Sustainability Policy

For the past forty years, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has been focusing on the development of the five core programmes and their dissemination worldwide. Highly recognised in the field of Education for Sustainable Development by various UN entities, FEE is focused on maintaining this recognition and is tirelessly working on addressing the burning issues of the climate crisis through multistakeholder projects, international partnerships, and global campaigns.

FEE’s strategic plan GAIA 20:30 acknowledges the rapid escalation of the dire situation the world is facing in three main areas: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. We recognise the need to prioritise FEE’s limited resources to focus on these interconnected challenges. FEE is addressing the emergency and recognises the need to commit to a more impactful and urgent approach focused on tangible and fast results. We strive to ensure that all our activities are legitimate and do not negatively impact the communities in which they are being carried out.

FEE is committed to “walking the talk” by looking at the practices and behaviours at the FEE Head Office and setting up internal environmental guidelines to ensure that our behaviour addresses the three main areas effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, FEE’s Sustainability Policy supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This Sustainability Policy sets out FEE’s principles, commitments and areas of focus. The implementation of this policy is operationalised through a time-bound Sustainability Action Plan, which defines concrete actions, responsibilities, timelines, and key performance indicators. Progress against the Action Plan is reviewed regularly, and findings inform continuous improvement and future policy revisions.

The FEE Sustainability Policy applies to the FEE Head Office Staff, the FEE Board of Directors and any other delegate executing a task on behalf of FEE. Additionally, FEE will share the Sustainability Policy with our members, partners and other stakeholders and encourage those without their own Sustainability Policy in place to either adopt FEE’s policy or use it to help develop their own Sustainability Policy.

The Sustainability Policy is reviewed every two years following the FEE General Assembly cycle, and the FEE Head Office Staff, the FEE Board of Directors, and all other delegates executing tasks on behalf of FEE are to be kept aware of the Sustainability Policy and its content.

Energy

As energy consumption is one of the biggest contributors to an office’s carbon emissions. FEE commits to prioritising energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and to continuously reducing energy consumption over time. Performance is monitored through internal indicators defined in the Sustainability Action Plan, and energy-related practices are reviewed and adapted regularly to reflect technological developments, office conditions, and evolving best practices.

The office’s electrical devices all have a high energy-saving ranking.
When buying new devices and lamps, only those with the highest possible energy-saving ranking and LED light bulbs are purchased.
FEE only purchases electricity from sustainable sources. The office is run on 100% wind power.
When renovating the office, FEE encourages the owner of the building to invest in devices and appliances that have a high energy-saving ranking.
Devices like laptops, screens and printers automatically switch into energy-saving mode when not in use. The staff ensures that devices are fully shut down and turned off at the end of the day.
The lights on the desks and in the kitchen, bathrooms, printing room, meeting room and main office room are switched off when not in use.
The office is not heated above 22 degrees Celsius. Radiators are kept on a constant heat setting and are switched off when opening the windows.
When possible, natural ventilation is preferred over fans in the office.
Staff will explore and implement efficient ways of addressing and reducing digital pollution.

Water

FEE recognises water as a critical and increasingly scarce resource and commits to responsible water use within its operations. Water consumption is monitored where feasible, and reduction measures are explored and implemented and reviewed through the Sustainability Action Plan.

The taps in the kitchen and toilet have a maximum water flow of 6 litres/min.
Staff is encouraged to conserve water by adopting actions to reduce water consumption.
The dishwasher is only switched on when fully loaded and the eco-programme setting is used.

Waste + Recycling

FEE follows a waste hierarchy that prioritises prevention and reduction, followed by reuse and recycling, with disposal as a last resort. Decisions related to procurement and office practices are guided by this hierarchy, and waste-related practices are reviewed and improved over time through the Sustainability Action Plan as new solutions and recycling options become available.

For waste that is produced, the FEE Head Office separates into the fractions possible.
For those materials that cannot yet be recycled at the FEE Head Office, FEE commits to looking into possibilities to recycle them as well. Staff who bring these materials to the Head Office are asked to take them home or to another site where they can be properly recycled.
Hazardous waste like batteries and light bulbs are collected in separate containers and brought to an appropriate collection point.
Furniture, devices, and other materials that are no longer needed but are still usable are donated to charities or staff. Computers that are no longer usable are returned to the IT provider so that the components can be reused on other computers. Materials that are no longer usable are disposed of at an appropriate recycling facility.
To reduce the amount of packaging waste, products are purchased in bulks, when possible. This includes items such as coffee, tea, hand soap, toilet paper, etc.
Paper hand towels with an ecolabel are used for drying hands after washing in the bathroom and kitchen.
Reusable kitchen cloths and dishcloths are used in the kitchen.
Single-use items are only used when absolutely necessary for special events outside the office and are made of a biodegradable or recyclable material.

