1. Scope and objectives
This Environmental Impact & Sustainability Policy applies to the design, development, testing, and deployment of projects within the HEADTURNED Innovation Hub. It covers hardware and software, on-site infrastructure, off-site field trials, and collaboration with partners and suppliers.
Our objective is to ensure that Innovation Hub activities reduce environmental pressure, contribute to habitat restoration, and support climate goals, rather than introducing new sources of harm or avoidable emissions.
2. Low-impact prototyping
We design projects with environmental impact in mind from the outset. This includes choosing recyclable, repairable, or modular components where possible and favouring suppliers with credible sustainability commitments and traceability in their supply chains.
When building prototypes, we aim to minimise waste material, avoid unnecessary duplication of equipment, and repurpose existing assets before purchasing new ones. Experimental designs are reviewed for their likely end-of-life impact before they move beyond the lab.
3. Clean energy and resource efficiency
The Innovation Hub campus prioritises renewable energy sources and energy-efficient systems. We monitor and, where practical, actively reduce the energy demand of labs, data centres, and field equipment.
Projects that require significant power draw or intensive computing (for example, high-volume AI workloads) are assessed for necessity and optimised for efficiency. Where possible, we align such workloads with lower-carbon energy availability.
4. Lifecycle thinking for equipment and infrastructure
We consider the full lifecycle of hardware and infrastructure, from manufacture and transport to use and eventual end-of-life. Procurement decisions factor in durability, repairability, and opportunities for reuse.
When equipment is decommissioned, we seek to reuse, repurpose, or responsibly recycle it before disposal. We avoid sending items to landfill wherever viable alternatives exist and work with suppliers who support take-back or circular economy schemes.
5. No extractive or destructive development
We do not develop technologies that depend on destructive resource extraction, unsustainable mining, or the use of harmful agricultural chemicals. Proposed projects that would materially undermine biodiversity or climate goals will not proceed, regardless of potential financial returns or technical interest.
Where new materials or technologies are considered, we seek evidence on their environmental footprint and, where necessary, consult independent expertise before adoption.
6. Field trials and on-site environmental impact
All field trials carried out on Foundation land or partner sites are assessed for their potential impact on habitats, wildlife, water, and soil. Trials are designed to be time-limited, reversible where possible, and compatible with wider conservation or land management plans.
Where monitoring indicates unexpected negative effects, trials are paused or adjusted, and lessons are incorporated into future project design.
7. Continual improvement and review
Environmental practices within the Innovation Hub are reviewed regularly. Lessons learned from specific projects inform future project design, campus planning, and procurement decisions.
This Policy will be updated as needed to reflect developments in environmental science, conservation practice, and relevant laws or standards. Significant changes will be reflected on this page and, where appropriate, highlighted in Foundation communications.
Questions or concerns about the environmental impact of Innovation Hub projects can be raised through our usual contact routes or, where appropriate, handled under the Complaints & Feedback Policy.