Sue Ryder Care shops announce support to help combat climate change

Sue Ryder Care has pledged its support to tackle the issue of Climate Change through its nationwide chain of shops and has signed the Third Sector Climate Change Declaration.  Drawn up by Every Action Counts (EAC), the Declaration is intended as a statement of intent from the Third Sector to combat Climate Change by taking action within their organisations and communities.

By signing up to the Declaration, the healthcare charity’s portfolio of 370 shops have made a commitment to help the Third Sector tackle Climate Change and reduce their carbon footprint.  Sue Ryder Care’s Retail Division will support national legal targets for green house gas emissions and work in partnership with the government and others to reach or exceed these targets.  Launched in June 2007, the Declaration is fully supported by the current Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn. 

Mark Walton, Head of Every Action Counts, said, “I’m delighted that the retail arm of Sue Ryder Care has joined the growing number of third sector organisations taking action on this issue. We believe that Climate Change is the central challenge facing our generation and, through the Every Action Counts programme, we provide the resources and information to help voluntary organisations take action to become more environmentally sustainable.”

Kay Barnes, Business Development Manager at Sue Ryder Care said, “As ‘sustainability’ rises up the political agenda and the public becomes ever more environmentally conscious, Climate Change is an issue organisations - commercial, public and third sector alike - can no longer ignore.  The Declaration is a great initiative to encourage all Third Sector organisations to join forces and collectively reduce the industry’s carbon footprint to help combat Climate Change.”

Kay added, “Sue Ryder Care has long been committed to good environmental practice and currently runs a number of environmentally friendly schemes throughout its nationwide network of shops.  And, with a view to become the most environmentally friendly charity retailer, Sue Ryder Care is currently in the process of implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation through a staged approach using BS 8555.”

An EMS meeting the requirements of ISO 14001 is a management tool enabling an organisation of any size or type to identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services.  In 2003 a new environmental standard, BS8555, was introduced to help organisations such as Sue Ryder Care achieve ISO14001 accreditation.  The charity is initially working towards the ISO 14001 accreditation through its network of 370 shops and over time will look towards accreditation throughout the other areas of the charity.

The charity’s shops will look at key areas of activity, including reducing water usage and energy consumption, diverting more waste from landfill and green transport initiatives for its staff.   Sue Ryder Care’s Retail Division has already been recognised for good environmental practice for its award winning BOBB – Bring Our Bag Back – campaign to reduce plastic bag usage.

Sue Ryder Care is a leading provider of specialist palliative and neurological care as well as community-based services across the UK.  Funds raised through Sue Ryder Care’s 370 shops helps the charity provide care for people living with complex conditions including multiple sclerosis, cancer, Huntington’s disease, stroke and acquired brain injury.  Sue Ryder Care needs to raise in the region of £13million in voluntary income each year to continue to provide care that liberates lives.  

For further information about Sue Ryder Care visit www.suerydercare.org