Our Policies

Environmental Policy

1. About This Policy

The Learning Web, a project owned by the Stand Together Network, is committed to minimising its environmental impact across all areas of its business, supply chain, and community engagements. 

2. About Us

The Learning Web is a UK-based company operating in the education sector, providing online training courses globally via our website, http://www.thelearningweb.co.uk). Our extensive range of supporting articles and content is accessible through our hub at http://www.thelearningweb.co.uk). The environment is a core value for us, encapsulated in our commitment to “Leaving things better than we found them” and striving to “do our best every day.” More about our values can be found [here](http://www.thelearningweb.co.uk/about-us/). 

3. About Our Impact

We believe that protecting the environment and working sustainably starts with our products and services. Online training offers several environmental benefits for both our business and our customers, including: 

  • Digital Access: Zero customer travel required, accessible worldwide.
  • Digital Production: Minimal travel for our team, especially when working from home.
  • Digital Delivery: Available on request. 

See Section 4 – Materials for more details on how we manage our certificates. 

We recognise our environmental impact through various channels: 

  • Supply Chain: Sourcing and procurement practices.
  • Energy Use: Direct and indirect use of non-renewable fuels.
  • Raw Materials: Use of scarce or non-renewable resources.
  • Production Processes: Use of harmful materials or high-energy-consuming processes.
  • Waste Disposal: Management and reduction of waste.
  • Community Relationships: Impact on local communities.
  • Welfare: Commitment to the well-being of our employees and the broader community. 

4. Our Response

We prioritise environmental concerns over costs across all areas of our operations. 

  • Supply Chain: We work with like-minded suppliers, assessing their policies and practices. If unacceptable practices are found, we demand immediate improvements or terminate the relationship.
  • Energy Use: We use modern energy-saving products and materials, and our building management systems control heating and ventilation. We source our electricity from a 100% renewable energy supplier and promote the switching off of unused devices.
  • Materials: Adhering to the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle, we consider the environmental impact of materials used in creation, delivery, service life, and disposal. Our cleaning products are 100% environmentally friendly, and we use recycled paper goods and biodegradable bin bags. Our certificates are printed on Carbon Balanced Paper by an ISO 14001 accredited printer.
  • Disposal of Waste: We aim to minimise waste production and recycle as much as possible. Waste is segregated appropriately and collected by licensed organisations. We have various recycling schemes to reduce landfill contributions.
  • Community Relations: We engage with local communities, using local labour and materials where possible, and minimising noise, traffic, and pollution. We actively volunteer and maintain open communication with neighbours.
  • Welfare: We comply with all legal requirements, ensuring the well-being of our employees and neighbours. 

5. Our Due Diligence

We extend our environmental commitment to our suppliers, making them aware of our policies and expecting similar standards in return. We collaborate with core suppliers to find ways to Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle. New suppliers or processes are evaluated for their environmental credentials before use. 

Our goals are to: 

  • Maintain or exceed our current standards.
  • Identify potential risks.
  • Pursue continuous improvement. 

6. Our Risk and Compliance

Given the electronic nature of our products, we consider ourselves low waste producers. We handle any waste through recycling schemes at our UK head office. Before commencing with new suppliers or process changes that may increase waste, we ensure all environmental concerns are addressed. We enforce zero tolerance for any adverse environmental impacts identified with existing suppliers or processes. 

7. Our Effectiveness and KPIs

We continuously review our environmental practices and maintain high awareness among our staff, whether at HQ or home offices. Our policies support responsible and sustainable work environments. We use a Carbon Balanced Printer to offset our carbon footprint and support the companies in preserving critically threatened habitats. Currently, we estimate recycling 80% of all waste produced. We offer digital copies of course certificates to learners, promoting environmentally conscious choices. Our ongoing goal is to reduce our environmental impact continuously. 

8. Our Training

As a training provider, we invest in educating ourselves and others. From employee onboarding to annual compliance refreshers, we equip our employees with the skills to identify, report, and improve upon potential environmental breaches and suggest policy enhancements. 

9. Our Next Steps

We commit to: 

  • Communicating this policy across our business.
  • Investigating and implementing process improvements.
  • Reviewing and updating the policy annually.Â