Statement

As a leading centre for biodiversity research, horticulture, conservation and education, and a major visitor attraction, RBGE is committed to improving its environmental performance as part of a wider commitment to sustainability.

We are an international institution engaged in environmental and biological issues, however, in carrying out this work, we do have significant impacts on the environment. These include the energy required to heat our glasshouses and buildings and water consumption for facilities for visitors, as well as the cultivation of plants and a small amount of pesticides and other chemicals to maintain our world class collections.

We will maintain our research interest in climate change as it affects vegetation, work with the Scottish Government and the international community to reach their carbon reduction commitments, develop plans to reduce our own impacts and use the Garden’s facilities to explain climate change issues to the public.

Principles

In the application of this environmental policy we will:

1. meet or exceed requirements set out in current UK environmental legislation

2. seek to provide the resources required to deliver this policy

3. reduce our impacts on the environment in the following ways:

• eliminate the provision of plastic straws and sale of single use plastic bottles in all our catering outlets by March 2019
• support Scottish Government targets to increase charging provision for electric vehicles in all of our gardens by March 2020
• increase the generation of renewable energy sources in all redevelopment projects as they arise on all four of our sites
• continue to reduce chemical use annually through regular review and changes in practice
• measure, promote and protect biodiversity locally and internationally through our conservation work and communicate findings to visitors every month

4. Promote good environmental practice to visitors, students, staff and volunteers

5. RBGE will also maintain an Environmental Management System (EMS) that comprises five action groups covering the areas of Biodiversity, Procurement, Waste, Travel and Energy Management and a group of staff who act as Area Champions for their local work area. Through the EMS we will achieve continual improvement through a cycle of audit and review.

Commitment

Senior Management acknowledge their responsibilities in delivering this policy. We recognise the importance of engaging all staff in its implementation and will review it every two years.

Last updated: June 2018