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ENVIRONMENTAL, ETHICAL & SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Last updated: August 2022

 

WHO WE ARE

 

Cotswold Tipis is a trading name of Campingninja Ltd., which was founded in 2009 by friends and former colleagues Geoff Vaughan and Rhian Evans. Geoff and Rhian both worked together at a travel company as international tour guides and operations managers before starting their own business in 2009. Their travel experience and love of the outdoors led them to Campingninja Ltd., a camping and events company. We purchased our wonderful tipis in 2017 and created Cotswold Tipis in 2018. With young families and our concern for the environment and for the people living in places vulnerable to climate change, we strongly feel that our environmental and ethical responsibilities must be an integral part of the way we operate.

 

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

 

We are committed to our business’ aim to be carbon-neutral. We employ sustainable working practises and are conscientious about actively reducing the footprint of our business. We believe it is our duty as a business to provide our services in an environmentally and ethically responsible way, both for us and on behalf of our customers.

 

 

COMPANY ETHICS

 

It is our duty to make sure that our business operates in an ethical way. That means we’re determined as employers and business owners to ensure our staff are paid properly and that their health and safety is at the forefront of our operation. We are real living wage employers.

 

Cotswold Tipis are proud to be a member of MUTA. As a MUTA member we follow their industry-leading Best Practice Guide on health and safety.

 

While we are a very small team, we are an inclusive one. We each bring our strengths and together we deliver our beautiful tipis with an exceptional eye for detail. We want your tipis to look perfect and so we’ll take the time to make sure that their presentation is second to none.

 

We’re also founding members of the Association of British Wedding Businesses. As members of the AWBW, we receive insights, advice and best practise guidance in relation to COVID-19.

 

We recognise our responsibility to ensure that our equipment, consumables and textiles come from reputable sources that look after their employees, the environment, and actively seek to minimise the risk of modern slavery or exploitation in their supply chains.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL AIMS

 

Our aim is to reduce the impact on the environment from our operations and promote sustainability as a foundation for all businesses. We review each area of our business to ensure that it has inbuilt environmental protections to reduce any negative impact on the environment. For the environmental impact that we can’t currently avoid, such as emissions from fuel and power, we support reputable and ethical carbon offsetting projects.

 

We have identified four ways in which our business has an environmental impact.

 

  1. Carbon emissions related to fuel consumption and power, including manufacturing of equipment;
  2. Natural resources required to create our equipment, for example wood, cotton and oil (our durable, waterproof canvases are polycotton);
  3. Wastage related to the lifespan of our equipment, single use items such as paper and consumables in the office;
  4. Water wastage and pollution related to general water consumption, detergents used for cleaning and micro-fibres from laundry.

 

 

OUR ACTION PLAN

 

We will assess the environmental impact of our operations and set objectives and targets in order to improve our environmental performance. These targets will be formally reviewed annually while our team is encouraged to make suggestions to improve upon these targets on an ongoing basis.

 

We will:

 

  • promote responsibility for the environment within our crew;
    reduce our use of energy, water and other resources;
  • source materials from recycling centres or sustainable, local sources;
    minimise waste by reduction, re-use and recycling methods;
  • comply with all relevant environmental legislation/regulation;
    ensure that our policies and services are developed in a way that is complementary to this policy;
  • prioritise sustainability requirements;
  • encourage other businesses that we work alongside to use sustainable practises;
  • identify and provide appropriate training, advice and information for staff and encourage them to develop new ideas and initiatives; and
  • provide appropriate resources to meet the commitments of this policy

 

This action plan is a part of staff training, available to all staff in our warehouse and office.

 

 

KEY ACTIONS

 

Use high-quality equipment that we can look after and maintain to improve longevity whilst providing a high-quality service for our clients.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan

 

Use recycled materials in the building of new equipment wherever possible.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan

 

Source equipment from accredited local manufacturers that share our environmental and ethical values.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan

 

Promote the use of locally available additional equipment and use local companies for cross-hire to reduce mileage; promote borrowing rather than buying single/limited use equipment; and promote supporting the local economy.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan

 

All communications, CRM and logistics management to be electronic. Reduce use of paper wherever possible and use environmentally friendly printing options where printing cannot be avoided.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Sarah Whittington

 

Reduce vehicle use.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan

 

Improve environmental awareness amongst staff and promote green housekeeping issues.
Target: Ongoing
Lead: Geoff Vaughan / Rhian Evans

 

Review Policy and Action Plan
Target: Ongoing, formally reviewed annually
Lead: Rhian Evans

 

Annual calculation of business carbon emissions and offset against Carbon Offsetting projects.
Target: Ongoing, annual calculations in October
Lead: Rhian Evans


ADDITIONAL ACTIONS

 

  • Develop systems for equipment installation that reduces the need for single use items and/or replace with reusable alternatives.
  • Monitor improvements in products and services to replace equipment with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
  • Encourage working from home and/or car sharing when possible.
  • Closely monitoring utilities consumption for each building, travel and courier details.
  • Where appropriate, increase recycling options.
  • Using environmentally friendly products in kitchen and bathroom areas.
  • Maintain microfiber filter on washing machine.

 

 

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

 

  • Reduce tipi build and take down times so that travel to and from site can be reduced to a single day (where applicable).
  • Continue to follow technology so we can viably use electric vehicles in the workplace in the future.

 

 

Cotswold Tipis is a trading name of Campingninja Limited, a registered company, number 05131222, registered in England and Wales at the address: Penlea, Market Street, Nailsworth. Gloucestershire. GL6 0BZ