We’ve already made huge progress towards our carbon neutral goal.
To date, we’ve invested £1.5 million in assets, training and other improvements and have made year-on-year progress since our first carbon footprint assessment in 2015.
In 2020, we will produce 3 times more energy on-site than we will import from the grid. Our electricity consumption is now 75% lower than it would have been had we made no improvements over the last 6 years.
All of our employees live within 3 miles of our factory, so everyone has the option to walk or cycle to work.
Our carbon footprints (Scope 1 and 2)
2015-16
0
tonnes CO2e
—
2016-17
0
tonnes CO2e
0
%
reduction vs. 2015-16
2017-18
0
tonnes CO2e
0
%
reduction vs. 2015-16
2018-19
0
tonnes CO2e
0
%
reduction vs. 2015-16
2019-20 (expected)
0
tonnes CO2e
0
%
reduction vs. 2015-16
Timeline of achievements
Pre-2015
- Achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) accreditation.
- Achieved zero waste to landfill status, with recycling rate of over 99% based on weight.
- Vans fitted with trackers to monitor fuel-efficient driving.
2015
- First annual carbon footprint assessment.
- 980kW biomass burner installed, providing 100% of heating from factory wood waste.
2016
- 100% cardboard and plastic recycling achieved.
- Installed power factor correction and harmonics unit, saving ~£4,000 a year in reduced electricity consumption.
2017
- Installed state-of-the-art, UK-first Ecogate smart dust extraction system, saving ~£10,000 a year in reduced electricity consumption.
- Began replacing factory lighting with energy efficient LEDs.
2018
- Purchase Nissan LEAF electric car and installed on-site charging.
- Achieved substantial criteria for ISO 14001 Environmental Management and began working towards PAS 2060 Carbon Neutrality specification.
2019
- Installed first phase of solar PV rooftop array with 105kW generating capacity, saving ~£7,000 a year in electricity costs.
- Installed energy efficient inverter compressor, saving ~£2,000 a year in reduced electricity consumption.
- Upgraded vane vacuum pumps to more efficient claw pumps, saving ~£1,000 a year in reduced electricity consumption.
- All employees trained in carbon literacy.
- Joined City of Trees’ 100 Trees Club.
- Banned flying on business.
- MD Richard Hagan becomes organiser of Rochdale Circular Economy Club and is described as “one of the UK’s greenest entrepreneurs”.
- Finalist in the Sustainable Manufacturing category at The Manufacturer 2019 MX Awards alongside global heavyweights like BMW, Ibstock Brick and pladis.
- Recognised by Green Party MEP Gina Dowding as a best practice example of industry for a “Green New Deal in the North West”.
2020
- Declared climate emergency, committing to carbon neutrality by 2022.
- Installed second phase of rooftop solar PV, filling remaining roof space and achieving a total capacity of 245kW, saving a further ~£10,000 a year in electricity costs.
- Achieved 100% LED lighting with intelligent sensors throughout building, saving ~£5,000 a year in reduced electricity consumption.
- Achieved Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A+, becoming one of just ~500 commercial buildings to be certified ‘carbon positive’.
