Plastics Policy

STEP is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the circular economy. We recognise that waste plastics pose a global threat to the marine environment and to our region generally. We commit to minimising our use of plastics, to reducing the environmental impact of waste plastics and to beating the national target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste before the end of 2042.  The Senior Management Team is responsible for this policy. All employees share responsibility for its delivery.

We are taking steps to eliminate all non-essential single-use plastics. This is part of our long-term commitment to environmental sustainability across our entire organisation, ensuring we are doing everything we can to help protect the environment.

STEP as an employer:

• Provide staff with glasses and mugs to avoid single-use receptacles being used for refreshments.
• Provide crockery and cutlery in the staff room to avoid paper and plastic crockery and cutlery.
• Provide a staff room to allow staff to store and reheat food, encouraging homemade lunches rather than going to the shop at lunchtime and bringing back lunches that are invariably in single-use plastic packaging.
• Installed sustainable water dispensers at all sites so that staff can fill drinking glasses and reusable bottles.
• Encourage all staff to keep a reusable bag in their vehicles.
• Encourage good recycling by providing recycle bins at all sites.
• Recycle printer cartridges.

STEP as a Venue Hire service provider:

• Does not use single-use water bottles. Glass bottles and sustainable water dispensers are used.
• Use glasses and mugs for refreshments wherever possible.
• Has eliminated the use of plastic, single-use straws, cup lids and stirrers.
• Ensure that staff that shop for venue hire supplies use reusable bags.

STEP is continually committed to:

• Auditing and reducing our use of single-use plastics.
• Where the use of plastics is unavoidable, using recycled plastics where practicable.
• Where possible, aim to buy only those plastic products that can be easily reused or recycled.
• Encouraging innovative recycling opportunities for the plastic waste we and our supply chain partners produce in our buildings, cafés and daily operations.
• Working with our supply chain to develop capability and capacity for recycling plastic waste.
• Working with employees, customers and suppliers to encourage them to take practical steps to reduce the use of plastic and the production of plastic waste.