What is Earth Day and why do we celebrate it?
Every year on the 22nd April, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement which was established in 1970.
Inspired by the growing environmental activism of the 1960s in the United States, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson spearheaded a national celebration to unite this movement. The inaugural Earth Day on April 22, 1970, saw 20 million people across the United States coming together to learn about the importance of environmental conservation. This historic event helped galvanize support for key legislation in the US, such as the Clean Air Act (updated in 1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973). Earth Day serves as an annual tribute to the accomplishments of the environmental movement and serves as a rallying cry to safeguard our planet’s natural resources for generations to come.
How is Virteffic actively involved in protecting the environment?
Reduce, re-use and recycle
Employees are provided with refurbished laptops. Since 2023, Virteffic have partnered with local company ITHSCI to purchase all new employees refurbished laptops to the highest quality. ITHSCI provide various environmentally conscious , GDPR-compliant services to the highest standard. Good for us at Virteffic and good for the planet.
Did you know? It’s estimated that 160 million new laptops are made every year, and a total of 160,000 are thrown away every day in the EU. Source
We’re paperless
Virteffic employees conduct business securely, storing documents in a central virtual location. Not only is this process more efficient for us and our clients, but it also reduces our carbon footprint by eliminating the harmful environmental impacts of printing.
No daily commute
Remote working offers several environmental benefits, including the elimination of daily commuting to the office by car, which contributes to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel consumption.
Re-usable water bottles & coffee cups
Many of us couldn’t go without our morning tea or coffee. Virteffic promotes sustainable practices by using reusable water bottles and coffee cups when on the go. Unfortunately, single-use coffee cups are often made with hard-to-recycle materials such as Styrofoam, which end up in landfills, and single-use water bottles contribute to the increasing problem of microplastics, releasing toxic chemicals into the environment as they are non-biodegradable.
Reduction in office waste
As Virteffic operates with remote workers, another benefit is the reduction in office waste and energy use, including paper waste, water, electricity, heating, and air conditioning.
Virteffic is continuously exploring new ways to enhance its environmentally friendly practices for the benefit of the planet and to inspire others to do the same.
Together, our collective efforts can ensure the longevity and vitality of our planet for generations to come. So, let’s persist in making eco-conscious choices in our daily lives and work towards a greener, healthier Earth. Happy Earth Day! 🌍💚
Environmental Social and Governance (ESG)
Positive Impact on the Environment
- Paperless Approach: All our work with clients, billing, payroll, and task lists is electronic, significantly reducing paper usage. Everything is stored in a central virtual location, making it easier to keep notes, share updates, and maintain data security.
- Reusable Practices: Our team uses reusable water bottles and coffee cups, minimising waste from disposable items.
- Reduce the use of Cars: Virteffic team members mainly work from home, which means we benefit from using less energy and wastage by reducing time spent in an office. On the occasions we work at our office or in different locations for team and client meetings, we walk, cycle or car share to assist with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage.
Social
- Charitable Rates: We offer charitable rates when assisting non-profit organisations with minutes and admin tasks.
- Donations: Throughout the year, we donate to various charities through initiatives.
- Community Sponsorships: We support the community through sponsorships, including Silhouette Studios in February 2022, the Jersey Raquetball festival in April 2022, a Durell Tortoise for the Trinity School in January 2023, a rowing boat for a local team of rowers in 2023, and St Peters Football Club during 2023-2025.
Governance
- Flexible Work Hours: Virteffic prioritises staff well-being by offering flexible working hours and a better life-work balance.
- Empowering Independence: Our team members appreciate the freedom and independence that comes with unique roles and flexible hours.
We believe in sharing the success with the team and promoting an environment where everyone can share their ideas and views, with regular catch-ups and forums for discussion.
Simple acts make a big impact! Together, we can create sustainable value.
Related Posts
Virteffic has participated in a number of initiatives since the outset to deliver positive social and environmental impacts. Visit the news and insights page on our website to discover what is new at Virteffic and our latest initiatives with positive social and environmental impacts. We also share our thoughts and news about e about our team and the services we provide.
Supporting the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association
Coming together for a meaningful walk This past weekend, our Guernsey team members, Louise Burton and Sarah Walden, proudly took
Accelerating Action for International Women’s Day 2025
March is a time to reflect, recognise progress, and take action as we mark International Women’s Day. The theme for
Virteffic’s Macmillan Coffee Morning
Last week, Team Virteffic came together for a heartwarming cause – hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning to raise funds for
Virteffic Team Embraces Community Spirit at the Hospice Summer Huddle
On a sunny afternoon of Friday, 28 June 2024, the Virteffic team eagerly convened at Government House for the Hospice
Find Out More
You can visit our website to find out more about working with Virteffic and our ESG policy.
