Environmental Policy
Chester Zoo and the Environment
Why Go Green?
To save the planet! I am sure you have heard this slogan many times, but the fact is, it is true. Our environment is being damaged. Each year the symptoms are clearer – global warming, rising sea levels, deforestation, flooding, polluted air and rivers and extinct species to name a few. We waste huge amounts of energy and resources and produce vast amounts of pollution. This cannot continue without causing severe, long term, damage to the world we live in. These problems are not going to disappear; we cannot ignore them and hope they will go away. We need to change our lifestyles or else face the consequences.
Being “environmentally friendly” means living in a way that minimises the damage we do to the environment. Conservation and protection of the environment go hand-in-hand; it is therefore an important part of Chester Zoo’s mission. At Chester Zoo we have a number of environmental initiatives including:
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Reed beds to filter water from the elephant pool, helping to conserve water and using a natural waste treatment method.
Educational displays promoting green issues such as water conservation and the use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood products from sustainable sources.
Provision of recycling facilities for waste generated by visitors and staff.
Designing new enclosures to be environmentally sensitive and energy efficient.
The use of environmentally friendly building materials and techniques whenever possible.
Promotion and use of fair trade products.
Involvement in various local native species and habitat conservation projects. |
Chester Zoo is proud to be the first zoo in the UK, and only the second in Europe, to be awarded ISO14001.
This is a universally recognized environmental standard, awarded to companies that show a commitment to being environmentally friendly. Qualifying companies must show an understanding of, and take action on, key environmental issues such as raw material consumption, energy usage, emissions, waste and transport, and satisfy all environmental legal requirements. Once achieved, companies must continue to show commitment, and improvement, to their environmental policy to retain ISO 14001. Companies that achieve ISO 14001 are not only striving to help the environment but will become more energy efficient, and so save money!
ISO14001 has been attained after several years of hard work by Chester Zoo staff. To achieve the award the Zoo has had to look closely, and critically, at its environmental impacts. As a result of this assessment the Zoo now has a comprehensive Environmental Management Strategy that aims to minimise the Zoo's environmental impact, now and in the future, and ensure that we continue to invest in ways to further benefit the environment. ISO 14001 is a mark of Chester Zoo’s commitment to conservation, public education and the environment.
For details of the Zoo's environmental policy please click here to download our policy statement »
You and the Environment!
It is not only companies that need to become more environmentally friendly. In the UK 30 million tonnes of household waste is produced each year, about 10% of which is recycled, the average house loses 40% of its heat through the loft and walls and almost half of car journeys made are under 2 miles. There are lots of small changes we could make in our lives that can really make a difference for the environment.
Here are 10 suggestions
1. Attract wildlife to your garden – build a pond, put up bird and bat boxes and grow wildlife friendly plants.
2. Buy wood products that are from sustainable forests (Look for the FSC mark), or recycled timber.
3. Leave the car at home – walk, bike or use public transport to cut down on traffic pollution.
4. Recycle – most household rubbish can be recycled.
5. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs - they use 70% less electricity than conventional light bulbs.
6. Switch off electrical appliances when you are not using them and make your home more energy efficient.
7. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in your garden – use natural alternatives.
8. Try to buy more locally produced or fair-trade goods.
9. Save water when possible – don’t leave the tap running.
10. Tell your friends and relatives why they should go green!