This year saw us receive accreditation for ISO: 14001 and continue to make improvements to reduce our impact on the environment. As an international business, we have an important role to play in helping to minimise climate change. We are proud of the progress we have made this year across our businesses and by working with our suppliers and customers we are determined to do more.

2009 saw us start counting paper and creating environmental goals, the adoption of double sided printing throughout the company has seen us reduce our paper usage siginificantly, the use of our technology has also enabled us to cut paper usage through the elimination of printing reports.

In addition to paper usage, we recognise that whilst online service can reduce the need for the printing of paperwork and direct mail, web hosting inevitably consumes electricity, and the generation of this power produces carbon emissions. In order to compensate for this, the quality of carbon emitted is calculated and then trees are planted to off set this amount. The international Tree Foundation has set aside land in Pembrokeshire to plant trees on behalf of the Group via Rackspace, which will be entirely comprised of British native, deciduous hardwood trees.

The trees will be planted in perpetuity (at approximately two years of age), at which stage they will already be absorbing significant volumes of carbon to fuel their rapid growth.

Reviews done in 2009 saw that the average number of miles per pound of revenue fell by nearly 30%. This was down to improved planning technologies and strategic recruitment. This, coupled with our well maintained vehicle fleet, showed a positive effect in reducing the rate of CO2 emissions.

We continue to operate an office recycling scheme for paper, card and other recyclables with recycling terminals introduced in all our offices. Our old mobiles phones and equiptment are still recycled, with the money raised donated to charity.