“When future generations judge those who came before them on environmental issues, they may conclude “they didn’t know”: let us not go down in history as the generations who knew, but didn’t care”. – Mikhail Gorbachev (2002)
GMI Property recognises that its business objectives i.e. the pursuit of property development, inevitably impacts on the environment and it wishes to minimise the potentially harmful effects of such activities wherever practicable. GMI Property is therefore committed to developing in a sustainable way, employing environmental, economic and social considerations.
The policy sets out our commitment to sustainable good practice and how it is applied in relation to our acquisition and development activities as well as the conduct of our own business with a view to minimising adverse effects on the environment and.
“Adaption is the only means to reduce the now-unavoidable costs of climate change over the next few decades”. – Sir Nicholas Stern, ‘The Stern Review on Economics of Climate Change,’ October 2006.
In particular, GMI is committed to:
- …Meeting and where appropriate exceeding the requirements of relevant environmental legislation.
- …Setting clear sustainable objectives.
- …Establishing and implementing procedures to deliver these objectives.
- …The review and monitoring of objectives.
- …Continuously improving performance.
Sustainability Policy
The primary objectives of the company are to:
1. Ensure that its team of consultants and contractors are aware of the Sustainability Policy and its objectives and that they have the necessary skills to implement it. To employ only those consultants and contractors who are able to demonstrate that they can comply with the Policy.
2. Fully appraise the impact of its proposed developments at the site selection stage, favouring those opportunities which overall make a positive contribution to the local environment and are likely to prove sustainable.
3. When considering site or building acquisition, we will undertake an assessment to identify possible sources of contamination or hazardous materials. Following acquisition, we will implement any necessary remedial action.
4. When considering site or building acquisition, we will undertake where considered appropriate, ecological or habitat surveys in order to identify issues of particular significance. Following acquisition a strategy will be developed to preserve or relocate significant ecology and habitat to mitigate against its loss.
5. Reduce the impact of buildings on the environment by considering where appropriate the following matters at the initial design stage:
- …Specification of materials which have a lesser environmental impact across their life cycle.
- …Procurement of materials from recycled sources.
- …The re-use of existing materials (relevant where buildings are being replaced).
- …Ensuring flexibility in the use of the building.
6. The establishment of waste management strategies on its construction sites, the aim being to reduce, recycle and reuse wherever possible.
7. Require all contractors to operate in accordance with the Considerate Contractors Scheme thereby reducing the impact of construction on neighbouring buildings and communities. Where possible, we encourage the use of local subcontractors and employment of local people.
8. Consider, encourage and support sustainable forms of transport to and from new developments.
9. Where relevant, encourage and support active dialogue between commercial occupiers of development schemes and local schools to explore opportunities for cross- fertilisation of resources, work experience and mentoring programmes.
10. In the occupation of our own building we will:
- …Seek to reduce our consumption of natural resources.
- …Adopt environmentally sensitive procurement methods for resources utilised.
- …Aim to reduce, re-use and recycle as much waste as possible.