Environmental Policy

This policy applies to all employees and contractors at all levels within Stream as well as employees and contractors at all levels within Stream Service Providers.

The evidence of global warming occurring is overwhelming, the scientific community may argue over cause, but the fact that warming is occurring is in little doubt. Stream, in servicing the insurance industry, particularly appreciates how weather patterns are increasingly affected, with increased frequency and ferocity of severe weather events such as cyclones and storms, drought and extreme temperatures.
Stream business activities and those of our Service Providers have the ability to generate a large environmental footprint throughout Australia without proper management of process. Due to Streams’ size and geographical spread, it is in a strong position to influence environmental better practice and to demonstrate to the community its good environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Stream holds sustainability as a core value, recognising it is essential to ensure optimum operating cost efficiency, while contributing to positive environmental and community outcomes.

Policy

Stream is committed to undertaking its activities in an environmentally responsible manner and effectively managing risks that may lead to an impact on the environment. We will:

• Be an environmentally responsible neighbour in the communities we operate, and act promptly and responsibly to correct incidents or conditions that endanger heath, safety or the environment.
• Continually improve its business performance and conduct its operations in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Conserve natural resources by reusing and recycling materials, purchasing recycled materials, and using recyclable materials where available.
• All employees and business partners, including our clients, suppliers and providers, will be encouraged to share knowledge of sustainable practice initiatives.
• Implement and maintain an Environmental Management System. To do this we will:
• Comply with all relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and other initiatives to which we subscribe;
• Incorporate environmental better practice into our core business plans and management processes;
• Minimise negative impacts we may have on the environment and implement pollution prevention practices through the efficient use of resources, and the reduction of emissions and waste;
• Develop a framework for setting and reviewing our environmental objectives and targets
• Incorporate environmental better practice into all technological solutions, and the fit-out and operation of accommodation;
• Ensure we work closely with our clients, suppliers, local communities, and other interested parties to continually improve our processes in environmental better practice; and
• Foster the initiation and ownership of environmental activities by all our staff, thereby building a strong environmentally aware business culture.

We will measure and reduce our:

• consumption of electrical power – computers, air conditioning and lights
• motor vehicle and air travel – public transport and teleconferencing use
• paper use -paperless systems
• operational inefficiencies – continuous improvement

Stream will participate in a carbon disclosure and reduction program, allowing our partners
to see how we perform in meeting our targets. Our carbon reduction targets will always be
substantially greater than those imposed by regulatory requirements.

Accountability

Senior Executive Management is accountable for the company’s overall environmental performance. This includes providing leadership, direction, resources and support. To ensure the company’s activities are undertaken in a manner that at all times considers and effectively manages potential environmental risks and always strives for environmental performance improvement.

Responsibility

Line managers and supervisors are responsible, within their work areas for implementing the company’s environmental policy and guidelines. They must proactively address issues that may adversely affect environmental performance.

Cooperation

The company requires its employees to cooperate in the management of environmental matters, including responding to the reasonable directions of external environmental regulators. Employees must monitor the continued effective installation and operation of environmental controls within the scope of their day to day work.

Consultation

The company will consult with management, employees, relevant regulatory agencies and, where appropriate, the community, on the development, implementation and refinement of its environmental function.

Compliance

The company will conduct all its operations, whether carried out by or behalf of the company, in accordance with relevant legislation and government policy and agreements.

Implementation

The company will demonstrate due diligence in the provision of its services, manage its work activities in a manner consistent with this policy by:

• Setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets for the company.
• Implementing the company's environmental management system.
• Assessing likely environmental outcomes before deciding to proceed with activities.
• Considering environmental outcomes when making decisions, the same way that consideration is given to safety, cost, quality and time.
• Minimising pollution and managing potential environmental impacts resulting from company activities.
• Promoting the efficient use, reuse and recycling of resources.
• Monitoring, reviewing and reporting on the environmental performance of the organisation.
• Building constructive and collaborative working relationships with external stakeholders.

Employees

• All employees have a responsibility to actively contribute towards avoiding or minimising environmental impact impacts in their day to day to day work. To do this staff must:
• Work carefully at all times to protect the environment.
• Report any environmental impacts, hazards or potential environmental management issues of which they become aware to the responsible officer, including poorly installed or poorly operating equipment they encounter in their working day.
• Work in a manner consistent with the company’s environmental management programs and, legal environment obligations, and follow specific systems of work.
• Participate in relevant environmental management consultation and training initiatives and use effective environmental management measures in their work.

Stream holds the right to review this policy and update as required.