Glossary

Base stations An element of the mobile phone network that transmits a signal to your mobile phone. Typically this would be visible as a radio antenna.

Biodiversity The number and variety of organisms within one region. This includes also the variability within and between species and within and between ecosystems.

Business principles Ethical code of conduct for the company that covers all other policy areas within a company.

Community investment (corporate community investment) A company that invests and actively engages in the local, national or overseas communities. Usually this activity would take the form of donations or projects where employees take an active part in the implementation, e.g. reading schemes at a local school.

Corporate social responsibility The terms corporate responsibility and corporate social responsibility are used as identical terms within this website. "Operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations that society has of business. Social Responsibility is a guiding principle for every decision made and in every area of a business." (Business for Social Responsibility, USA)

Corporate governance "Corporate Governance is concerned with holding the balance between economic and social goals and between individual and communal goals. The corporate governance framework is there to encourage the efficient use of resources and equally to require accountability for the stewardship of those resources. The aim is to align as nearly as possible the interests of individuals, corporations and society"
(Sir Adrian Cadbury in 'Global Corporate Governance Forum', World Bank, 2000)

Diversity To respect racial/ethnic, gender, cultural, disability, sexual orientation, and social differences in staff, suppliers and customers.

Environment The physical environment around us.

Environmental impact The impact a company has on ecology, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Environmental management system "A means of ensuring effective implementation of an environmental management plan or procedures and compliance with environmental policy objectives and targets."
(European Environment Agency)

Equal opportunities Not to discriminate against racial/ethnic, gender, cultural, disability, sexual orientation, and social differences in staff, suppliers and customers.

Ethical trading Ethical trade aims to improve working conditions for workers already involved in producing goods and services.

Harassment Any form of unwanted, deliberate or offensive behaviour, violent or psychological, that has been requested to be stopped.

ISO 14001 "A key feature on any effective environmental management system (EMS) is the preparation of documented system procedures and instructions to ensure effective communication and continuity of implementation. There are certification systems for EMS ISO 14001 which demonstrate that a system is operated to an internationally recognised standard."
(European Environment Agency)

Management system Management systems help us achieve the highest standards in providing world-class services to our customers. They encourage continuous business improvement and the achievement of our goals and objectives while driving customer satisfaction to higher levels.

Mast A ground-based structure that supports antennas at a height where they can satisfactorily send and receive radio waves. A typical mast is 15m high, and of steel lattice or tubular steel construction. New slimmer versions of masts are now available which can be painted to blend in with their surroundings, disguised as trees or used in conjunction with street lighting and CCTV cameras. Masts themselves play no part in the transmission of the radio waves. (Source: www.mobilemastinfo.com)

Metrics Specific indicators that are measured in order to assess a company's impact on the physical or social environment.

Monitoring Collection of data and other relevant information to be able to assess a company's impact on the physical or social environment.

Occupational health and safety Creating a safe environment for employees and contractors (occupational health and safety), and for customers and visitors to company facilities. As well as encouraging a healthy lifestyle and promoting public health amongst the people that the company affects.

Sustainable development "Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Our Common Future, 1997 World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)

Triple bottom line "At its broadest, the term is used to capture the whole set of values, issues and processes that companies must address in order to minimize any harm resulting from their activities and to create economic, social and environmental value. This involves being clear about the company's purpose and taking into consideration the needs of all the company's stakeholders - shareholders, customers, employees, business partners, governments, local communities and the public." (www.Sustainability.com)

Volunteering Employees of a company that take part in community activity that is facilited or encouraged by their employer, e.g. fundraising events or supporting a local charity.