Corporate Responsibility

Environment

The nature of our services means that we have a generally positive environmental impact as a company. We do, however, have some environmental challenges that we face which are associated with service delivery. The general challenges for the group are tabled in the Corporate Responsibility Review 2006, available to download in the ‘Reports and Achievements’ section.

The company's Environment Policy commits us to having Good Practice Procedures (procedures) to enable each business sector to adopt the most environmentally sympathetic means to support its service delivery. These procedures, available to download through the drop-down menu, set specific requirements, describe resulting benefits and provide checklists, examples and supporting material. In this way, the businesses are properly motivated and equipped to implement the procedures effectively.

The ten procedures cover environmental management systems, effective environmental communications, legislative compliance, energy use in buildings, efficient road transport, waste management, using water wisely, supplier selection, product and service stewardship and pollution prevention. All Rentokil Initial businesses worldwide are required to implement the procedures on environmental management systems, effective environmental communications and legislative compliance. Based on their environmental impacts, certain businesses have also been asked to adopt some, or all, of the additional seven procedures.

To ensure that these procedures are fully implemented, our health, safety and environment team conducts environmental audits of key businesses. The results of these audits are reported to the board every six months.

Our internal environmental management system ensures that we spread good practice throughout Rentokil Initial and establish a common base level for all our operations. Businesses may also seek external environmental accreditation (e.g. ISO 14000).

Through acquisition, the company has acquired certain sites with environmental damage and it is taking action, in liaison with the appropriate authorities, to remedy such damage and it holds financial provisions against the cost of such remediation.

Separate to these procedures and as part of the company's compliance reporting, senior managers within each business are required to complete an Internal Control Questionnaire, covering legal requirements for health and safety and environmental matters, and provide a full explanation of any non-compliant acts. The management certificate accompanying the questionnaire is relied upon by the company and its auditors for reports submitted to the board on the adequacy of internal controls within the businesses; and by the directors of Rentokil Initial when making statements concerning internal controls in the company's annual report.

Health, Safety and Environment

The Health, Safety & Environment department is responsible for advising and auditing Rentokil Initial businesses around the world on their implementation of the company's health & safety management standards and environmental good practice procedures.

Research & Development

R&D plays a central role in environmental management at Rentokil Initial through innovation. R&D has about 30 scientists, who are primarily engaged in finding more environmentally friendly and safer ways of providing service in the areas of hygiene, pest control and tropical plants. Over the years, our scientists have been responsible for numerous product innovations and helped develop the company's competitive advantage.

Our R&D activities are certified to the requirements of the Quality Assurance Standards of BS EN ISO 9001 and the more demanding requirements of Good Laboratory Practice.

Documents

The following documents are available to download in this section:

Environment Policy (PDF 172kb)

Good Practice Procedures:

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