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Environmental Policy –      
  Version 1        Date April 2024                                                Review Mar 31 2025
  1. Introduction:

1.1     Rubicon Leisure Abbey Stadium is committed to developing a sound approach to energy and environmental operations throughout its buildings. It is essential that the company develop a policy to contribute to national strategies, such as the Environmental Protection Act (1990) and the Climate Change Act (2008) to help to reduce carbon footprint and as such help to sustain the environment for future generations.

1.2     This policy document provides a statement of principles and outlines our approach to ensuring our buildings are contributing to best practice in this area. The company will also use best practice guidance to help to develop actions and initiatives to reduce carbon footprint and energy consumption. Best Practice criteria can be gained from several sources such as the following.

1.3 Our environmental standards will follow the guidelines published by CIMSPA, CIBSE & BRE and relate to:

1.4 The company attributes a high priority to the development and use of materials, products, processes, and services that seek to reduce environmental damage and waste. We expect and encourage our business partners, sub-contractors and major suppliers to share our concern for the environment, and to work with us in identifying and applying best practice.

1.5   We will work closely with the Council in delivering what we believe should be joint aims to.

• make continual improvements in our own environmental performance.

• reduce our carbon footprint through the wise use of natural resources.

• use our powers and influence to protect and improve the environment.

2.1     The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all interested parties, including those stakeholders listed in 3.1, are aware of the companies aim to positively contribute to environmental management and energy reduction. it is a guide to making key decisions relating to contributing to environmental issues and reducing energy consumption.

2.2     The policy sets out a list of duties and responsibilities for senior management, operational site managers and individual teams. This will allow staff from all levels of the company to understand what actions they are responsible for within the scope of this policy.

2.4     The use of energy and water consumption accounts for a significant proportion of our revenue costs and to reduce consumption will have a positive impact on costs but more importantly to contribute to climate change, energy and water shortages.

2.5    Change and develop business practices and processes to reduce energy use, water use and carbon emissions and to reduce general waste and increase levels of re-cycling.

2.6 To fulfil all applicable compliance obligations and reduce Rubicon’s impact on

Its local and global environment.

2.7 Implementation and ongoing operation of our energy and environmental

action plan and centre level action plans which are reviewed annually.

3         Policy Statement:

3.1     This policy applies to all Rubicon Leisure buildings, employees, casual workers, volunteers and third-party contractors.

3.2     As a responsible company we recognize it is our responsibility to put in place several measures in partnership with other agencies and organisations which have a positive impact in respect of environmental matters.  At present there are a few environmental challenges faced. The list below highlights some of these.

Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone depletion is caused by the release of chemicals, primarily chlorine and bromide, into the atmosphere. A single atom of either has the potential to destroy thousands of ozone molecules before leaving the stratosphere.

 depletion is cang the stratosphere.

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is the term used to describe the continued lowering of the pH levels of the Earth’s oceans because of carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that ocean acidity will increase by 150% by 2100 if efforts aren’t made to halt it.

acidification is the term used to describe the contforts aren’t made to halt it.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is becoming an increasingly dangerous problem, particularly in heavily populated cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that 80% of people living in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels deemed unfit by the organization.. Lowered Biodiversity

Continued human activities and expansion has led to lowered biodiversity. A lack of biodiversity means that future generations will have to deal with increasing vulnerability of plants to pests and fewer sources and expansion has led to lowered biodiversity. A l

The Nitrogen Cycle

With most of the focus being placed on the carbon cycle, the effects of human use of nitrogen often slip under the radar. It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for half of the nitrogen fixation on earth, primarily through the use and production of man-made fertilizers.

Natural Resource Use

Recent studies have shown that humanity uses so many natural resources that we would need almost 1.5 Earths to cover our needs. This is only set to increase as industrialization continues in nations like China and India.

Transportation

An ever-growing population needs transportation, much of which is fueled by the natural resources that emit greenhouse gases, such as petroleum. In 2020, transportation accounted for 28% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Polar Ice Caps

The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. While NASA studies have shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is actually increasing, these rises only amount to a third of what is being lost in the Arctic.

 Climate Change

Many of the issues previously listed contributes or are linked to climate change. Statistics created by NASA state that global temperatures have risen by 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, which is directly linked to a reduction in Arctic ice of 13.3% per decade.

4. Responsibilities:

General Requirements:

4.1     The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring that the Company’s policies and procedures are in place, meet the requirements of the scheme of delegations, are robust and regularly reviewed and meet the standards expected of a public owned company.  Specifically for this policy the MD will ensure an environmental policy is in place accompanied by a range of other supporting policies including a recycling and green travel policy. The MD will ensure that joint working takes place with RBC and where possible funding is made available through RBC to enhance the approach to reducing carbon footprint and energy consumption. The MD will ensure that each service area is working towards actions within the company’s environmental action plan and that a environmental champion is in place for each service area.

