Corporate Social Responsibility

We are committed to the following principles:

• minimising pollution
• continual improvement
• compliance with all relevant environmental regulations

Our environmental management system requires us to understand the environmental aspects of our business and applicable legislation, and to establish objectives, targets and procedures to minimise impacts and ensure legislative compliance. We monitor and audit the progress of our business against the standards we have defined and the objectives we have set.

Objectives have been defined in the areas of energy efficiency, and we have established a program to identify and minimise potential pollution risks associated with our operations. In addition we have identified that our customers wish to understand and minimise their impact on the environment. To this end we continually review the solutions we offer and the advice and information we provide to ensure that we can meet our own environmental commitment and those of our customers.

This policy, our environmental management system and our objectives and targets are regularly reviewed to ensure that they continue to address our significant environmental aspects and to achieve continued improvement in our environmental performance.

Jon Walden
Managing Director

Environmental Policy: Objectives

• We have a responsibility and a unique opportunity to regularly inform customers, staff members and the general public of the detrimental environmental impacts of vehicle use and the benefits of clean vehicles through our PR and promotional activities.
• We will identify ways to reduce the overall level of CO₂ emission caused by business mileage by running a Q⁶ project. Actions and recommendations will be made based on this project.
• Information is available for drivers which will provide advice on how to operate cars in ways that mitigate environmental problems.
• When purchasing from any major operational supplier, we will request information on any environmental policies, systems or measurement criteria that the company has in place. These factors will be taken into account when making purchasing decisions.
• We will produce an alternative fuels reference file and pricing guide for the sales team to enable them to provide the best available information to our clients.
• To reduce the number of accidents involving our own company car drivers and to ensure suppliers with whom we operate comply to acceptable environmental standards.

What we are doing

Marketing the environment internally and externally

Environment values play an integral part in the running of the company.

• SO14001 - the company continues to maintain certification and advise customers on its acquisition.

  Each year Lex completes an environmental review of its business, taking into account all aspects of its business and the impact it has on the environment. Lex then rates and scores these aspects and impacts and the Board uses these results to set objectives to reduce the impact the business has on the environment. All departments get involved in achieving ISO14001 accreditation.

• Lex produced the fourth edition of the Rough Guide to Company Cars. Each one has contained an all important chapter on CO₂ emissions, alternative fuels and clean fleet management.

  These guides have been sent to customers, prospects and staff to help educate them on how the environment and company cars can work hand in hand in a positive way.

• Lex established the integral link between safety and the environment

  Lex has identified a distinct link between safety and the environment based on the new Duty of Care legislation which says all companies have to look after their employees at all times. The Lex Safety guide was prepared with the company responsibilities to safety in mind, while Lex has also just issued the Fleetcraft guide to help company motorists improve their risk management skills and their driving into the bargain.

• Lex provided Gwyneth Dunwoody's parliamentary investigation into Cars of the Future with specialist data and research.

  Lex was seen as being at the forefront of the environmental revolution, so much so that it was approached by the Government to provide contributions to the House of Commons Transport Committee Cars of the Future report. With over 1200 green vehicles on its fleet Lex was seen as an expert in the provision of low emission vehicles and has hopefully helped shape the Government's green vehicle stance in future years.

• Lex launched Momentum - a consultancy based fleet management service which recognises the environment as a key component in all fleet decision making.

  Lex set up the new service with a dedicated department that looks at the environmental issues faced by fleets and how they can address them. Advice is given to fleets as well as ongoing support on developing a green fleet policy.

• Lex instigated internal environmental training for all employees.

  From 2004 all staff were put through an Environmental training presentation.

  Every six months this is updated so all staff, not just the sales force, are up to speed with the latest news and developments.

  Lex has set up a staff demonstrator programme for the Honda IMA which releases 30% less CO₂ than your average 1.4 litre vehicle, which in environmental terms equates to a saving of 1 tonne of CO₂ being pumped into the atmosphere each year to our staff.

  Lex also uses posters, notice boards and internal email to update staff knowledge on a monthly basis.

• Lex continued its pro-active PR stance on educating the fleet industry about the environment and how clean fleets can herald reduced running costs.

  One key responsibility of its PR department is to help educate the entire fleet industry about the environment and ways of making themselves greener. As well as issuing stories on the benefits it has experienced as a result of video conferencing it regularly publishes key articles featuring the environment.

• Internal environmental marketing to colleagues, through the company's intranet service Luthor, shares the progress achieved by the company towards its environment objectives.

• Lex recognises its influence on its local environment in Manchester, Marlow and Stirling also extends to the local community. It endeavours to raise the public's awareness of its environmental commitment and the alternatives available to them.

  In conclusion our internal posters reinforcing the importance of the Lex quality and environment say it all. These certificates are as valuable to Lex customers as they are to Lex employees.