Hållbarhetspolicy

Svalorna har tagit fram en hållbarhetspolicy som ska guida och vägleda engagerade inom och representanter för föreningen. Som globala invånare så har vi alla ett ansvar att vara medvetna kring vår konsumtion. Denna policy guidar oss i vårt vardagliga arbete. Den är på engelska för att kunna guida både våra svensktalande och icke-svensktalande medlemmar.

 

The Swallows Sustainability Policy

The vision of the Swallows India Bangladesh (IB) is “a just world, free from poverty, where people have power to influence their own lives and live in solidarity with each other in a sustainable relationship with nature”. In order to achieve this the organisation applies a sustainability perspective on all its work, in South-Asia as well as in Sweden, and strives to contribute to a sustainable development.

In Sweden, The Swallows IB work to create awareness about sustainability and to inspire people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle through which they can reduce their ecological footprint. This policy contains a summary of the organisations sustainability work within Sweden, followed by a set of internal guidelines regarding consumption, recycling, electricity and travels.

 

Sustainability work within Sweden

Re-use: With the help of voluntary efforts, the organization runs a second-hand shop where they sell a variety of second-hand items, and present re-use as an alternative to mass consumption.

Educational workshops and events: The Swallows IB aims to offer educational events and workshops to spread knowledge and awareness regarding sustainable behaviour and climate justice.

Cooperation: To strengthen the organisations capacity and maximize impact the Swallows IB cooperates with other organisations and companies who share their values and vision.

 

Internal guidelines

These guidelines aim to help staff and other representatives to make sustainable choices regarding consumption, recycling, use of electricity, and travels to minimize our own ecological footprint.

Consumption
The Swallows IB strives to reduce both purchases and waste by re-using and recycling material, equipment, and inventories. If a purchase is needed products with a lower impact should be prioritized.

  • When purchasing inventories, second-hand items should always be prioritized, provided that it does not deprive a healthy working environment.
  • When purchasing food for staff fikas and meals, local, organic and plant-based food should always be prioritized.
  • Products suspected of containing GMOs and products from unethical industries and companies should always be avoided.
  • Disposable- and single-use items, such as water bottles and plastic bags, should always be avoided.
  • Unnecessary paper consumption should be limited by only printing necessities.
  • Waste sorting systems should be available and used on the premises of the organisation.

 

Electricity

The Swallows IB strives to reduce the organisation’s energy consumption as much as possible and to choose sustainable energy solutions.

  • Eco-labelled electricity should be used on the premises of The Swallows IB.
  • Low-energy light bulbs and energy-efficient electronic equipment should be used on the premises of The Swallows IB.
  • Electrical equipment should be properly turned off and not left in stand-by when leaving the workplace.
  • Energy-smart solutions and products should be chosen when replacing electronics.

 

Travels

For an organisation that operates and cooperates with partners spread out in Sweden and South-Asia traveling is difficult to avoid. Bearing in mind the negative impact on environment and climate, traveling should be limited as much as possible and the means of transportation should carefully be considered.

  • When possible, digital meetings should be favored to limit unnecessary traveling.
  • Travels within Sweden, India and Bangladesh should primarily be conducted by bus or train. If public transportations are considered unsafe or not available, travels can be conducted by car.
  • All flights must be climate compensated.