26 May 2009. The National Magazine Company has been named the second greenest company in the UK in the Sunday Times Green List.
NatMag, which rose eight places from the previous year, also took the top title of The Sunday Times award for best big or mid-sized company with low environmental impact for the second year in a row and was the only publisher to appear in the top 60 Best Green Companies 2008 list.
The Sunday Times Green List was devised by the newspaper in association with environmental consultants, and assesses the environmental performance, policies and practices of businesses as well as employees’ ratings, via a survey, of their organisation’s green credentials.
The National Magazine Company, one of the UK’s most foremost publishers, has been committed to environmental issues since 2003 when it first set up a recycling scheme and appointed a volunteer band of 40 green monitors.
In the years since, green initiatives have been added and developed, and an Environmental Committee was formed in March 2007. In January 2008, NatMag was awarded the prestigious environmental business certificate ISO14001 in recognition of its commitment to green principles. The company has also recently set a five year target to become carbon neutral by 2013.
Last year, NatMag was named tenth greenest business in the UK and second in London in the Sunday Times Green List.
As part of its green initiatives, the National Magazine Company offers London's birdlife a retreat from the city with its Soho roof garden. It also houses fertiliser-producing wormeries which take waste vegetable matter from the Good Housekeeping kitchens. Beehives are the next project on the list. NatMag also sends magazines to hospitals, books to Oxfam and mobile phones to Trees for Cities for recycling.
According to the Sunday Times Green List survey, the 860-strong workforce say the organisation is well run, giving an 80% positive green score. The firm's environmental management system is certified to ISO 14001 standard, and staff receive regular communication on environmental issues (77%). They are offered a pension scheme with an ethical investment policy (a top 10 score of 65%).
The offices are in the process of having solar shading fitted to their double glazed windows, which it is estimated will cut energy bills by up to 20%.
NatMag aims to eliminate its carbon footprint of 4,000 tons by 2013 by becoming carbon neutral, and offset any residual via the Carbon Neutral operation through development projects in Asia.
Staff say their employer meets environmental targets year on year (68%), and efforts to keep reducing the firm's environmental impact are ongoing.
Cavity wall insulation keeps employees warm, all new toilets are dual flush, which use less water, and the remainder have "hippos" fitted — devices which save three litres of water per flush.
A top 20 score of 79% shows that bosses don't expect staff to save the environment while they themselves drive cars with poor rates of fuel economy.
NatMag’s green initiatives include:
· The establishment of two wormeries which take waste vegetable matter from the Good Housekeeping kitchens. The fertiliser is bottled and sold to keen gardeners, with the proceeds forwarded to charity.
· The first ‘green roof’ in London’s West End.
· Changing freight providers to reduce the number of empty lorries criss-crossing the country from distribution points.
· Fitting more bicycle racks and allocating space for shower facilities. NatMag is offering a cycle-to-work scheme that saves both the company and employees money.
· Kitchens: Removing drinks machines and replacing them with Fairtrade loose consumables. More efficient water machines have been installed, and milk machines rather than plastic bottles of milk.
· Paper: 25% of magazine paper is FSC-accredited and the rest is PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes). NatMag’s aim is to use 100% FSC paper, but there is a shortage of stock. The company’s paper supplier, The Caledonian Mill, has invested in a biomass energy plant and is selling surplus electricity back to the National Grid.
· Installing low energy and movement activated lighting. Tighter time controls, more efficient boilers and reduced water temperatures.
For more information, please contact:
Jane Wynyard
Head of PR/Communications
The National Magazine Company
72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP
020 7439 5211
jane.wynyard@natmags.co.uk
