Website Sustainability and Carbon Impact Policy

Last updated: 1st August 2026

1. Our commitment

We recognise that websites and digital services have an environmental impact.

Although a website does not produce emissions in the same way as a physical product or activity, energy and resources are required to manufacture and operate the devices, networks, data centres and infrastructure that enable people to access it.

We are committed to managing this website in a way that seeks to reduce unnecessary environmental impact while maintaining a useful, accessible and enjoyable experience for visitors.

This policy explains the principles we apply to the design, operation and development of this website.

2. Our website and hosting

This website is built and hosted using Squarespace.

The operation of the website involves a wider digital infrastructure, including:

  • data centres and servers;

  • internet and telecommunications networks;

  • website hosting and content delivery infrastructure;

  • visitors' computers, tablets and mobile devices;

  • third-party services and integrations;

  • the creation, storage and transfer of digital files and data.

We recognise that we do not have direct control over all of these elements. However, we will seek to reduce the environmental impact of the areas over which we do have influence.

3. Reducing unnecessary data transfer

The amount of data transferred when a visitor accesses a website can affect the energy required to load and use it.

We will therefore seek to:

  • avoid unnecessary large files;

  • optimise images before uploading them where practical;

  • use appropriately sized images rather than uploading files substantially larger than required;

  • avoid unnecessary auto-playing video or animation;

  • use video and other data-intensive media where they provide meaningful value;

  • remove redundant pages, files and content where appropriate;

  • avoid unnecessary third-party scripts, plugins and integrations; and

  • consider the data impact of new features before adding them to the website.

We recognise that visual media, photography and video may form an important part of the website's purpose. Our aim is therefore not to eliminate rich media, but to use it deliberately and efficiently.

4. Images, video and other media

Images and video can significantly contribute to the amount of data transferred by a website.

Where practical, we will:

  • compress and optimise images before upload;

  • use modern and efficient file formats where supported by the website platform;

  • avoid uploading unnecessarily high-resolution files;

  • remove duplicate or unused media;

  • use embedded or hosted video selectively;

  • avoid automatically loading video where it is not necessary; and

  • consider whether an image, video or animation adds meaningful value to the visitor's experience.

We will balance file efficiency with image quality, accessibility and the needs of the website's content.

5. Website design and functionality

We will seek to keep the website clear, purposeful and proportionate to its intended use.

When designing or updating pages, we will consider whether features are necessary and whether they add sufficient value to justify their environmental and technical cost.

Where practical, we will seek to:

  • avoid unnecessary complexity;

  • minimise redundant page elements;

  • limit unnecessary animations and effects;

  • maintain a clear navigation structure;

  • avoid unnecessary redirects;

  • remove outdated or unused pages;

  • reduce the use of unnecessary scripts and integrations; and

  • design pages so that visitors can find information efficiently.

A well-organised website may reduce unnecessary browsing, repeated searches and page loading while also improving usability.

6. Third-party services

Squarespace websites may use services provided by third parties, including analytics, fonts, embedded content, social media tools, maps, payment systems and other integrations.

These services can involve additional data transfers, scripts and requests when a visitor loads a page.

Before introducing a new third-party service, we will consider:

  • whether it is necessary;

  • whether the same purpose can be achieved more simply;

  • the likely impact on website performance and data transfer;

  • whether the service improves the visitor experience sufficiently to justify its use;

  • privacy and data protection implications; and

  • whether the feature can be used in a more efficient way.

Where a third-party service is no longer required, we will seek to remove it.

7. Analytics and monitoring

We use website analytics to understand how visitors use the website and to help us improve its structure, content and performance.

We will seek to ensure that analytics are proportionate to our needs and that we do not collect or retain unnecessary data.

We may use analytics information to identify:

  • pages that are rarely visited and may no longer be needed;

  • pages with unusually high data use or poor performance;

  • unnecessary visitor journeys;

  • opportunities to improve navigation; and

  • content that can be made clearer or more efficient.

We will balance our desire to understand website use with the environmental and privacy impacts of collecting and processing visitor data.

