Purpose
To outline the policy and procedures effective throughout ZeroChaos, worldwide, concerning environmental protection.
Environmental Principles
Realizing that the world's natural resources are limited and fragile, ZeroChaos considers environmental protection to be consistent with our overall goals and values and an important consideration in our total activities. This commitment to environmental protection is reflected in our policies, programs and practices for conducting operations in an environmentally, as well as, economically responsible manner.
Furthermore, ZeroChaos recognizes that effective environmental management can positively impact corporate profitability in several important ways. First, programs designed to make efficient use of natural resources often minimize operating costs. Second, environmental quality programs help sustain and enhance ZeroChaos presence and reputation in domestic and international markets. Third, compliance programs minimize risk and potential legal liability. In these ways and more, environmental protection is viewed by ZeroChaos as important to the economic well-being of the Corporation.
In light of the above principles, the following corporate environmental policy has been established.
Environmental Policy Statement
Environmental protection is a management responsibility as well as the responsibility of every employee of ZeroChaos. This policy concerning environmental protection addresses aspects of ZeroChaos operationswhich can potentially impact the environment.
ZeroChaos shall seek to:
- Conduct our operations in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards concerning environmental protection and provide a mechanism for self-monitoring to ensure compliance and continual improvement.
- Establish corporate environmental objectives and targets relevant to the environmental impacts of our activities and a means to measure progress against these objectives. These objectives and targets shall be reviewed and revised as necessary on an annual basis.
- Continually improve environmental management policies, programs, and performance, based on the results of our periodic reviews and taking into account regulatory developments, customer needs, technical developments, scientific understanding, and community expectations.
- Minimize the environmental risks to our employees and the communities in which we operate.
- Promote employee awareness of environmental concerns, actions and responsibilities. Promote the adoption of environmental protection goals and practices by contractors and suppliers acting on behalf of ZeroChaos, strongly encouraging improvements in our contractors' and suppliers' practices to make them consistent with those of the Corporation.
- Conduct ZeroChaos activities taking into consideration the efficient use of energy and materials.
- Reduce and, where possible, eliminate waste through recycling, and handle and dispose of all waste through safe and responsible methods.
- Assess the environmental condition of property interests that are acquired by ZeroChaos and appropriately address the environmental impacts caused by these properties.
- Ensure that the ZeroChaos executive staff is fully informed about pertinent environmental issues and ZeroChaos Environmental Policy.
Scope
This policy relates to all ZeroChaos employees, contractors and suppliers.
Background
Regarding the ZeroChaos Corporate location in a Green-Certified (ENERGY STAR) facility in Orlando, FL, and the following description demonstrates the ZeroChaos commitment to environmental awareness in all facets of our operations including property location management.
The ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for energy efficiency in America. Commercial and industrial facilities account for half of all energy consumption in the U.S. at a cost of over $200 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy. These facilities are also responsible for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Since the ENERGY STAR for commercial buildings was first introduced in 1999, thousands of buildings across the country have earned the ENERGY STAR and are saving billions in energy costs. The energy performance of commercial and industrial facilities is scored on a 1-100 scale and those facilities that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the ENERGY STAR, indicating that they are among the top 25% of facilities in the country for energy performance Commercial buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR use on average 35% less energy than typical similar buildings and generate one-third less carbon dioxide. Increasing concern about the financial and environmental risks associated with climate change is driving more organizations to strive for the ENERGY STAR for their buildings, as it is seen as a symbol of an organization that is working to reduce global warming and its impacts.
Definitions
There is no terminology requiring definition, nor are there are any acronyms in this policy that are undefined in their respective paragraphs.
Policy
The policy of ZeroChaos is to ensure that our employees, contractors, suppliers, and all areas of our operations uphold our commitment to environmental sustainability which will continue to be demonstrated by a number of eco-friendly solutions.
Environment and Social Responsibility
Beginning in 2002 before the phrase carbon footprint had reached the mainstream; ZeroChaos began a campaign to reduce our impact on the environment and increase efficiency simultaneously, keeping in mind that ZeroChaos operates almost entirely from a central, office-based environment with only a few small satellite offices. ZeroChaos has consistently led the industry in nearly every aspect of innovation and technology. This drive to innovate also applies to our desire to be socially and environmentally responsible.
Procedures
Technology
Commitment to paperless consumption
ZeroChaos was quite possibly the first company in our industry to go completely paperless in our operations. In 2002, ZeroChaos made the commitment to reduce our paper consumption by 90% within one year; and we achieved that goal in seven months. We have continued to operate, and will do so in the future, without paper ever since largely aided by our online time and expense processing platform.
