Our business is classified as having a low environmental impact. We are able to deliver our products in formats that meet customer demand not to rely solely on printed copy.
However, while our internet-delivered products have a low environmental footprint, our production plants, data centers, real estate and staff behaviors do, of course, have an impact.
Our Policy
In 2009 we will launch our global Environmental, Health and Safety Policy which will be available for download via this site. The Policy will act as a framework for the implementation of a data gathering system across our business and for the development of relevant internal performance standards.
Our data gathering system will provide us with a full understanding of our baseline global resource consumption, concentrating on a small number of indicators which are relevant to our business such as energy, water, waste and paper consumption. We will capture data from the main properties within our real estate portfolio, primary data centers and production plant.
Not only will this system help us to prepare for the UK Carbon Reduction Commitment and similar legislative requirements, it will also help us to track the progress of resource saving initiatives that we put in place.
Our Policy will be monitored, reviewed and updated as needed. At least annually, appointed executives within the business will review all matters throughout their operations which may present compliance and other issues under the Policy.
We engage our staff in environmental awareness through a network of over 30 Green Teams around the world. Each team comprising staff volunteers addresses issues of relevance and interest to their location, providing opportunities to learn and share best practice via a dedicated intranet site.
Our Legal business, delivered via our Eagan campus in Minnesota, has been a member of Minnesota Waste Wise since the early 1990s. Collaborating with other member companies, we explore how to reduce waste, save energy and adopt environmentally sustainable practices that save money and reduce our impacts on the environment.
REUTERS NEWS – KNOWLEDGE THAT INFORMS THE WORLD
One of the most valuable ways of raising awareness of global environmental challenges is through the provision of information. Not only do we provide news and pictures we encourage debate and increase awareness via dedicated Environment blogs and video channels.
Our news is seen by over 1 billion people every day. Reuters News informs the world by providing authoritative news and information to media and business professionals. Reuters remains our news brand and carries immense power in the world's media. Coordinated by our Chief Environment Correspondent, our environmental journalist network is an authoritative source for environmental issues.
Aimed at both specialists and a wider audience, our environmental output goes beyond the coverage of studies about climate change to explore possible solutions, such as more efficient energy use or clean solar, wind or hydropower. Through that news, conveyed in video, text and pictures, we are able to inform the environmental debate.
THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The Foundation continues to raise standards in the way environmental issues are reported, running journalism workshops focused on writing environmental news. Courses have taken place in countries including Colombia, Mexico, Germany, Lebanon, Vietnam, the UK and South Africa.
The Foundation works in partnership with the Com+ Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development, a group of international organizations committed to using communications to advance sustainable development projects. Courses funded by the Alliance range from reporting on water in Costa Rica to the importance of ecosystems services to development, and most recently reporters from developing countries gained special insights when they joined a workshop conducted alongside the December 2008 international ministerial conference on climate change, held in Poznan, Poland.
The Foundation also continues to sponsor the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources media award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism. The 2008 Reuters-IUCN prize was awarded to Canadian journalist Noemi Mercier with her article written for Quebec Science, entitled "Our computers are poisoning the planet" (Nos ordinateurs empoisonnent la planete).
The Foundation's news website, AlertNet, specializes in coverage of the humanitarian impacts of climate change and efforts to help developing countries adapt to a warmer world. It has a background briefing on climate change including news, features, blogs and maps. AlertNet also provides an online training module for journalists looking for tips on reporting climate change.