Environmental policy

The Natural History Museum's vision is for a future where both people and the planet thrive.

The Museum is a world-renowned museum of natural history, engaged in the storage, collection, public viewing, scientific research, marketing and communications associated with natural history specimens.

We are committed to protecting the environment and seek to continually improve the environmental performance of our activities by reducing the environmental impacts of all areas of our operations through our Integrated Management System (IMS), aligned to ISO14001 and ISO45001 standards.

Aims and objectives

1. Create advocates for the planet through our core science and public engagement activities.
2. Develop and share scientific understanding of the composition and dynamics of the natural world, generating data, knowledge and tools that accelerate nature recovery.
3. Ensure as a minimum standard, full compliance with relevant environmental legislation and other regulations applicable to UK Government departments and Arm's Length Bodies relating to the sustainable use and protection of natural resources.
4. Raise awareness of our environmental impacts, ways to reduce them, relevant legislation applying to our activities and the importance of preparing for and adapting to climate change.
5. Implement our commitment to the prevention of pollution.
6. Promote sustainable travel options for staff and visitors and reduce impacts from exhibition and specimen transport.
7. Monitor energy consumption and associated carbon emissions and incorporate energy efficiency measures into all our activities, with the overall aim of reducing energy demand and related emissions.
8. Monitor waste generation and recycling rates, promote waste minimisation, progressively improve levels of re-use and recycling in all activities and send zero waste to landfill.
9. Monitor, manage and reduce water use at all Museum sites. Implement water efficiency measures and utilise the borehole as a source of water at our South Kensington site.
10. Follow best practice ecological management guidelines within our grounds and gardens, maximising opportunities for nature to thrive.
11. Ensure contractors observe good environmental practice when working on Museum premises and work with them to improve environmental performance.
12. Encourage suppliers and contractors, through appropriate specifications, to develop and supply environmentally preferable goods and services.
13. Give full consideration of the impact on the environment before committing capital expenditure or entering any new venture or project.
14. Carry out periodic reviews of environmental management performance and monitor progress against objectives and targets to ensure continual improvement.

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure its ongoing suitability for the Museum.

Governance

Health, Safety and Environment Committee

• Overall responsibility to ensure that this environmental policy is effectively applied across the Museum.
• Approve resources, strategic priorities, and policy changes.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer

Convening and chairing the Museum Health, Safety & Environment Committee with the co-operation of the recognised Trade Unions.

Director of Estates, Projects and Masterplanning

Overall responsibility to ensure that the environmental policy is effectively applied by all employees, contractors, and other visitors.

Will receive reports and recommendations from the Head of Sustainability and Environmental and Sustainability Officer on matters concerning environmental management issues.

Head of Sustainability and Environmental and Sustainability Officer

Oversee the development of policies, procedures and guidelines for environmental management and sustainability, achieving approval from Executive Board.

Advise on, and ensure the Museum has adequate systems and resources in place to ensure best practice environmental management is upheld and ensure environmental performance improvements are embedded into the Museum's management and services.

Manage and coordinate the Museum's ongoing commitment to meet the standards of its ISO14001 certification; communicating compliance matters and facilitating continual improvement of the EMS.

Managers

Ensure their Department complies with this environmental policy and that environmental management procedures are adhered to.

Liaise with the Sustainability team to minimise potential environmental impacts of new projects or activities.

All employees, scientific associates and volunteers

Understand and comply with this environmental policy.

Contractors, suppliers and departmental visitors

Staff responsible for the presence of contractors, suppliers and departmental visitors on Museum premises are responsible for ensuring they comply with this environmental policy.

Contractors, suppliers and departmental visitors must co-operate fully in achieving this environmental policy's aims.