Climate change is a serious and urgent issue. We know we need to conduct our business sustainably so that we can meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

We are committed to promoting sustainability in the homes we build and maintain, in the services we provide and in the way that we work.

Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow

Catalyst is one of only two housing providers in the country to achieve gold in the highly challenging SHIFT sustainability benchmarking scheme.

SHIFT benchmarked Catalyst’s green credentials against 37 other housing organisations. It analysed topics including office carbon emissions, use of sustainable materials in existing homes, engagement with the community on sustainability issues and flood preparedness.

We joined SHIFT in 2008, entering at bronze standard and have achieved gold in just four years.

Our SHIFT assessment

SHIFT identified the following strengths at Catalyst:

• Having an up-to-date and regularly reviewed sustainability strategy (see bottom of page for details)
• Having an action plan in place, including a clear programme for reducing the environmental impact of our offices
• Encouraging active engagement with employees on sustainable behaviours in the workplace
• Achieving low carbon emissions from our offices
• Diverting all office waste away from landfill
• Sourcing products responsibly
• Providing residents with information on reducing energy and water consumption and how to cope with the effects of climate change
• Having good examples of ecological enhancements on our existing estates

How we’re reducing our environmental impact

Better homes

We have made a number of commitments towards building and maintaining better, greener homes and sustainable communities.

Our zero carbon development in Hounslow (The Greenway) is in the first wave of buildings designed to meet the highest standards for eco-friendly sustainable housing. It was highly commended in three separate categories at the 2013 Sustainable City Awards.

Our eco-homes project in Reading is exploring how to retro-fit older properties to improve energy performance. It recently won the ‘sustainable smaller housing retrofit project of the year (fewer than 25 homes)’ award at the Sustainable Housing Awards.

Better service

We want to help our customers reduce their environmental impact and help them deal with the consequences of climate change. As energy becomes a more expensive and scarcer resource we want to improve energy efficiency and cut harmful emissions.

Better future

We are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and support a better and more sustainable future for our residents, our communities and our employees.

Catalyst’s sustainability policy and strategy

Download copies of our sustainability policy and strategy:

Sustainability policy

Catalyst Housing sustainability strategy 2012

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about our sustainability aims and ambitions please contact sustainability@chg.org.uk