As a membership association AUGIS (Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland) is committed to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment. Through reducing the environmental impact of its operations by positive action and working with our suppliers and members, AUGIS can work to achieve environmental sustainability as an organisation, which we hope can in turn influence others.

• Minimise waste by evaluating operations and suppliers to ensure they are as efficient and as sustainable as possible.
• Promote recycling and reduction of waste, both internally and amongst our members and suppliers.
• Source and promote IT, office solutions and conference opportunities to minimise the environmental impact of both the charities aims and activities.
• Meet or exceed environmental legislation that relates to the Charity
• Minimise direct and in-direct emissions through the selection and use of in-house equipment along with encouraging the use of sustainable transport options for staff, trustees and members, including reducing the number of domestic and international air flights used by the association and its representatives.
• Use an accredited program to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our activities and encourage members to do the same. 
• When organising conferences, to have an holistic overview and work with our conference venues and conference suppliers to ensure that our activities and events are managed to ensure sustainability and reduce emissions from all associated activities; including but not limited to travel, catering and menus, food sourcing, production, energy use and recycling.
• Where possible measure energy use for our activities.
• Work alongside our members, towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and preferably sooner, for all our activities.
• Use education tools for the association to recognise the need for a sustainable organisation and to adopt and adapt as necessary.
• Be mindful of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals going forward.

Below are some useful guides and links for members, to consider how we as individuals and a community can  very easily take a few steps and consider the enviroment and create a sustainable approach to all our activities. 

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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Source: sdgs.un.org/goals

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