Environmental and Ethics Policy

Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust, Charity Number 1166676

 

Policy Owner: FL Committee/Łukasz Konieczka

Review Cycle: 36 months

Next Review Date: March 2029 (Updated and re-approved March 2026)

 

M Mindful

O Open

S Safe

A Agile

I Inclusive

C Community

‘There is no Pride on the dead planet’ - author unknown 

 

Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust is committed to creating a sustainable, environmentally conscious organisation and community. In alignment with our core values, we aim to minimise our environmental impact and contribute positively to a sustainable future. This policy outlines our approach to reducing waste, conserving resources, promoting vegan and ethical choices, and integrating sustainability across all on-site and off-site operations and programmes. Mosaic aims to lobby partners to adhere to this policy. 

 

Accessibility Principle 

 

An individual's accessibility needs take precedence over this policy in every respect. When a genuine need is expressed that conflicts with this Policy, a staff member must ensure that the person can access services without compromising their health. Mosaic's responsibility is to request access information, and it is an individual's responsibility to provide a timely, updated and comprehensive understanding so staff can act accordingly. 

 

Policy Overview

 

This policy serves as a framework for all our decisions and actions. We recognise that sustainability efforts are an ongoing process subject to constant improvement and review. We commit to ongoing learning and feedback to reduce our negative environmental impact and turn it into a positive one. 

 

By embedding sustainability into our operations and culture, Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust aims to lead by example and contribute to a future that honours people and the planet, because there is no Pride on a dead planet.

 

1. Food, Refreshments, Cleaning

 

1.1 Catering and Events: We are committed to purchasing only vegan foods (vegetarian options if vegan options are not feasible) and refreshments for all events, meetings, and activities, thereby reducing our carbon footprint and promoting ethical practices. We endeavour to provide wholesome, minimally processed, organic foods wherever feasible. We endeavour to support vegan businesses wherever possible, and offer vegan options within non-vegan establishments to support the vegan economy. However, we will accept all food donations to prevent waste. Volunteers, staff, and members may claim reimbursement for vegan lunch expenses only when such reimbursements are offered. Staff should also adhere to vegan principles when representing Mosaic, unless doing so would hinder health or be infeasible. 

 

1.2 Local and Ethical Sourcing: We prioritise local, fair-trade, organic, and environmentally conscious suppliers to reduce carbon emissions and/or support economically disadvantaged communities. We source vegan, ethical, and plastic-free refreshments where possible, aiming for suppliers who prioritise sustainable packaging and production (e.g., anti-deforestation), processing, and delivery methods. 

 

1.3 Sustainable Cleaning Products: We use vegan, biodegradable, non-toxic, cruelty-free, and minimally packaged cleaning products throughout our premises and at all locations where our services are provided.

 

1.4 Food Waste Minimisation: To reduce food waste, we aim to redistribute leftover food to those in need, compost all organic waste, and, where feasible, implement this practice across all premises we use. 

 

2. Plastic Reduction and Waste Management

 

2.1 Eliminating Single-Use Plastics: We are committed to avoiding single-use plastics in all operations. Where reusable options are not feasible, we will prioritise compostable or biodegradable alternatives. For necessary disposable items where compostable or biodegradable options are not available, we favour those produced from waste materials in the first instance or from recycled materials in the second. 

 

2.2 Plastic-Free Supply Chain: We require suppliers to use plastic-free packaging for deliveries whenever possible, reducing the indirect plastic associated with our operations. 

 

2.3 Waste Audits: Regular waste audits will help us track our progress in reducing waste, identify areas for improvement, and set targets for reducing waste across all operations.

 

3. Reusability, Recyclability, and Responsible Use of Resources

 

3.1 Office Supplies and Materials: We will prioritise vegan, reusable, recycled, or recyclable materials for office supplies, promotional materials, and educational resources. We also prioritise products with long life cycles to avoid frequent replacements, minimising waste and reducing our resource footprint.

 

3.2 Swap Events: We organise regular clothing swaps to raise awareness of waste, help our members reduce clothing waste and limit their consumption of fast fashion. We also extend these swaps to include books, cosmetics, and household items, fostering a culture of reuse within our community.

 

3.3 Eco-Friendly Branding and Merchandise: Our branding, merchandise, and promotional items are selected based on their environmental footprint. Materials are chosen in the following order of preference: those made from waste, compostable, renewable, or recycled. Mosaic reserves the right to ban merchandise and freebies given to our members, and distributing non-approved items is strictly forbidden. Suppliers and delivery partners are informed of our policy. When assessing merchandise, a significant component is the item's expected lifetime and carbon footprint for both production and end-of-life, as well as its usability. 

 

EXAMPLE: A reusable mug made from recycled coffee grounds has a negative carbon footprint at production and disposal, and reduces waste when used in place of reusable coffee cups. In contrast, a plastic bookmark adds no value and has significant environmental repercussions.

