Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility
The Directors continue to recognise the importance of environmental, social and ethical responsibility in the Group’s activities, balancing the interests of all key stakeholders and understanding the growing emphasis placed on such conduct in the regulatory environment applying to UK companies. The Group’s drive for quality extends to the efforts made to ensure that the Group’s environmental impact is minimised, which include the promotion of efficiency and recycling.
Our UK production facility, Hampton Park West, had its ISO 14001 accreditation renewed for a further three years in 2008, which underlines our continuing commitment towards environmental improvement.
The Group’s three environmental objectives centre around the activities of:
• Energy consumption
• Waste and recycling
• Supplier environmental development
Rising gas and electricity costs have particularly focused our attention on energy saving. Hampton Park West had already carried out a number of initiatives to improve energy efficiency over the last 5 years and a survey on behalf of the Carbon Trust in 2008 did not find any significant improvements to be made.
Hampton Park West has taken a significant step forward in the amount of solid waste – potentially destined for landfill - that is now recycled. In 2003/04 the site recycled only 58% of its solid waste. Projects were initiated to improve recycling of waste streams and by 2005/06, the amount recycled had risen to 73%.
The last year has seen polythene added to the list of recyclables and a major drive on recycling paper and cardboard. Critical in this has been commitment from the whole workforce, some of whom have suggested new initiatives. Colour-coded bins have been introduced on the factory floor and desk-side waste bins in the offices have been removed. There is still room for improvement but the amount recycled this year is up to over 85%.
Other related initiatives, which also have a cost benefit, include the reduction in cardboard used for packaging of the Group’s products and a reduction in the use of air freight for delivering products to the customer.
The environmental performance of the Group’s suppliers is also important. In particular, those companies who provide contract services, packaging and material components used in production have been audited to ensure that they do not have an adverse effect on the Group’s own environmental footprint.
In the US, our engineered fabrications facility continues to operate below the levels authorised by its Mississippi State Air Emission Permit. In addition, a project is underway to reduce the emissions associated with the use of spray based adhesives. At the Cadillac plant there is particular focus on the use, where possible, of returnable shipping containers for component parts.
SUPPLIERS
Business integrity and fair dealing is key to the Group’s relationships with suppliers and contractors. Many of the Group’s suppliers have long term relationships with the Group. Most key suppliers are registered to ISO 9000 and supplier development is a priority moving forward.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Board recognises the importance of health and safety to the business. Not only does a safe working environment contribute to employee well being, the prevention of personal injury contributes to the running of an efficient business. The Group’s stated policy in this area is that management practices and employee work activity will, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees, contractors and visitors, together with the health and safety of all other persons affected by the business activities of the Group’s operations.
All of the Group’s businesses maintain health and safety systems that are both compliant with Group policy and appropriate to the business, with the overall objective of providing a safe and healthy working environment.
Our UK production facility, Hampton Park West, had its ISO 14001 accreditation renewed for a further three years in 2008, which underlines our continuing commitment towards environmental improvement.
The Group’s three environmental objectives centre around the activities of:
• Energy consumption
• Waste and recycling
• Supplier environmental development
Rising gas and electricity costs have particularly focused our attention on energy saving. Hampton Park West had already carried out a number of initiatives to improve energy efficiency over the last 5 years and a survey on behalf of the Carbon Trust in 2008 did not find any significant improvements to be made.
Hampton Park West has taken a significant step forward in the amount of solid waste – potentially destined for landfill - that is now recycled. In 2003/04 the site recycled only 58% of its solid waste. Projects were initiated to improve recycling of waste streams and by 2005/06, the amount recycled had risen to 73%.
The last year has seen polythene added to the list of recyclables and a major drive on recycling paper and cardboard. Critical in this has been commitment from the whole workforce, some of whom have suggested new initiatives. Colour-coded bins have been introduced on the factory floor and desk-side waste bins in the offices have been removed. There is still room for improvement but the amount recycled this year is up to over 85%.
Other related initiatives, which also have a cost benefit, include the reduction in cardboard used for packaging of the Group’s products and a reduction in the use of air freight for delivering products to the customer.
The environmental performance of the Group’s suppliers is also important. In particular, those companies who provide contract services, packaging and material components used in production have been audited to ensure that they do not have an adverse effect on the Group’s own environmental footprint.
In the US, our engineered fabrications facility continues to operate below the levels authorised by its Mississippi State Air Emission Permit. In addition, a project is underway to reduce the emissions associated with the use of spray based adhesives. At the Cadillac plant there is particular focus on the use, where possible, of returnable shipping containers for component parts.
SUPPLIERS
Business integrity and fair dealing is key to the Group’s relationships with suppliers and contractors. Many of the Group’s suppliers have long term relationships with the Group. Most key suppliers are registered to ISO 9000 and supplier development is a priority moving forward.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Board recognises the importance of health and safety to the business. Not only does a safe working environment contribute to employee well being, the prevention of personal injury contributes to the running of an efficient business. The Group’s stated policy in this area is that management practices and employee work activity will, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees, contractors and visitors, together with the health and safety of all other persons affected by the business activities of the Group’s operations.
All of the Group’s businesses maintain health and safety systems that are both compliant with Group policy and appropriate to the business, with the overall objective of providing a safe and healthy working environment.