Washing & Cleaning

Toxic washing and cleaning products are not only a hazard to the aquatic environment but are also harmful to the health of the cleaning personnel and Head Office staff. Therefore, the FEE Head Office only purchases washing and cleaning products that meet the highest environmental standards.

The soap provided to the employees is ecolabeled.
Dishwashing soap and cleaning products used to clean the office are ecolabeled.
The toilet paper and kitchen towels are ecolabeled.
Cleaning is done with fibre cloths rather than disposable towels.
Disinfection substances are only used where necessary.
Chemical fragrances and air fresheners (including cleaning products and fragrance sprays) are not used. Eco-friendly air freshener alternatives are used in the toilets and washroom.

Food & Beverage

FEE recognises food systems (encompassing both food waste and unnecessary packaging) as a key driver of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Food and beverage decisions are guided by a preference for plant-based options, waste prevention, and sustainable sourcing, including local and fair-trade products where feasible. Cultural context is also taken into account. Practices and progress are reviewed regularly through the Sustainability Action Plan.

Bottled water is not offered in the FEE Head Office.
Only vegetarian (no meat, fish, or seafood) and/or vegan (no animal-based products) dishes are offered at all meetings and events organised by the FEE Head Office. This applies whether the meeting or event takes place at the FEE Head Office itself or an off-site location (vegetarian/vegan restaurants, where possible).
Leftovers from meetings and events are offered to staff to avoid food waste.
FEE Head Office staff, Board of Directors and other delegates executing a task on behalf of FEE are encouraged to choose a vegetarian or vegan option, even if FEE is not hosting the meeting or event.
Products purchased by FEE for consumption in the office should meet the highest available sustainability standards (local, organic, ecolabeled, fair trade, etc.).
Single-serve packaged products are not purchased for the FEE Head Office.
The FEE Head Office encourages its members organising FEE meetings and events to offer as many vegetarian/vegan options as possible to reduce the consumption of meat. Vegetarian or vegan-only meetings and events are preferred and encouraged.
FEE is committed to reducing its environmental impact when making food/beverage decisions, while also taking cultural standards and traditions into consideration.

Travel

FEE is an international organisation promoting Education for Sustainable Development through its international partner network. To reach more and more people worldwide and to ensure the effectiveness of our programmes, travels by the FEE Head Office staff are unavoidable. However, the FEE Head Office is aware of the environmental impact of travel and commits to minimising travel and making its travels as sustainable as possible.

FEE therefore applies a travel hierarchy that prioritises avoiding unnecessary travel and choosing lower-impact transport options where possible. Carbon compensation is used as a complementary measure for unavoidable travel and does not replace efforts to reduce emissions at source. FEE regularly reviews its approach to travel and compensation to ensure alignment with evolving best practices and scientific guidance.

Each potential trip will be assessed based on its usefulness for the organisation. There must be a clear purpose and outcome for each trip to be accepted.
Whenever possible, meetings or tasks for different programmes are combined in one trip. The FEE Head Office staff have inter-programme knowledge and skills that make this possible.
When a flight time is less than two hours, it will be assessed whether it is possible to use alternative transportation methods. Total travel time and cost will also be taken into account when choosing a transportation method.
Direct flights are preferred for both time and fuel use efficiency.
Where carbon compensation is used for unavoidable emissions by the FEE Head Office staff, Board of Directors and other delegates of FEE, FEE commits to using high-quality, credible carbon removal or offsetting mechanisms that are transparently documented, independently verified, and aligned with evolving scientific guidance and regulatory frameworks. Partnerships related to carbon compensation are periodically reviewed to ensure continued credibility, transparency, and alignment with best practice.
The staff is encouraged to use sustainable transportation methods when travelling locally in Denmark for work. Whenever possible, off-site FEE events are organised at locations that are easily accessible by sustainable transportation methods.
While travelling abroad, the FEE Head Office staff prefers sustainable transportation methods, such as public transit, over taxis or the like whenever possible, taking the total travel time and local safety considerations into account.
Where available, Green Key certified establishments or those with other third-party verified sustainability certifications are preferably booked. Location and cost will also be taken into account when choosing accommodations.
While travelling, the FEE Head Office staff minimises its use of bottled water by refilling reusable bottles with tap water (if local tap water is safe for consumption).
When hosting guests in Copenhagen, only Green Key certified establishments are booked.
Guests in Copenhagen are encouraged to use public transit or bicycles for transportation. The FEE Head Office staff will assist guests that are unfamiliar with Copenhagen’s sustainable transportation options.
While travelling, the FEE Head Office staff respects local culture and only engages in activities that do not harm the local community, animals, or environment.
FEE also recognises remote and hybrid working arrangements as an important structural measure to reduce travel-related emissions. Where roles can be effectively performed remotely, staff may work off-site and travel to the FEE Head Office periodically, thereby reducing the frequency of travel while maintaining organisational effectiveness. The role of remote and hybrid working in reducing travel emissions is reviewed periodically to ensure that sustainability benefits are realised alongside effective collaboration and staff wellbeing.

