We care for more than possessions
Corporate social responsibility policy
At Big Yellow, we recognise that it’s as important to be a responsible organisation as it is to have clear commercial objectives. In the long term, we believe this will create a more sustainable business, happier customers and ultimately, increase shareholder value.
This Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy will cover all of Big Yellow Group’s operations, as both developer and operator of self-storage. We want to meet the self-storage needs of both private and business customers, while helping to create local employment and contributing to local community regeneration.
As an organisation, we commit to:
- Complying with relevant social and environmental legislation
- Establishing a formal integrated CSR management structure to implement “best practice”
- Preventing pollution and the waste of resources to protect the environment
- Consulting with stakeholders on social aspects to improve their services to the Group
- Providing capital for sustainable development that is economically viable
- Reporting annually on improving ethical, community and environmental performance
At an operational level, we make these specific pledges:
Development
To address relevant issues on local community and climate change, aiming to achieve best practice on sustainability checklists and local planning guidance.
Design
To minimise our carbon footprint as much as we possibly can, through the application of passive building principles, viable renewable energy and other sustainability criteria.
Construction
To aim for sustainable build site practices by raising environmental as well as health and safety standards through the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Estates and Facilities
To monitor energy, waste and water provider performance in order to identify areas for where we can improve our operational efficiency.
Operations
To keep store managers and customers informed of the ethical, safety, security, energy use and waste minimisation aspects of storage and packaging.
Sales, Marketing and Customer Care
To facilitate external communication of sustainability and ethical market differentiation and improve customer satisfaction
Human Resources
To integrate Big Yellow Group CSR policy within all training programmes, employee communications, and benefits initiatives, whilst continuing to promote charitable giving, employment creation and staff retention.
Office Management and Information Technology
To facilitate internal communication of environmental performance and cost effectiveness of energy usage, waste paper reduction, recycled paper usage, and the recycling of waste paper.
The CSR Manager will facilitate the Board and Group Operations to achieve these commitments by establishing more specific objectives within the existing management structure and implementing guidance to meet agreed continuous improvement targets. The CSR Manager is also responsible for recording key performance indicators for annual reporting and review by the Board.
James Gibson
Chief Executive Officer
16 October 2007

