Our values around our responsibility in the environment are based on our understanding that as we work, we use the world’s finite resources. Therefore, we hold ourselves accountable to ensure we partake in appropriate working practises which mitigate our impact on the environment.

Our Global Green Team actively supports local initiatives through campaigns to raise awareness, implement initiatives and promote sustainability.

We have deliberately decided not to specify in detail our global commitments for two reasons:

• • Firstly, because while ZEDRA has global policies and procedures, it is inevitable that each office will have individual guidelines for some day to day operations. By not setting out global policies in a top-down manner, ZEDRA instead actively encourages each office to be responsible for implementing the practices which are best suited to minimalise their local impact on the environment. This, in turn leaves room for better results than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Managing Directors are required to regularly inform the Executive Committee of ideas and policies implemented at local level, in order that ZEDRA remains accountable as a firm for our environmental impact and momentum is continually maintained.

  • Secondly, we see that technology is changing at a pace like never before and in the same vain, ZEDRA is continually implementing new systems, software, tools and hardware. We firmly believe that our responses and actions to protect the environment should evolve at the same pace that our use of technology does. By not specifically laying out all our initiatives, we remain open to continual assessment of our technology practices and responsive to improving our practices immediately when we advance our internal technology, rather than specifying an individual approach becomes redundant quickly. Our Group Head of Operations and Group Head of IT meet frequently to discuss any relevant changes that can be made to mitigate ZEDRA’s impact on the environment and they are required to report these to the Executive Committee regularly.

While not laying out all initiatives, ZEDRA requires that at minimum, our staff implements the following practices:

• Recycling (plastic, non-confidential papers, glass, etc.) is be implemented in all offices wherever possible.

• Disposable plastic drinks containers and other paraphernalia for staff (coffee cups, stirrers, straws and cutlery) are actively discouraged in all ZEDRA offices.

• ZEDRA recognises the enormous impact water bottles have on the environment (even when they are recycled). While ZEDRA maintains that all staff should have access to free drinking water, it is our preference that all offices install water filters which are connected to a mains water supply, where possible. Re-usable bottles will be supplied for staff.

• We require that our staff print documents in a responsible and thoughtful manner and only when necessary. We encourage staff to print double sided copies, multiple pages on one sheet and so on, whenever possible. We encourage that all non-confidential paperwork is recycled. ZEDRA is committing to implement improved systems over time with the aim of eventually creating a paperless working environment.

• Each office undertakes to use electricity responsibly by turning electrical equipment off when not in use, using heating and air conditioning in an appropriate way and so on.