BUPA environmental policy

BUPA as a key provider of Healthcare and Insurance Services recognises the importance of good environmental practice. We recognise that our activities have an environmental impact and in developing this policy we seek to reinforce our commitment to manage environmental issues properly within our existing UK and expanding international businesses. This policy forms part of a suite of BUPA policies covering issues such as Health & Safety and Community Connections.

This policy has the full support of the Chairman and the Board of Directors. In implementing this commitment to manage our environmental impacts properly we will:

Fully comply with environmental regulations in every country in which we operate.
Ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into our business decisions.
Continue to use risk assessment methods in order to identify potential environmental risks to our businesses.
Pursue opportunities to minimise the environmental impact of our operations, concentrating particularly on the use of energy, waste disposal, water discharges and land management.
Develop a wider understanding of environmental issues amongst our suppliers, employees, customers and local committees.
Regularly review our policies to ensure that they remain properly aligned to the need to reduce waste and encourage the most effective utilisation of scarce resources.
Responsibility for implementing this Environmental Policy rests with the Managing Directors of each of our business units. Detailed policy implementation plans will be developed within each of these business units which will include a commitment to the regular audit of policy objectives.

To ensure that this policy is properly implemented we will periodically review our progress at board level.

Val Gooding
Chief Executive

BUPA Care Homes environmental information:

Environmental aspects	Objectives
Waste	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for resource/waste reduction and recycling. Ensure all waste materials from sites are managed in line with relevant statutory requirements
Material consumables	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for usage reduction
Energy use	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for energy reduction
Water use	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for water reduction
Emission	Minimise the impact of gaseous emissions and noise on local neighbourhoods
Transport	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for pollutants emission reduction and green transport plans
Building aspect	Manage and ensure all asbestos and other hazardous materials do not present H&S and environmental risks
Equipment	Identify and implement economically feasible opportunities for resource/waste/energy reduction
Biocides	Identify pesticide/herbicides which minimise harmful environmental impacts
Storage	Identify storage locations and conditions in order to minimise potential harmful environmental impacts
Spillage	Reduce the risk of water or soil contamination
Reviewed and approved by BUPA Care Services Environment Committee 28 March 2006.

Energy and waste environmental targets and performance

Key performance indicators
	CO2 emission per bed (tons)	Water consumption per bed (m3)	Waste volume generated per bed (m3)
2004	4.28	80.0	7.9
2005	4.16	78.0	8.0
2006	4.01	77.7	7.7
Target reductions
2005	5%	5%	n/a
2006	5%	2.5%	3%
2007	5%	2.5%	3%
Reductions achieved
2005	2.8%	2.5%	-2.0%
2006	3.6%	0.3%	4.6%

2006 absolute figures

carbon footprint was 81.9 thousand tons of CO2
the total volume of waste generated was 156 thousand cubic metres
the total volume of water used was 1.6 million cubic metres

Waste reduction and recycling initiatives

All head office waste paper is recycled. During 2006, drinks can recycling facilities were introduced.
All paper hygiene products (napkins, toilet rolls, wiper rolls etc) used are manufactured from 100 percent recycled paper.
During 2006, all used cooking oil (53,000 litres) from Care Homes was collected for recycling.
We are working with suppliers to reduce the packaging associated with deliveries.
A detailed analysis of our waste stream has identified cardboard recycling as the major area in which progress can be made, and our target for 2007 is to increase the availability of cardboard recycling facilities at care homes from four percent to 20 percent of care homes.

Key environmental management targets for 2006/2007

to launch an energy and water efficiency staff campaign across all care homes
to exceed statutory requirements for energy efficiency in new build care homes
to strengthen the energy management team
to achieve Energy Efficiency Accreditation
to improve the monitoring and targeting of water consumption by moving to a centralised billing system
to improve our overall environmental performance as measured by the Yorkshire & Humber Environment Index
to introduce an internet based 'low paper' CAD system for use in the planning and design of new build care homes
to roll out electronic purchasing and electronic invoicing to key suppliers
to review and implement cost-effective recycling solutions
to work with suppliers to increase the environmental performance of goods and services

Environmental index

The Environment Index is a Business in The Community (www.bitc.org.uk) initiative, recognised as one of the leading benchmarks of corporate environmental engagement, encouraging environmental competitiveness among those organisations taking part. BUPA Care Services has participated in the Yorkshire and Humber Environment Index since 2004. A copy of our feedback report covering 2006 is available.

Renewable Energy

We are actively looking at cost-effective opportunities for utilising renewable energy in new build and existing care homes. In 2007 we ordered our first solar thermal water heating system for installation at a care home in Bradford. The installation should be completed in time for the summer of 2008, and performance will be monitored to establish the energy savings obtained.

For more information on the BUPA Care Homes environmental policies please contact Nigel Slevin, Head of Property Department and Board Member with responsibility for environmental matters on 0113 381 6252.