Environmental Policy

1. Introduction

At Rapid Formations, we recognise that our business activities affect the environment, and we are committed to protecting and preserving the natural environment for future generations. As a leading UK company formation agent and corporate services provider, we understand our role in promoting sustainable business practices - both within our operations and across the wider business community.

This Environmental Policy outlines our commitment to minimising our environmental footprint, complying with all relevant legislation, and integrating environmental considerations into our business decisions. Our goal is to operate as a responsible, environmentally conscious organisation that leads by example in promoting sustainable business practices.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all Rapid Formations staff, contractors, operations, and business services. It encompasses our London and Glasgow offices, remote working environments, and all company activities across our platform and supply chain.

3. Our Environmental Commitments

3.1 Compliance with Environmental Legislation

We are committed to complying with all applicable environmental legislation, standards, and codes of practice, as well as any other relevant environmental requirements to which Rapid Formations subscribes.

3.2 Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction

We strive to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations by:

Committing to a minimum 5.5% year-on-year reduction in CO₂e emissions, relative to our baseline year, in line with recognised environmental standards
Implementing energy-efficient office lighting, heating, appliances, and IT systems
Choosing electricity suppliers that prioritise clean and renewable energy
Supporting remote working and low-carbon commuting to reduce transport-related emissions
Minimising business travel and promoting the use of virtual meetings and collaboration tools
Leveraging cloud services and data centres that are energy-efficient and powered by renewable energy, where possible

3.3 Carbon Measurement, Offsetting, and Carbon Neutrality

We are proud to be a certified carbon-neutral organisation. To ensure accountability and transparency, we:

Partner with an independent environmental consultant to measure our Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions
Offset our entire carbon footprint through verified and globally recognised carbon offsetting projects
Maintain carbon neutrality in accordance with international best practices, including ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol

3.4 Waste Management and Recycling

To minimise our contribution to landfill and promote responsible resource use, we:

Make use of registered waste carriers that operate certified zero-to-landfill policies
Maintain robust recycling and waste management facilities in all offices, supporting the segregation of multiple waste streams (including food waste, paper, plastics, metals, and electronic waste)
Ensure safe and compliant disposal of electronic equipment in accordance with WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations
Promote the reduction and eventual elimination of single-use plastics in the workplace
Encourage the use of reusable, recyclable, or compostable alternatives wherever feasible
Engage employees in waste reduction efforts through training, signage, and office-wide initiatives

3.5 Sustainable Procurement

We evaluate the environmental impact of the goods and services we procure. Specifically, we:

Prioritise suppliers with strong sustainability credentials and commitments
Encourage procurement of eco-friendly products, recycled or renewable materials, and reduced packaging
Collaborate with vendors that adopt recognised environmental accreditations and implement carbon reduction or offsetting programmes where feasible
Provide suppliers with our Code of Conduct, which outlines our environmental standards, at the point of engagement
Prioritise sourcing from local suppliers to reduce transportation-related emissions, support the regional economy, and promote sustainable, community based production practices

3.6 Paperless Operations

As a digital-first organisation, we are committed to fostering a paperless culture to reduce our resource consumption. We achieve this by:

Prioritising digital documents and communications across all customer-facing and internal operations
Minimising physical printing, and when necessary, using recycled and sustainably sourced paper
Promoting the use of digital document storage and secure, cloud-based file management systems
Offering, by default, digital alternatives to traditionally paper-based services- such as mail forwarding - wherever feasible

3.7 Awareness and Advocacy

We believe that raising awareness and empowering stakeholders to become advocates for sustainability is essential to driving meaningful and lasting change. We promote this by:

Delivering regular training and communications on our environmental policies, practices, and sustainable behaviours
Actively involving employees in sustainability initiatives and encouraging the contribution of ideas to further reduce our environmental footprint
Equipping our customers with the tools and knowledge needed to incorporate sustainability into their own lives and businesses

3.8 Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to transparency and continuous improvement in our environmental performance. We pursue this by:

Measuring our carbon emissions, energy usage, water usage, and waste, and reporting on environmental outcomes
Reviewing feedback from stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement
Continuously assessing ways to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and innovate in alignment with emerging sustainability standards

4. Governance

The Directors of Rapid Formations take full responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented and maintained. All employees are expected to support this policy and integrate its principles into their daily work.

5. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness. Updates will be made as needed in response to changes in legislation, business operations, or stakeholder expectations.