Introduction

Flint Culture, an international culture-led communications and strategy consultancy, is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and embedding eco-conscious practices into our operations and client engagements. As believers in the transformative power of culture, we operate at the intersection of arts and cultural intelligence to drive meaningful change, amplify impact, and foster connections. Recognising the influence of the PR and communications industry, we aim to lead by example, using culture as both a lens to understand environmental challenges and a tool to inspire sustainable solutions.

Purpose

This policy sets out our commitment to environmental stewardship, aiming to minimise our ecological footprint, enhance our impact practice, and encourage sustainable practices within our industry and amongst our stakeholders – governments, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector clients.

Scope

This policy applies to all Flint Culture employees, contractors, and partners, encompassing our global network of services, operations, and client projects, including our impact practice and culture-based initiatives.

Objectives

• Operational Sustainability: Implement practices that reduce environmental impact across our offices and activities.
• Sustainable Client Services: Support clients in understanding their environmental and societal impacts, delivering culture-led strategies that drive behavioral change and sustainability.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Leverage cultural intelligence to build robust stakeholder networks and advance sustainability initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess and refine our efforts, drawing inspiration from traditional, indigenous, and innovative cultural perspectives.

Commitments

• Environmental Compliance: Adhere to all relevant environmental laws and regulations globally.
• Resource Efficiency: Optimise energy and water usage, minimise waste through reduction, reuse, and recycling, and draw on cultural knowledge for sustainable practices.
• Sustainable Procurement: Source materials and services from environmentally responsible suppliers aligned with our values.
• Carbon Footprint Reduction: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by prioritising virtual collaboration, eco-friendly travel, and carbon offset programs.
• Employee Engagement: Educate and empower employees to advocate for sustainability, using culture and Flint Forum as an accessible entry point.
• Cultural Impact: Use culture – traditional wisdom, indigenous insights, or creative design – as a lens to map environmental challenges and a tool to communicate solutions

Implementation strategies

• Energy Management: Utilise energy-efficient systems and promote behaviors that reduce consumption in our global offices, including:
  • Seek to increase energy efficiency in its buildings and operations.
  • Encouraging staff to switch off appliances and equipment when not in use
  • Turn off heating/cooling in unoccupied rooms
  • Promote the efficient use of energy
  • Make sure windows are closed when using air-con
  • If a computer has the ‘energy star’ or ‘power save’ feature make sure it is activated; machines are often set up with it disabled
  • Insist that monitors are switched off when not in use, or staff are away from their desks at meetings or lunch, as screens use twice the energy of PCs
  • Using multi-purpose devices to reduce the number of appliances in use
  • Regular maintenance 
  • Using a timing system to ensure that the system operating hours match the times when heating/cooling is required, as needs vary throughout the day and in different seasons
    
  • Water Management: Encourage water conservation strategies and behaviours, including: 
    • Seek to reduce the unnecessary consumption of water in our buildings
    • Drinking water provision sourced from filtered tap water

• • Paper Management: Adopt a paperless approach to operations, including through:
  • • Encourage all employees to avoid printing unless entirely necessary. 
    • Use paper from sustainable sources. 
    • Double sided printing is encouraged
    • Place paper re-cycling bins next to each photocopier. 
    • Promote paper and cardboard recycling

  • Waste Management: Adopt a zero-waste approach with comprehensive recycling programs and reduced single-use materials, including:
    • Reduce waste generation and maximise the re-use and recycling of waste material in our operations
    • Avoid using disposable catering products
    • Ask suppliers to take excess packaging away with them when they deliver
    • Review computer supplier/manufacturer refurbishment contracts
    • Support the recycling process by purchasing recycled paper products
    • Use glass bottles for serving water – removing plastic bottles from the office
    • Provide recycling bins in the office and encourage office users to recycle accordingly – glass & plastic bottles, aluminium cans, toner cartridges

  • Sustainable Travel: Prioritise virtual meetings to minimise travel emissions, opting for low-impact travel options when necessary.

  • Green Procurement: Establish procurement policies favoring eco-friendly products and services, prioritising local and culturally significant suppliers where possible.

  • Client Collaboration: Advise clients on sustainable practices by mapping their environmental and societal impacts, then designing culture-based communications strategies and implementation plans to enhance reputation, shift behaviors, and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

  • Creative Solutions: Develop innovative campaigns – e.g., leveraging indigenous storytelling or artistic installations – to engage diverse audiences on sustainability in inspiring, accessible ways

Employee engagement and training

Provide ongoing training on sustainability and cultural intelligence, empowering employees to integrate environmental responsibility into client work and internal practices. We’ll foster a culture of innovation where team members contribute ideas for impactful, eco-conscious solutions.

Community and industry engagement

Participate in and support community and industry initiatives that promote sustainability, sharing knowledge from our impact practice and encouraging collective action. We’ll collaborate with clients and cultural leaders to amplify efforts that restore ecosystems and promote resilience.

Governance and review

A dedicated sustainability officer will oversee this policy’s implementation, ensuring alignment with our mission to drive change through culture. The policy will be reviewed annually to reflect evolving environmental standards, client needs, and cultural insights, maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.

Assigned sustainability officer

Oliver Kerr BSc MSc, Environment and Social Impact Lead