we’ll do it on their behalf.

We’re looking forward to the next official tree planting in February when we’ll start planting for those candidates we’ve placed in new jobs.