It is hardly possible to hold a conversation nowadays without the discussion turning to global warming. Some of the worst flooding we have seen helps us realise that what’s going on in the environment affects us every day. Our carbon footprint can impact upon the environment, so may determine what’s to come in the future. With our carbon footprint in mind, Care Training has decided to take action.

“A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.” Source: www.carbonfootprint.com

Mariel, our newly appointed “Eco Knight,” feels she has what it takes to fight the green fight on our behalf. Her enthusiasm and dedication to reducing the Care Training Carbon Footprint is unrivalled. Her “Green Tip of the Day” is eagerly awaited by all.

• Introduced an intranet facility for all staff to reduce paper use

• Recycled all our waste paper, cardboard and printer cartridges

• Using recycled paper for all internal documents

• Introduced a more efficient phone system

• Encouraged staff and students to use the stairs between floors

• Over a third of staff car share or use public transport

• Changing our appointment system to using postcards instead of letters and envelopes

• Sharing printers and restricting cartridge use (no colour cartridges etc)

• Changing our water cooler system to mains supply to cut down on transport and plastics use

• Producing marketing material on a ‘call off’ basis to reduce wastage and over printing

• Automatic switch off facility on all PCs to avoid ‘standby’ electricity usage

• Using renovated furniture rather than new for all new estate

• Using recycled stationery

• Using environmentally friendly cleaning products

• Installing a new more environmentally friendly vending machine which supplies Fair Trade drinks

• Converting most of our Policies & Procedures documents into electronic form

• Using only one phone system that links both floors

Saving Baby Koyah

As part of our mission to save planet Earth (well, we’ll try) Care Training has adopted a baby orang-utan, called Koyah.

Luckily we do not need to keep her in the office - she lives in a lovely Reserve in the Heart of Borneo (which is in Malaysia) where she is protected by WWF.

Unfortunately orang-utans are endangered. In fact, over the last 100 years the orang-utan population has fallen by 91%. This is mainly due to people cutting down the rainforest they live in.

WWF is a charity that aims to build a future in which humans can live in harmony with the natural world, and stop destroying its precious resources. Hopefully by donating money to them we are helping them achieve this. If you would like more information about WWF you can visit their web site: www.wwf.org.uk

• Using text messages for appointment confirmations

• Installing a motion/sound detector that will automatically switch the lights on and off

If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can be greener don’t be shy, let us know! Contact Mariel at mariel@ctem.uk.com.