SUSTAINABILITY
STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Sustainability is at the core of BRITA Vivreau’s ethos, reducing water miles is a key objective for BRITA Vivreau and its clients, explains Managing Director Stephen Charles.
The pressure is constantly ratcheting up on businesses to show that they are sustainable and transparent, and treat environmental concerns with importance. We are reaching a stage where businesses and their stakeholders are starting to look beyond financial risk towards sustainability risk.
The numbers of International Environmental Management System standard (ISO 14001) certificates worldwide have increased 8% over the last year, which highlights the business trend towards taking sustainability more seriously.
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has recently unveiled a new set of global standards that offer companies a ‘common language’ for sustainability reporting. Under the new framework, businesses and organisations are required to report using three universal standards, namely GRI 101 Foundation, GRI 102 General Disclosures, and GRI 103 Management Approach. Beyond this, they can choose from 33 topic- specific standards, which cover greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, and labour practices, among others.
Water use is one of these standards and is an aspect of sustainability that affects businesses of all sizes. Keeping a thirsty workforce hydrated requires a lot of drinking water and it is important to ensure this is provided in a responsible way. As a result, BRITA Vivreau, a leading manufacturer of purified drinking
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water systems, has compiled its top tips for businesses to create sustainable water policies.
Sustainable growth is high on the agenda for many business leaders. BRITA Vivreau calls on all businesses to develop an ethical approach to water, ensuring water policy doesn’t harm the environment but instead promotes an exemplary commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Moreover, Facilities Managers should consider investing in a drinking water system such as BRITA Vivreau’s LinkLine system. LinkLine is an inventive solution to traditional water flow in large buildings. The system requires a single chiller unit to offer purified chilled still or sparkling water, at multiple locations, on varying floors, across an entire building.
LinkLine is a method of networking your water supply, just as you would a communication network. LinkLine will continuously re-circulate the water around the pipes to ensure that freshness is guaranteed.
The system is environmentally superior as it eliminates the need for regular deliveries of pre-bottled water, thus lessening the impact on the environment through reduced transport pollution. When installed with BRITA Vivreau’s Vi tap or Vi tap Plus, coupled with reusable Designer glass bottles, the disposal of large quantities of glass or plastic waste from pre-bottled water purchase is eradicated.
Sustainability is a significant issue and it isn’t going away. Businesses have
an opportunity to stand up and show they are ahead of the curve rather than cowering in the shadows. By choosing the former you will be thanked by current and future generations.
www.vivreau.co.uk BRITA Vivreau’s top tips:
1. Reusable bottles Although recycling facilities are available, re- using will always be more efficient than recycling and will provide an immediate and dramatic impact on carbon footprint.
2. Reduce water miles Consider where your manufacturer is based in order to reduce the amount of miles taken to deliver your water and minimise CO2
emissions.
3. Instant boiling water Millions of litres of water are wasted in offices across the globe when kettles are filled to the brim unnecessarily. Instead, consider a system that provides instant boiling water so that only what is needed is used.
4. Reduce chiller units Investing in one central chiller unit instead of multiple individual units around the building can be up to 45% more cost effective and up to 55% more energy efficient.
5. Get staff buy-in Communicate to staff the positive implications of your company’s approach to workplace hydration. Staff pride in working for an environmentally- friendly firm will increase, which will in turn improve the company’s reputation and CSR credentials.
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