Environmental Policy Statement
Team UAV aims to be the world’s leading supplier of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle services and have been recognised in the top 20 and top 10 global drone service providers in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Understanding the responsibility that comes with such a position, the Environmental Policy has been implemented to ensure the business acts with a zero tolerance to environmental abuse and promotes and influences others to act with selfless commitment to environmental matters.
Team UAV are committed to a precautionary approach to environmental challenges and undertake to promote greater environmental responsibility. For example: The worldwide implementation of its policy aims to reduce the organisation’s CO2 emissions during daily operations. Through the use of environmentally friendly technical design, technical safety and health protection, recycling and energy conservation are also key factors in Team UAVs business.
In line with and exceeding industry standards, Team UAV has a high priority commitment to protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, preventing pollution and continual improvement of its environmental performance. Team UAV hit their major milestone goal in 2020 of becoming 100% paperless.
All products and services are produced pursuant to appropriate technical, safety and environmental standards and also comply with relevant regulations and licensing requirements. Compliance with the legislative requirements related to the environment is governed. Team UAV has been acting in accordance with the ISO 14001 however, by 2025 all operations will also be pursuant to ISO 14001 and we will achieve certification.
Environmental Management System
Team UAV has implemented a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) to include all company sites, wherever they are operating. From June 2015 the Environmental Policy will be monitored by the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that the standard for environmental management is of the highest possible order. At this point in time, activities and services provided by Team UAV employees based at properties controlled by third parties, such as client sites are specifically excluded from the scope of the Team UAV EMS except insofar as these activities may be directly controlled by Team UAV.
The Environmental Policy objectives and targets are proposed and communicated by the Chief Executive officer, agreed by all senior management and published across the company.
Progress on Continual Improvement
Any variances in activities and their corresponding environmental aspects and any changes to legislation or market or client requirements, are taken into account by the Environmental Specialist when making recommendations to senior management for changes to the Environmental Policy. These are formally reviewed at least annually but are also regularly monitored and reported on to senior management by the Environmental Specialist.
Team UAV ensures that all its activities are carried out in compliance with the corporate values of the Team UAV core values, relevant United Kingdom environmental legislation and other requirements.
Team UAV commits to meet, or where possible, exceed the requirements of the current environmental legislation of the United Kingdom and, as far as reasonably practicable, the country in which it is operating. Team UAV is committed to global environmental change. The following environmental aspects of Team UAVs operations have been identified as significant:
Consumption of Energy
Team UAV is committed to minimising its consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to research alternative sources and technologies to reduce consumption of energy across all activities.
In particular, Team UAV will manage its products’ energy sources sustainably to ensure that it meets continually improving energy performance standards. Team UAV will do this by using only energy generated by renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly, Octopus Energy are Team UAVs chosen energy suppliers who between January 2021 to December 2021 supplied us with 100% renewable energy. So, based on our consumption, we saved 1.84 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere. We are committed to using 100% renewable energy each and every year.
Team UAV ensures that no energy is wasted unnecessarily, when an office or meeting room is not in use by turning off the lights, at the end of each day Team UAV ensures all computers and devices are switched off and not left on standby by implementing rules surrounding energy consumption. Team UAV uses Google Nest heating controls in our offices which automatically turn the heating off when the office is empty further reducing the waste of energy unnecessarily.
Team UAV understands that whilst they significantly help reduce the carbon footprint of their clients’ operations by using electrically powered drones instead of fossil fuel powered manned helicopters and fixed winged aircraft, they know that when they are operating in the field, that electricity is provided by their vehicles engine, and that the carbon footprint here can be further reduced.
Team UAV have therefore committed to fitting solar panels to all of its operational field vehicles by July 2025 ensuring they have the capability to charge equipment in the field whilst on deployments from a renewable source, whilst maintaining the best possible vehicle for off road access when it is necessary.
Team UAV is extremely conscious of the energy consumption used whilst storing data in the cloud, they know that this is a major global contributing factor to CO2release, and increasing the anthropogenic contribution to climate change. With these factors in mind, it is essential that we carefully balance the need for services whilst taking into consideration the need to eliminate contributing factors to climate change. Our supplier of choice is Google due to their commitment to the use of 100% renewable energy.
Production of Waste
Team UAV strives to minimise the waste it generates and the consequential environmental impacts by following the hierarchy of: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover otherwise redundant resources.
Team UAV is committed to being a paperless organisation, and has made the request to all of its suppliers to receive paperless bills and invoices. All quotes, invoices and correspondence are sent electronically with no paper being printed or sent to our suppliers.
Any waste that is produced by Team UAV is currently sent to an incinerator that produces renewable energy. From January 2022 we will look to make the switch to recycling bins where 90% of the waste we produce will be recycled. The 10% that cannot, will continue to be sent to the incinerator. Team UAV is committed to zero waste to landfill.
Team UAV are mindful of the cradle to grave energy consumption of emerging technology and the speed at which items quickly become obsolete or updated. Team UAV has a policy by which any technology that becomes obsolete within the business is either sold on or donated to an organisation (such as a school or university) that will extend its lifespan in line with our zero waste to landfill policy.
Use of Transport
Team UAV is aware of the environmental impacts of their transport operations and through the use of sustainable transport and software applications, seeks ways to reduce transport impacts wherever practicable.
When travelling long distances and when no operational vehicle is required Team UAV will use public transport wherever possible.
Team UAV assesses the requirement to travel to meetings. If a meeting can be conducted via video conference then travel to a location is not undertaken, reducing the company’s business miles and CO2 emissions.
Travelling in groups Team UAV will fill vehicles with personnel before using a second vehicle, in line with health and safety policies.
Team UAV will encourage staff to car share to and from work and work-related tasks.