 

4. Digital-First Approach

 

4.1 Paper Reduction: We minimise paper use by prioritising digital tools for communications, documents, and outreach. Where feasible, physical materials will be printed on sustainable paper. Mosaic uses paper made from sugar cane (a waste material) or recycled paper as the least resource-intensive material. 

 

4.2 Sustainable Digital Practices: We regularly reduce unnecessary cloud storage to the essential level through periodic data purges, helping lower our digital carbon footprint. We insist on using compact file formats, low-data storage options, and sustainable web hosting services powered by renewable energy.

 

5. Energy and Transport

 

5.1 Energy Efficiency: We aim to reduce energy consumption by choosing energy-efficient technology and appliances for our offices and events. We select green energy suppliers and advocate for the adoption of green energy across building-wide shared spaces. We reduce the digital carbon footprint by lowering cloud storage to the necessary levels and conducting regular data purges to minimise the energy required to operate the servers. We strive to reduce energy consumption across the buildings we use. 

 

5.2 Sustainable Transport: We encourage staff, volunteers, and members to use public transport, cycle, or walk to attend events. We participate in a cycle-to-work scheme and reimburse low-carbon travel options. Group trips will utilise public ground transport wherever feasible. 

 

6. Ethical Procurement

 

6.1 Supplier Criteria: When procuring goods and services, we prioritise suppliers and products that meet as many of the following criteria as possible:

 

• Queer-led or at least supportive of the queer community
• Vegan, plant-based or, if necessary, vegetarian or waste-reducing 
• Untested on animals, exploiting animals or destroying their habitats 
• Organic, sustainably farmed, and certified against deforestation
• Fair-trade or from economically disadvantaged communities
• Packaged sustainably, ideally with reduced or plastic-free packaging
• Delivered in a carbon-negative or low-carbon way
• Plastic-free
• Carbon negative or neutral wherever possible 
• Products that are made from waste, recycled materials, or recyclable (in that order)
• Products that are compostable or biodegradable (in that order of preference)
• Sold by small, local businesses instead of large corporations. Amazon should be avoided where feasible. 

 

6.2 Vetting Process: Suppliers are vetted to ensure they meet Mosaic’s ethical and environmental standards, even if they do not explicitly market themselves as sustainable or eco-friendly.

 

7. Continuous Improvement and Accountability

 

7.1 Policy Reviews and Updates: This policy will be reviewed annually to incorporate emerging best practices in sustainability and insights from our impact reports.

 

7.2 Community Feedback: Staff, volunteers, and members are encouraged to provide feedback and suggest improvements, fostering a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement.

 

7.3 Periodic reviews and reporting: SMT will conduct regular reviews of operations to ensure compliance with this Policy. The Executive Director will highlight ethical concerns in his reports to the board, and the organisation will ensure they are part of its annual reporting to the Charity Commission. 

 

7.4 Checklist: The ethical checklist in Appendix 1 shall be used when making decisions. 

 

8. Recycling as a Last Resort

 

8.1 Reduce and Reuse Priority: Mosaic recognises that much UK recycling is exported, where it can harm communities and ecosystems. We are committed to prioritising reducing and reusing over recycling.

 

8.2 Composting: We aim to introduce composting for organic waste from our premises and events. This practice supports our mission to divert as much waste as possible from landfills, with a goal of achieving 100% diversion.

 

8.3 Environmental Education: We will provide our members with resources to better understand which items are genuinely recyclable, thereby preventing contamination and enhancing the effectiveness of our waste management efforts. We will engage our members in protecting the environment and raising awareness about the products we use. Social action programmes are focused on environmental impact. 

 

Appendix 1

 

Ethical Decision-Making Checklist

 

Before making a decision, approving a partnership, or accepting funding, ask:

 

M – Mindful

 

• Could this decision harm our members, communities, society, or the environment?
• Have we considered the long‑term consequences, not just the short‑term benefits?
• Does this align with our safeguarding, social justice, and environmental commitments?

 

O – Open

 

• Have we been transparent about the reasoning and process behind this decision?
• Could we explain and justify it publicly without damaging trust?
• Is there a clear way for stakeholders to give feedback or raise concerns?

 

S – Safe

 

• Does this protect the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of our members?
• Have we considered confidentiality and privacy, especially regarding LGBT+ identities?
• Could this create or enable any form of harm, discrimination, harassment, or exploitation?

 

A – Agile

 

• Does this decision help us respond to current or emerging needs or changing circumstances?
• Have we been flexible and innovative without compromising our values or safeguards?
• Is this the best use of our resources in the present context?

 

I – Intersectionally Inclusive

 

• Have we considered the needs of people facing multiple forms of discrimination?
• Does this remove barriers to participation and representation?
• Does this reflect the diversity of our community in a respectful, authentic way?

 

C – Community‑focused

 

• Does this strengthen belonging, connection, and solidarity in the LGBT+ community?
• Will this collaboration or decision amplify community voices and support wellbeing?
• Are our members actively involved or positively impacted by this decision?