Environment policy

This environment policy sets out the principles and commitments governing how Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) manages its environmental responsibilities and seeks to reduce the environmental impact of its activities and services.

It establishes the standards, responsibilities and accountability that apply across RVS, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making and that we protect the environment, fulfil our compliance obligations, use resources responsibly and continually improve our environmental performance.

This policy should be read in conjunction with RVS’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and supporting environmental procedures and guidance, which set out how the commitments within this Policy are implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Together, the policy and EMS provide a consistent framework for managing environmental impacts, risks and opportunities across RVS. Detailed environmental objectives, targets, measures and actions are established and maintained through the EMS and supporting implementation arrangements.

This policy is effective from 17 September 2026.

1.1  Royal Voluntary Service (RVS, the charity) is a UK charity whose mission is to grow volunteering across our nations, to build a stronger, better-connected Britain. It is organised as a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (company number 2520413). Its Trustees are directors for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006. The Charity is registered in England and Wales (No. 1015988) and Scotland (No. SCO38924). Further information is available on the Charity’s website royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

1.2  This policy establishes the governance framework for managing RVS's environmental responsibilities. It sets out the environmental principles and commitments that apply across the charity, together with the responsibilities and accountability for their implementation, oversight and reporting.

1.3  Relationship to other policies and the Environmental Management System

This policy forms part of RVS's wider governance framework and should be read in conjunction with the Environmental Management System (EMS) and relevant supporting policies, procedures and guidance, including:

• Environmental Management System documentation

• Procurement policy and supporting procurement procedures

• Travel & expenses policies and procedures

• Health & safety policies and procedures

• Estates & facilities management procedures

• all other relevant RVS policies, procedures and guidance.

This policy defines what RVS is committed to achieving in relation to environmental management and the principles that colleagues, volunteers and those working on behalf of RVS are expected to follow.

The EMS and supporting documentation define how these commitments are implemented and managed. Detailed objectives, targets, measures, action plans and operational controls are therefore maintained through the EMS and associated implementation arrangements rather than within this policy.

2.1 Policy statement

RVS recognises that climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and the unsustainable use of natural resources can affect the environment, the communities we support and the long-term sustainability of our activities. This policy is appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of RVS activities and services and supports our strategic objectives and charity mission. 

This policy sets out RVS's environmental commitments, the key principles that apply to people working for or on behalf of RVS, and accountability for delivery. It provides the framework for setting environmental objectives. Detailed objectives, targets, measures, actions and operational controls are established and maintained through the supporting Environmental Management System (EMS) documentation and implementation arrangements.

3.1  This policy applies to the activities and services of the main RVS charity across the United Kingdom that fall within the defined scope of the EMS, including community-based volunteering, community support services and retail operations.

3.2  RVS subsidiaries are excluded from the EMS scope. Where appropriate, RVS will seek to influence subsidiaries through governance and oversight arrangements to adopt proportionate environmental management practices consistent with this policy.

3.3  It applies to environmental aspects that RVS can control and those it can influence, considering a life-cycle perspective. This includes, where relevant, our estates and operations, community and retail services, travel, suppliers, contractors, partnerships and investment activities. Where RVS does not have operational control, influence will be applied through proportionate supplier engagement, partnership management and responsible investment arrangements.

3.4  The detailed EMS scope, significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations and operational controls are maintained in supporting EMS documentation rather than in this policy.

4.1  RVS is committed to establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with ISO 14001:2026, with the aim of enhancing environmental performance and achieving the intended outcomes of the EMS.

4.2  Within the scope of the EMS, RVS commits to:

• Protect the environment, including preventing pollution and, where relevant to our context, conserve natural resources, use resources sustainably, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

• Meet applicable legal and other environmental compliance obligations relevant to our activities and services. These obligations will be identified, maintained, reviewed and reflected in EMS controls.

• Continually improve the EMS to enhance environmental performance and provide a framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives.

• Reduce our environmental impact by working towards Net Zero emissions by 2050, using energy, water, fuel and materials responsibly, reducing emissions and discharges, and applying the waste hierarchy across our estate and operations.

• Consider environmental and social factors in procurement and investment decisions, encourage responsible supplier practices, and apply life-cycle thinking where relevant.

• Provide environmental awareness and competency training proportionate to colleagues’, volunteers’ and contractors’ roles, responsibilities and environmental impacts.

• Monitor and review environmental performance and communicate relevant performance in line with agreed reporting requirements.

4.3  RVS will identify and maintain its environmental compliance obligations, significant environmental aspects, risks and opportunities through the EMS. Environmental performance, incidents, non-conformities, corrective actions will be reported, investigated, addressed and reviewed through the EMS.

4.4  In addition, detailed environmental objectives, targets, measures and actions will be set, monitored and reviewed through the EMS and associated implementation plans. These arrangements will translate the commitments in this Policy into measurable activity and support continual improvement.

5.1  Clear accountability for implementation, oversight and reporting is assigned as follows:

• The RVS Chief Officer Group and Extended Leadership Team is accountable for the effectiveness of the EMS and implementation of this policy. It will ensure the environmental policy and objectives are compatible with RVS's strategic direction, that environmental management is integrated into relevant business processes, that appropriate resources are available, and that environmental performance, risks, opportunities and improvement priorities are reviewed through defined EMS reporting and management review arrangements.

• The ESG Manager, is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the EMS, supporting conformity with ISO 14001:2026, coordinating environmental objectives and performance monitoring, and reporting EMS performance against defined EMS aims and improvement needs to the RVS Chief Officer Group and Extended Leadership Team. The ESG Manager will coordinate reviews of this policy at least annually and following significant operational, organisational or relevant external change.

• Directors, Heads of Service and Managers are responsible for implementing this policy and relevant EMS controls within their areas, communicating responsibilities, supporting required competence and providing information needed for monitoring and review.

• Employees, volunteers and contractors are responsible for following this policy and relevant EMS procedures and controls. This policy will be communicated within RVS and made available to interested parties.

6.1  This Policy will normally be reviewed every year, or earlier where required due to:

• legislative, regulatory or other compliance obligation changes

• significant changes to RVS activities, services, operations or organisational structure

• significant changes to environmental aspects, impacts, risks or opportunities

• findings or recommendations arising from audits, incidents, non-conformities or management review

• changes to RVS's environmental commitments, strategy or objectives

• other changes that may affect the continuing suitability, adequacy or effectiveness of this policy.

6.2  The ESG Manager is responsible for ensuring the policy remains appropriate and reflects current best practice.