Smart AV Sustainability Policy
We believe that we have a responsibility to the communities we work in and that our business should be sustainable if it is to continue to succeed and grow.
Therefore, Smart AV is committed to minimise and mitigate any effects our operations may have.
Working with our clients and contractors through every aspect of our projects, we develop systems to support sustainability, across key areas such as energy, purchasing, waste and potential socio-economic impacts. As part of our commitment to sustainability we actively encourage all stakeholders, including customers, of any of our services to adopt the principle of sustainability and join us in minimising our impact on our community and environment.
WHAT IS BS8901?
BS 8901 is the British Standard which has been developed specifically for the events industry with a purpose of helping the industry to operate in a more sustainable manner. The standard defines the requirements for a sustainable event management system to ensure an enduring and balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress relating to events.
It requires organisations to identify and understand the effects that their activities have on the environment, on society and on the economy both within the organisation and the wider economy; and put measures in place to minimise any negative effects. BS 8901 shares many of the common management principles of other management system standards such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and BS OHSAS 18001 (Health and Safety Management).
SMART AV and BS8901
Smart AV also believes that it has a responsibility to the communities it works in, that the business should be sustainable if it is to continue to succeed and grow. This is why it was the first audio visual company to have been accredited with BS8901, and has been working steadily since its inception, to layer sustainable aspects throughout every area of the company and to help the stakeholders it works with to operate in a more sustainable manner. Some of the practices Smart AV has put in place include working closely with the local recycling authority, using the WEEE directive to recycle printer cartridges and batteries and encouraging staff to bring their own redundant items from home to be recycled.
Smart AV has a strong sense of social responsibility and in cases where its redundant equipment cannot be recycled it looks to donate it to causes such as Computers for Africaused to equip African communities with the IT resources they so desperately need. Closer to home, Smart AV is also keen to leave a legacy in its community and works closely with the local college to provide paid apprenticeships for candidates that are willing to work while continuing their education. Smart AV also employs local school leavers and graduates who may have little or no experience, in the hope that by investing time and training into them, they will one day become credits to the community themselves. In a market where Smart AV is required to constantly reinvest in the latest equipment, it is also important to ensure that it looks at the sustainability of the items it is procuring. Where possible, environmentally friendly products are always chosen, with alternatives selected that encompass fewer materials and are free of toxic materials such as spray paint, mercury and lead; making recycling at the end of their rental life much safer. Since 2011 the company has only purchased products that have proven lower levels of CO2 emissions and consume less power than other substitutions.