Team UAV will service vehicles regularly to ensure they are kept at the most economical and environmentally friendly performance level.
Team UAV will plan tasks using the most economical route available.
Team UAV currently runs a fleet of diesel vehicles with the addition of AdBlue to limit the amount of NOx released into the atmosphere, whilst maintaining the ability to drive in the most adverse off road conditions required by their clients. At the time of writing this policy, Team UAV have selected the most economical vehicles whilst balancing the need for capability. Team UAV is committed to replacing all of their operational vehicles to either hybrid or full electric vehicles as and when the technology becomes available, as their contract hire periods expire, or as vehicles are replaced. This will further reduce Team UAVs carbon footprint.
Use of Resources
Team UAV works to ensure that the products, services and materials which it purchases are as sustainable as practical. Team UAV is committed to the ongoing training and education of its staff so that the company can ensure that there is full participation in the operation of the Environmental Management System.
Team UAV communicates its Environmental Policy information to all employees through induction, training and internal notice boards. The Environmental Policy is available to all stakeholders through the Team UAV web site or upon request from Team UAV Management.
Authority & Accountability
Ultimate authority and accountability for the Team UAV Environmental Management System rests with the CEO who regularly reviews and authorises plans at the corporate level and receives reports on rehearsal and implementation of plans as well as constitute the highest level of management for environmental activities. The Chief Executive Officer shall identify owners of processes by which environmental aspects of Team UAV’s business activities are understood and managed in compliance with the national and international requirements.
The CEO may establish a Change / Review Panel, representing all relevant functions and operations within Team UAV to focus on the coordination and continual improvement of environmental management processes across the organisation, respond to changing circumstances and ensure the appropriate application of lessons learned from incidents or rehearsals. Small sub-groups focusing on specific tasks may be used to achieve this.
All employees are made aware of the aims and objectives of the Environmental Management System and are expected to adhere to their requirements. Everyone is encouraged to suggest ways in which the Environmental Management System may be improved. Where appropriate, subcontractors and other visitors to Team UAVs premises shall be required to acknowledge and adhere to the Company’s Environmental Policy and Operating Procedures.
Off Setting Team UAVs Carbon Footprint and becoming Carbon Neutral
Team UAV are very aware that each and every individual and business are contributing to Climate Change. From 2020 we have taken the first steps to investigate becoming a Carbon Neutral company.
From January 2022 we will begin to offset our Carbon Footprint, working towards becoming a Carbon Neutral company as well as promoting carbon neutrality to others. We are beginning our Carbon Neutral Journey in three distinct stages;
Stage one:
Assessing our Carbon Footprint using Scope One – our direct emissions. This includes;
Transport; to and from the job site / fuel consumption for charging equipment whilst in the field via vehicle engines
Energy Consumption; from heating the office / lighting / heating water / computer and other equipment usage / charging equipment / opening and
closing doors and shutters / air conditioning
Stage two:
Assessing our Carbon Footprint using Scope Two – our indirect emissions. This includes;
Energy Production; discovery of potential energy forms (surveys via helicopters / winged aircraft / boats and all associated transport
and surveying.
abstraction of energy resources (fracking, drilling, mining and
other forms of abstraction)
transportation, Installation and maintenance of renewable energy abstraction technology and equipment
Stage three:
Assessing our Carbon Footprint using Scope Three – all other indirect emissions. This includes;
Anything out of our control; design, material abstraction, transportation of material, Manufacture, transportation to end user of items such as;
the clothes we wear as uniform, the company vehicles we use to get to work, the office equipment we use to work on, the third party software services we use, the communications and network facilities we use, the equipment we use to capture data, the maintenance and equipment required for buildings and vehicles we use, and
so on and so forth.
Using an online calculator and inputting accurate consumption data for a 12 month period, Team UAV have calculated their direct scope one emissions Carbon Footprint to be 32.0 tonnes for 2021.
Transport is a large contributing factor to Team UAVs Carbon Footprint. Using the same calculator, Team UAV assessed the impact of changing their fleet of vehicles to plug in Hybrid vehicles. The change will equate to a saving of 7.44 tonnes, In 2021 one of our fleet vehicles was changed from a diesel to an all electric vehicle.
Team UAV is fully aware that the business will always generate a Carbon Footprint and that with current technology a zero Carbon Footprint is not achievable. The next step is to offset our Carbon Footprint through positive changes within our community, country and across the world.
Deforestation plays a huge part in climate change by reducing carbon stores, Team UAV have chosen tree loss as the projects that they would like to be involved in to offset their Carbon Footprint. Trees offer many more services than just carbon stores and play a vital role in the survival of our planet.
CO2 Stores; rainforests provide one of the worlds largest carbon stores
Flood prevention; by slowing down the rate of infiltration to the ground / by taking up and storing water.
Soil Erosion; Strong root structures helps contain soil in place
Cultural Benefits by giving back natural habitats to indigioues tribes or by providing green spaces in urban areas helping mental
health issues and physical wellbeing.
Fruit Production; certain species can aid sustainable food production
Habitat; trees provide habitat for many, many species helping to maintain biodiversity.
Team UAV has chosen to invest in projects to help halt the devastating effects of deforestation. This is by no means the only way in which they plan to invest their time and financial resources, but is merely a small start to offsetting their Carbon Footprint from inception of the company and to all operations in the future. Team UAV is dedicated to becoming Carbon Neutral and to helping others realise the benefits of Carbon Neutrality. They will do this by strategic social media promotions and posts explaining the benefits of drone technology.
As an innovative way of carbon offset, Team UAV will work with their partners to use drone technology to plant thousands of trees in the UK and further afield for themselves and they will encourage others to do the same.