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Environmental Policies and Practices

The MERITO Foundation incorporates sustainability into our core business operations through internal and external efforts by adopting the following policies and practices:

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  1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose

  2. Purchase environmentally preferable products such as recycled paper, compostable utensils and non-toxic science supplies

  3. Conserve energy, water and natural resources

  4. Practice green business policies also when out in the field conducting field research or instructing students

  5. Staff are allowed to telework up to 1/8 of monthly labor time

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We educate employees on resource conservation and pollution prevention through:

  • Training programs, participation in environmental conferences, webinars, workshops, or brown bag sessions to stay up to date with the best practices on proper recycling & composting practices, resource conservation, the importance of low-toxic purchasing, such that we can transfer this information to the teachers and students we work with.

  • Employees' job descriptions and contractors' scope of work includes time spent researching the most up to date of environmental information, issues, scientifically sound facts, and the communication of this information to our audience through our social media posts, company’s newsletter, curricular lesson plans, in-class presentations, in the field experiences, or through our project-based learning program’s workbooks.

  • Research the most up to date waste management, water conservation and energy efficiency best practices and technology such that we can guide students in our EECCOA program to conduct waste, water and energy audits, and design cost-effective and innovative proposals to reduce the environmental footprint of their school campus.

  • Using clear signage for compost, recycling, landfill, water conservation, and energy conservation

  • Designating an official recycling coordinator to monitor and improve staff waste management.

  • Hosting events aiming to zero non-recyclable waste (i.e. ensuring that no non-recyclable or compostable waste is generated during Teachers’ Professional Development training, education cruises, fundraising events, and board meetings).

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We reduce the use of toxic materials to protect employee health and the environment by:

  • Only purchase low toxic janitorial cleaning products accepted on SFApproved.org, Green Seal certified, or have an 8.1 rating or above on Good Guide

  • Avoid purchasing toxic substances and any aerosol cans

  • Lighting – Our offices use LEDs, and/or low wattage halogen lightbulbs and fixtures

  • Dispose of hazardous materials safely

  • Dispose of batteries and used ink cartridges by turning these to Office Depo for recycling

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We conserve fossil fuels and other resources by:

  • Reducing GHG emissions by 5% over 3 years for all business vehicles.

  • Promoting the use of public transit, and commuter alternatives.

  • Offering commuter benefits and/or telecommuting options to employees.

  • Unplugging electronic equipment when not in use.

  • Using sweaters or jackets instead of heating the rooms.

  • Opening windows and doors in the summer instead of air conditioning.

  • Reusing and refusing packaging materials (i.e Amazon).

  • Emphasizing repurposing of items in lieu of purchasing new items.

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