8. Content management and digital housekeeping

Digital content requires storage and management.

We will periodically review the website to identify:

  • outdated pages;

  • duplicate content;

  • unused images and files;

  • broken links;

  • redundant integrations;

  • unnecessary downloads or media; and

  • content that no longer serves a useful purpose.

Where appropriate, we will update, archive or remove material.

Our intention is not to remove valuable historical material simply to reduce storage, but to ensure that content is retained deliberately and that unnecessary digital clutter is reduced.

9. Accessibility and sustainability

We recognise that environmental sustainability should not come at the expense of accessibility.

When making decisions about website efficiency, we will seek to maintain or improve:

  • readability;

  • accessibility;

  • compatibility with different devices and connection speeds;

  • clear navigation;

  • meaningful text alternatives for images where appropriate; and

  • the ability of visitors to access information without unnecessary technical barriers.

In many cases, efficient website design and accessibility can support each other by encouraging clear structure, simpler navigation and reduced technical complexity.

10. Carbon impact

We recognise that it is difficult to calculate the precise carbon impact of an individual website.

The impact depends on a range of factors, including:

  • the infrastructure used by the hosting provider;

  • the electricity used by data centres and networks;

  • the geographical location and energy mix associated with infrastructure;

  • the amount of data transferred;

  • the number of visitors;

  • the devices used to access the website; and

  • the use of third-party services.

For this reason, we will avoid making unsupported claims that this website is “carbon neutral”, “zero carbon” or “net zero”.

Instead, our approach will be to identify the areas of impact over which we have meaningful influence and seek practical reductions.

Where appropriate, we may use website carbon-estimation tools or other assessment methods to establish a baseline and monitor significant changes over time. Any such figures should be understood as estimates rather than precise measurements.

11. Our approach to carbon reduction

Our approach follows three principles:

Avoid

We will seek to avoid unnecessary digital activity and data transfer.

This includes questioning whether new features, media, scripts or third-party services are genuinely required.

Reduce

Where digital activity is necessary, we will seek to reduce its impact through efficient content, sensible design and regular website maintenance.

Review

We will periodically review the website and consider whether changes to its design, content or functionality could reduce unnecessary resource use.

We recognise that improvements must be proportionate to the size, purpose and resources of the website.

12. The role of Squarespace

As the website is hosted on Squarespace, some aspects of its environmental impact are outside our direct control.

We do not operate or manage Squarespace's data centres, servers or underlying infrastructure. Our ability to reduce the website's impact therefore focuses primarily on the choices we make within the Squarespace platform, including:

  • the amount and type of content we upload;

  • the size and optimisation of images and media;

  • the use of embedded content;

  • the use of third-party integrations;

  • the complexity of page design; and

  • the ongoing maintenance of the website.

Where relevant information is available, we may also consider Squarespace's own environmental policies, infrastructure and sustainability commitments when reviewing our digital practices.

13. Continuous improvement

We recognise that website technology and our understanding of digital environmental impacts will continue to change.

We will periodically review:

  • the size and performance of the website;

  • the amount and type of media it contains;

  • third-party integrations;

  • redundant or outdated content;

  • opportunities to improve efficiency within Squarespace; and

  • credible developments in sustainable web design and digital infrastructure.

We will seek to make practical improvements where these are proportionate to the benefits achieved.

14. Transparency

We will aim to communicate honestly about the environmental impact of this website.

We recognise that maintaining a relatively efficient website does not mean that it has no environmental impact.

We will therefore avoid exaggerated or unsupported environmental claims and will distinguish, where appropriate, between:

  • steps we directly control;

  • actions taken by our hosting or technology providers; and

  • broader estimates of the environmental impact of digital activity.

15. Review of this policy

This policy will be reviewed at least every two years, or when there is a significant change to the website, its hosting arrangements or the technologies used to operate it.

Next review date: 1st August 2028

Our guiding principle

We will seek to create and maintain a website that is useful, accessible and purposeful while avoiding unnecessary digital consumption and reducing the environmental impact of the choices we are able to make.