Administration

To keep the environmental footprint of the FEE Head Office to a minimum, we commit to reducing our consumption as much as possible and to only purchasing sustainable products and services. FEE recognises its role as a sustainability leader and seeks to use procurement and supplier relationships as a lever for positive change. Suppliers are encouraged to align with FEE’s sustainability principles, and sustainability credentials are increasingly integrated into purchasing decisions where feasible.

Before each purchase, it will be assessed whether the purchase is necessary for the operation of the FEE Head Office. Goods are chosen that are reusable, produced sustainably or purchased second-hand.
Paper use is reduced to a minimum. This refers to in-office use as well as when promoting FEE’s programmes outside the office. Electronic versions of published materials are strongly preferred over printing, while recognising the importance of responsible digital practices and reducing unnecessary digital storage, duplication and energy use where feasible.
Printing paper, brochures, and any other paper products purchased by the FEE Head Office is made from 100% recycled paper and is eco-labelled.
When purchasing new furniture or other durables, second-hand, eco-labelled and/or those products produced by a company with an environmental management system are preferred.
All of FEE’s suppliers are informed about our Sustainability Policy and are encouraged to follow it.
FEE aims to reduce consumption by strongly encouraging to cease the use of physical corporate gifts. If corporate gifts must be given, it should preferably take the form of a donation to an environmental cause or organisation. When physical corporate gifts are given, they are produced by companies that have an environmental management system or are otherwise committed to sustainability. Under no circumstances does FEE accept gifts of endangered species.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

FEE recognises that social responsibility extends beyond internal operations to the way programmes are designed, partnerships are developed, and activities are implemented across diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts. FEE seeks to ensure that its work contributes positively to local communities, respects cultural differences, and upholds principles of equity, inclusion and environmental justice.

People are at the heart of FEE’s work, which is why we strive for a positive, fair and inclusive work environment at the FEE Head Office and within our network.

The FEE Head Office complies with all relevant legislation regarding labour, health, safety, human rights, and the environment and strives to go beyond the legal requirements for a decent work environment.
Discrimination based on age, disability, gender, origin, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or any other personal characteristic is not acceptable at the FEE Head Office or at any events or activities organised by FEE or on behalf of FEE.
FEE abides by the anti-corruption policy outlined in its financial standing orders and regulations.
FEE strongly condemns exploitation of children and adolescents, all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation as well as human trafficking and modern-day slavery of any kind. FEE keeps its procedures, decisions, and partnerships open and transparent.
FEE respects the privacy of its staff, partners and clients and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation.
FEE supports other social and environmental charities in their work and seeks opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.

Monitoring, Review & Continuous Improvement

The implementation of this Sustainability Policy is supported by a Sustainability Action Plan that defines specific actions, responsibilities, timelines and indicators. Progress is reviewed on a regular basis by the FEE Sustainability Team and shared with management.

FEE uses monitoring results to identify successes, challenges and areas for improvement, and to inform updates to its practices, Action Plan and future policy revisions.

FEE recognises that effective sustainability performance requires clear governance, shared responsibility and regular review.

To support the implementation of this Sustainability Policy, FEE establishes a Sustainability Working Group composed of a cross-section of FEE Head Office staff

The Sustainability Working Group is responsible for supporting the development, implementation and periodic review of the Sustainability Action Plan, monitoring progress against agreed actions, and advising management on sustainability-related priorities and improvements.

The Sustainability Working Group serves in an advisory and coordinating capacity and does not replace existing management or Board decision-making structures.

Sustainability-related performance and key developments are reported to management and, where relevant, to the FEE Board of Directors as part of FEE’s regular governance processes.

More Information

Should you have any questions about this policy please email us at info@fee.global.