4.2     The Operations Manager is responsible for establishing and monitoring a policy review schedule to oversee the ongoing review of the Company’s policies and to ensure they are kept up to date, support the Company’s in achieving its goal and the specific purpose of the policy and are in line with industry best practice.

4.3       The Head of Leisure and Communities Manager is responsible for ensuring that all managers and responsible officers of the Company are trained and competent in their application and understanding of this and all other policies with govern the companies operation. Specifically for this policy the COM will be responsible for the development of this environmental policy and a range of other supporting policies including a recycling and green travel policy. The COM will ensure that each service area is delivering on actions within the companies environmental action plan and that an environmental champion is in place for each service area and has a JD/PS which includes training staff and carrying site audits. The COM will ensure Service Managers are regularly reviewing consumption data to try to reduce usage. The COM will ensure service managers are completing Environmental KPI’s onto the company dashboard and taking corrective action where needed to address performance issues as they arise..

4.4     The above members of the Senior Leadership Team are individually and collectively responsible for ensuring that company decisions are taken in line with the approved Scheme of delegations and any supporting documents for example “Authorized Signatory List”.

4.5     Service and Line Managers are responsible for:

4.5.1   Ensure that all employees who work with them are trained and understand the procedures of the Company’s and what the expectation placed upon them is.

4.5.2   Ensuring the specific requirements shown below are adhered to and service standards are met in aspects of the application of this policy.

           Monitoring their buildings?  Modelling good and challenging bad performance in this area?

4.5.5   Consulting with their line manager should they become aware of or have any concerns around the process and the route that is being followed. 

4.5,6    Each service will appoint an Environmental Champion and will undertake our formal training programme. They will be responsible for a range of ‘engagement’ functions from ensuring staff take responsibility for actions such as switching off lighting when not required, to developing, promoting and reporting on all local energy management matters. Incentives to encourage energy reduction are also applied to the Centre’s teams.

5. Key Objectives

5.1 Through implementing actions from the SIP continue to reduce single use plastics and electricity consumption annually so that carbon emissions are reduced by 2% based on the previous financial year. 

5.2 Through delivering aims contained within the increase recycling rates to 50% by 2025. This will include working closely with our trade waste contractor to provide recycling containers and mini-recycling stations inside our buildings.

5.3 Continue to build on developing a   robust approach to environmental management and work towards   achieving the environmental standard ISO14001.

5.4 Ensure that environmental and energy performance considerations are evaluated as a key element of future physical developments at all our facilities. Will include influencing where possible the procurement of sustainable construction materials and efficient use of natural resources.

5.5 Train and develop our teams to understand the importance of taking actions to reduce consumption and to make a positive impact on the environment. This will be achieved by developing energy guidance sheets and providing staff training sessions.

5.6 Introduce swimming hats to all our learn to swim children. This will reduce the amount of chemical needed during heavy bathing loads.

5.7 Carry out benchmarking against other high performing organisations in this area to ascertain ideas to feed into action plans.

5.8 In the longer term we also aim to develop and widen the use of our

environmental management system currently in use at some premises

5.9 The BMS systems (where in operation) gathers important data over a full season of temperature requirements and we will ensure defects and ‘set point’ errors are discovered and addressed so the system works effectively and efficiently

5.10 We will ensure that the DEC ratings will be on public display at all times at the Centre.

5.11    Through implementing actions from our green travel policy we will encourage staff, customers and other stakeholders to travel by public transport, walk or cycle to our venues. We will also aim to install 10 vehicle charging points within our overflow carpark.

5.12 Rubicon Leisure Abbey Stadium will seek to implement operational standards which will contribute to effective water management.  We are committed to.

5.13 Where possible the company will look to utilise efficient technology into our buildings such as;

6.       Key Performance Indicators: (KPI’s) 

The KPI’s listed in this policy are included in Rubicon’s Performance Outcomes Framework. These are updated on a monthly frequency and reviewed by the Senior Management Team. A number of KPI’s are reported to the Rubicon Executive Board and reported to quarterly as part of the ‘Quarterly Performance Report’ to Redditch Borough Council. 

7.       Complaints:

7.1     All complaints about environmental matters should be made in writing to the Company’s Contracts & Operations Manager which will be handled within the Companies general Complaint procedure

8.       Misc.

7.1     Rubicon Leisure Ltd reserves the right to vary the content of this document as deemed necessary to ensure that the policies purposes are meet.  Where appropriate we will consult with Our Staff, Trade Union Colleagues and Commissioners as deemed necessary.

7.2     This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis. most of the focus being placed on the carbon cycle, the effects of human use of nitrogen often slip under the radar.