Environmental Policy

This policy will be reviewed annually to evaluate continued relevance and to monitor compliance.

Appdrawn is a software development company. The very nature of our business means we are heavily reliant on data centres, the Internet, and the use of devices alone, and thus we recognise the impact our activities have on the environment. Appdrawn is committed to playing its part and we believe in striving to do more than legal and regulatory standards dictate. This environmental policy outlines our pledge to minimise our negative impact and what that looks like practically in our day-to-day activities and choices.

As a team we have reviewed and reflected on our activities and processes and have identified the following areas as ones that have the most significant impact on our environment.

Green - areas where good practices are already in place

Red - areas that need improvement

Energy Consumption:

• We recognise our business is heavily reliant on data centres, the Internet, and the use of devices, thus contributing a great deal to carbon emissions. Over 50% of our data hosting is with AWS who claim that our proportion of their overall consumption is 100% powered by renewable energy. We are looking to migrate the rest of our data hosting to AWS by the end of the year.
• We employ relatively computationally efficient designs to reduce impact. We would also challenge a client's idea if it was to significantly impact the environment.
• We do not turn off devices that are required for remote working at the end of the day as they are fundamental to the services we provide.
• Our office has motion-activated LED lighting, thus reducing emissions.

Office:

• We are virtually paperless. We digitally take and share notes. We currently recycle approximately 90 litres of paper per year. This is then shredded by a local company before it is recycled into tissues.
• We utilise the recycling service of our building provider. The fact they had a recycling service was a big factor in our decision to opt for their services.
• We have introduced an 'Environmental Impact' training module to inform our staff on optimal environmental practices.
• We bought office plants for their air purifying capabilities as well as their aesthetic.
• We have actively incorporated a 'green narrative' into our social media strategy. We have written blogs with practical advice and taken part and highlighted environmental campaigns.

Transport:

• We keep 'in person' client meetings to a minimum and reserved for occasions when necessary. Otherwise, we opt for video conferencing minimising our impact on emissions.
• With offices in both Watford and Barcelona there are a handful of (currently) unavoidable flights made each year which contribute to carbon emissions. We try to keep most of the communication digital.

Environmental Policy Objectives:

We are currently working towards the achievement of Green Mark, an environmental certification scheme aimed at lowering the environmental impact of our organisation. Listed below are our environmental targets for the next year.

Energy Consumption:

• By the end of 2023, we are looking to migrate our data hosting completely to AWS.

Office Supplies:

• We would like to maintain our paperless processes.
• We are committed to doing a thorough review of our few office suppliers, to partner and support like-minded businesses.

Transport:

• We are looking to utilise a carbon offsetting initiative to reduce the impact of the minimal travel we do.