Time and expense system
ZeroChaos has always worked toward a paperless system with electronic time and expense management and invoicing, and will continue to do so. The ZC Web system, which is web native from inception, will continue to eliminate the need for paper time sheets, expense reports, and invoices. Currently, 92% of our employees receive direct deposit and their pay statements electronically thereby eliminating weekly paper statements printing and envelopes for mailing. ZeroChaos will work toward increasing this to 100% adoption.
Electronic storage
ZeroChaos also opts for the electronic storage of files and documents rather than hard copy storage.
Live check reduction
One additional area that we put significant effort was to minimize the number of live checks being printed. Compared to the industry aver of 70% direct deposit ZeroChaos has been highly successful in this effort as we have 92% of our employees using direct deposit. Additionally we shifted the payment of the 4,000+ suppliers under our management to EFT, eliminating 100% of the checks being printed.
We also rolled out an online site where employees and vendors can download their pay stubs online.
Physical Offices
Movement activated lighting system
The ZeroChaos office building is, and will continue to be, equipped with a movement-activated lighting system. When there is no movement in an office or work area for 10 minutes, the lighting shuts off automatically. Lights turn back on when detecting new movement in the area. This power savings is realized on a day-to-day basis.
Paper recycling
ZeroChaos implores the practice of paper recycling. While we are operating in a paperless-promoted environment, there are still instances where the business uses paper. Paper recycling bins are conveniently located throughout the office with signs posted as reminders to recycle. It is ZeroChaos goal to increase paper recycling to the greatest extent possible while still maintaining operational efficiencies.
Computer settings
Computers are, and will continue to be, set to enter a power save mode after a period of inactivity. Almost every computer and monitor made has power save functionality, but only a very small fraction of computer users know about it or use it. ZeroChaos enables power save on every users computer and monitor after 15 minutes. Given that all ZeroChaos computers and monitors have this capability, we are able to both save money as well as cut CO2 emissions.
Ceramic cups
ZeroChaos has always encouraged the use of ceramic coffee cups to eliminate Styrofoam and plastic, and will continue to do so. This fact is clear-cut: one reusable cup per employee per year along with associated cleaning liquid is far less expensive than providing that same employee two or three disposable cups per day. From an environmental perspective, the impact of this change is significant even on the smallest scale of one person. Complete lifecycle analysis shows that a reusable cup over its average life of 3,000 uses is responsible for 30 times less solid waste and 60 times less air pollution than any disposable alternative.
Encourage employees to bring lunch to work
When considering that millions of workers drive out at lunchtime every day, it becomes clear that massive amounts of CO2 emissions are being generated. For those who work in the office, ZeroChaos provides an eco-friendly dining area and encourages people to use it. Comfortable seating arrangements; refrigerators to store lunches; microwaves, toaster ovens, and equipment to prepare food; a dishwasher for clean-up; all contribute to a worker- and eco-friendly environment to spend a lunch hour.
Videoconferencing
ZeroChaos takes advantage of every opportunity to hold meetings in a virtual environment rather than requiring travel of participants, whether by conference call or webinar. We will continue to do so, and thus save all costs associated with travel, such as fuel costs, and the effect of fuel emissions on the atmosphere.
Sales and Marketing Materials
Some studies show that the print collateral produced by marketing is often wasted in the field: 50% to 80% according to the American Marketing Association. ZeroChaos, in keeping with our web-native environment, develops sales and marketing materials in an electronic format as well as using electronic distribution to eliminate the need for print materials and the effect of their manufacture on the environment.
Telecommuting
ZeroChaos employs a work-from-home policy contributing to emission/pollutant reduction. Billions of workers commute to their jobs everyday. The ecological toll from greenhouse gas emissions alone is staggering. By offering telecommuting to autonomously productive workers with appropriate job responsibilities, we are reducing worker commutes. Telecommuting leads to a significant reduction in carbon emissions even when increased, home-based carbon emissions are taken into account.
Telecommuting reduces energy consumption associated with transportation to and from the office and, in some cases, a portion of the energy associated with commercial office space.
Employee Education
In addition to the in-office environmental policies, ZeroChaos encourages employees to conduct environmentally sound practices outside of the workplace. A key factor to promoting green-living outside the office is education. ZeroChaos provides employee education on Workingand LivingGreen through a seriesof lunch-n-learn sessions.
This educational seminar includes the following topics:
- ZeroChaos policy and practices
- Environmentally safe pest control
- Year-round energy saving tips
- Water management
- Food and health
- Eco-friendly lifestyle choices
ZeroChaos Environmental Performance
ZeroChaos commitment to our environmental policy and performance against annual goals will be evaluated annually by the Senior and Executive Leadership Teams