Stewardship

Simon Penney Waste Consulting — SPWC

Our approach

SPWC is a small Canadian consulting business working in waste management, resource efficiency and the circular economy.

We want the way we run our business to reflect the advice we give. For us, sustainability means balancing environmental responsibility, people’s wellbeing and a financially sound business.

Our commitments are proportionate to our size and resources. We will focus on practical actions within our control, encourage responsible choices through our advice and report openly on our progress.

Environmental responsibility

We will seek to reduce unnecessary resource use and environmental impacts by:

  • Using online meetings when they meet the needs of an assignment, and considering the purpose and value of business travel before booking.

  • Combining visits and choosing lower-emission travel where reasonably practical.

  • Keeping equipment in use for longer, repairing or buying refurbished items where suitable, and disposing of electronic waste responsibly.

  • Limiting unnecessary purchasing, printing, energy use and digital storage.

  • Considering waste prevention, resource efficiency, pollution and impacts on nature when developing advice for clients.

We recognise that the best solution depends on local circumstances. Our recommendations will consider practical operation, maintenance and environmental consequences, alongside cost.

Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon offsetting

We will start by recording business travel and other readily identifiable sources of emissions. Where reliable information is available, we will estimate the associated greenhouse gas emissions using recognised conversion factors.

We will explain what these estimates cover, identify important gaps and improve the information over time. We will not present a partial estimate as a complete business carbon footprint.

Our priority is to avoid unnecessary emissions and reduce those we can reasonably influence.

We may consider purchasing independently verified carbon credits for emissions that remain. Any purchase will be reported separately, with information about the project and credits used. We will consider the credibility of the climate benefits and the implications for local people and nature.

We will not treat carbon credits as a substitute for emissions reduction or assume that tree planting or charitable donations automatically cancel out our emissions. Any carbon-neutral or net-zero claim would require separate, credible evidence.

Social responsibility

We will aim to build fair, respectful and accessible working relationships by:

  • Treating clients, associates, suppliers and communities with dignity and respect.

  • Making reasonable adjustments for disability, neurodivergence and other access needs.

  • Agreeing clear expectations, fees and payment terms, and respecting people’s time and professional boundaries.

  • Clearly distinguishing paid work from voluntary or pro bono contributions.

  • Listening to local knowledge and considering how recommendations affect communities, workers and livelihoods, including informal waste workers where relevant.

  • Sharing knowledge and supporting mentoring or learning opportunities when our capacity allows.

  • Handling personal and confidential information responsibly.

We will be realistic about the support we can offer and avoid making commitments we cannot sustain.

Economic responsibility

A sustainable consultancy must remain financially viable while providing useful, honest advice.

We will:

  • Recommend solutions that reflect clients’ budgets, local capacity, operating costs and long-term needs.

  • Use clear scopes and pricing, and agree significant changes before undertaking additional work.

  • Pay associates and suppliers within agreed terms.

  • Disclose relevant conflicts of interest and commercial relationships that could influence our advice.

  • Consider local expertise and suppliers where suitable.

  • Be clear about evidence, uncertainty and the limits of our expertise.

Our annual sustainability report - It will be published on 1st April Each Year (Earth Day)

We commit to publishing a short sustainability report on our website every year, on the 1st of April, Earth Day, covering the previous calendar year. Our first report will cover the period from adoption of this policy to the end of that calendar year.

The report will include:

  • The practical actions we took across the three pillars.

  • Available information on business travel and estimated emissions, with its limitations.

  • Any carbon credits purchased or other environmental contributions made.

  • Relevant examples of fair working practices, knowledge sharing or community support.

  • What we did not achieve and what we learned.

  • A small number of achievable priorities for the following year.

The report will be proportionate to a small business. It will distinguish recorded information from estimates and future intentions.

SPWC’s principal is responsible for this policy and the annual report. We will review the policy each year alongside our progress and update it where necessary.