Environmental Policy Template UK
Environmental & Sustainability Policy Template (UK)
Approx. 7 pages · 15 sectionsBranded PDF + editable WordLast reviewed:
What is a environmental & sustainability policy and who needs one?
An environmental policy is a board-level commitment to comply with environmental law, prevent pollution and reduce your impact on energy, waste, travel and materials, with objectives you review. It is commonly asked for in tender sustainability sections and forms the foundation of ISO 14001 if you later pursue certification.
An environmental policy demonstrates how you identify, manage and reduce environmental impacts such as waste, energy and travel. It can be aligned with ISO 14001 principles and supports sustainability questions in tenders.
Why buyers ask for this
Buyers commonly ask how you manage waste, energy and travel in their quality and sustainability questions, which are often scored. Many councils and NHS bodies with net zero targets ask for this policy as standard.
Who needs it
Any business answering sustainability or environmental questions in a tender. It is also the foundation for ISO 14001 if you pursue certification.
Where it comes up in a PQQ, SQ or PSQ
Under the Procurement Act 2023, supplier selection uses the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) plus each buyer's own conditions of participation and quality questions. Typical questions this policy supports:
- "Provide your environmental policy or equivalent (e.g. ISO 14001 certificate)"
- Discretionary exclusion questions on environmental misconduct (Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 7)
- Scored quality questions on reducing the environmental impact of contract delivery
- Requests alongside a Carbon Reduction Plan for larger central-government contracts
- – Commonly scored in quality/sustainability sections
- – Often requested alongside a Carbon Reduction Plan
What's inside
The full environmental & sustainability policy runs to about 7 pages (including the branded cover and document control page) across 15 sections:
- Purpose
- Scope
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Environmental & Sustainability Principles
- Legal & Regulatory Framework
- Environmental Aspects & Impacts
- Resource Efficiency & Waste Management
- Carbon & Climate Change
- Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain
- Biodiversity, Neighbourhood & Community Impact
- Training & Awareness
- Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Monitoring, Targets & Continuous Improvement
- Records & Documentation
- Review
Key points covered
- Commitment to legal compliance and pollution prevention
- Significant environmental aspects (energy, waste, travel, materials)
- Objectives and targets
- Responsibilities
- Supplier and procurement expectations
- Communication and training
- Monitoring and review
Every document carries your logo, company name, version number, approval signatory and next review date, in branded PDF plus editable Word.
UK legislation, standards and guidance it references
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Environment Act 2021
- ISO 14001:2015 (voluntary standard)
Excerpt preview
[Your Company Ltd] (“the Company”) is committed to conducting its operations in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. The aim of this Policy is to: This Policy applies to: This Policy should be read alongside the Company’s Health & Safety Policy, COSHH / Dangerous Substances Policy, Asbestos Procedure, RAMS Procedure and Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Policy.
Get your environmental & sustainability policy in minutes
£19.99 per policy, or £199 for all 39 policies. One-off payment.
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How to adapt it
- Read every section and remove anything that doesn’t reflect how your organisation actually works.
- Complete the bracketed [ADAPT] prompts with your own arrangements, people and data.
- Have the policy approved and signed by a director or equivalent, and communicate it to staff.
- Keep evidence that you follow it, and review it by the date shown.
Environmental & Sustainability Policy FAQs
Do I need ISO 14001 to bid?
Not usually. Many buyers accept a written environmental policy with evidence of how you apply it; some contracts ask for ISO 14001 or equivalent.
Is this the same as a Carbon Reduction Plan?
No. A Carbon Reduction Plan reports your emissions in a specific government format. An environmental policy is broader.
What objectives should an environmental policy include?
Objectives should be specific to your significant impacts, for example reducing vehicle mileage, increasing recycling rates or cutting office energy use, each with an owner and review date. The template prompts you to set your own.
How much does the Environmental & Sustainability Policy template cost?
£19.99 per policy, or £199 for all 39 policies. It is a one-off payment with no subscription, and you download branded PDF and editable Word files straight away.
Free guides
- Which policies do UK public-sector tenders ask for?
- PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan explained
- Environmental policy vs ISO 14001: what do tenders need?
General information, not legal advice. Requirements differ between buyers and change over time; always check the tender documents.