Environmental Initiatives

 

 

Environmental Policy

An environmental management system (EMS) has been developed and implemented at thecentre:mk, covering the management and operation of the shopping centre, in accordance with requirements established in the international standard - ISO 14001:2004. This policy statement documents the core principles and operating conditions of the EMS.

 

thecentre:mk is committed to continual improvement and pollution prevention. Objectives and targets will be established and reviewed on a defined periodic basis. These will seek to address (amongst other issues) the following key aims:

 

  • Improvement of waste management and focus on waste minimisation.
  • Improvement of energy efficiency within the building.
  • Improvement of awareness and understanding of environmental issues amongst employees, contractors, tenants and visitors.

thecentre:mk is committed to ensuring compliance with legal and other requirements.
This document will be communicated and explained to all employees and staff working at thecentre:mk, it will also be displayed at appropriate locations around the shopping centre and will be freely available to the Public.



April 2008
Robert Goodman
Centre Director
thecentre:mk

Environmental Initiatives

On site recycling:  at the centre we have 10 main recycling streams ranging from cardboard to coat hangers and fluorescent light tubes.  On our malls we have dedicated recycling bins for waste segregation.  Each year we exceed 60% onsite recycling.

Big Hanna:  this is our onsite composter which takes the food waste generated within the centre and turns it into compost for our planters on the malls.

Energy efficiency measures:  we have a wide range of energy efficiency measures from reminders to switch off lights to half hourly meter readings monitoring our utilities and installing Dyson hand dryers in all our toilet facilities.  We have also installed solar light tubes to bring natural light into the management offices instead of keeping the lights on.

Travel plan:  the management company of thecentre:mk has its own travel plan to encourage our staff to sustainable forms of transport and reduce the number of cars they bring to the centre.

Green roof:  on the management company offices we have installed a green roof.  This is a key piece of green space within the centre for the wildlife at the heat of Milton Keynes.  We hope this will help improve the biodiversity of the centre.

Biodiesel:  we now produce our own biodiesel onsite from waste cooking oil denoted by the restaurants of the centre.  This is then used in the company vehicles to reduce the amount of diesel used onsite and the negative environmental impacts this can have.

Electric vehicles:  we also run electric vehicles at the centre to collect all our waste.  These are significantly better for the environment than us using diesel vehicles.

 

Environmental Achievements

  • thecentre:mk earned its ISO-14001 certifications in October 2008.  An international quality management standard, ISO-14001 certification encourages     businesses to implement, maintain, and improve an environmental management system (EMS).  
  • 2009 Winner of the BIFM Sustainability and Environmental Impact Award
  • 2009 Runner up for the Sceptre Awards Environmental Initiative of the Year
  • 13th in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies 
  • thecentre:mk is a member of the British Safety Council.  The British Safety Council is one of the world's leading occupational health, safety and     environmental organisations. Founded in 1957, its mission is to support a healthier, safer and more sustainable society.

 

Please click here to view a leaflet detailing advice from thecentre:mk on helping to reduce your impact on the environment.