Sustainability
Our Mission
Sustainability has become an integral part of Standard Brands plans
for the future. The sustainability plan is a 5 year plan focused on
securing our future, and the future of the business.
The plan is
made up of a wide range of initiatives, and aims to capture all elements
of the business. A carbon footprint study was undertaken and
highlighted areas for improvement, which aided the development of this
plan. The initiatives in the plan range from small projects, such as
reducing paper use to large-scale projects such as installing
energy-efficient equipment and replacing raw materials with sustainable
alternatives, such as removing wood from our charcoal. Targets have been
set for each initiative as part of this plan, all of which link to our
overall annual carbon footprint reduction target, where we have the
ambition to reduce all carbon emissions at our factory in
Castlebellingham. These emissions are reviewed annually, to ensure the
actions taken are having the desired effect on reducing our
environmental impact.
The Key Initiatives
Water
The initial goal was to save 5m litres of water in 5 years, we have almost doubled our 5 year target and saved 9.5m litres of water, a saving of around 50% of our total manufacturing usage. Further plans to build on this project are in place
Energy
Our manufacturing plant in Castlebellingham is now using 100% renewable energy. Pre-March 2022, we were at 10% renewable energy – a great win in the reduction of emissions. The longer-term plan is to introduce solar energy. One of our energy projects involved re-directing excess energy from our compressor unit to heat our offices and storage tanks.
Waste
We send all our general waste for energy re-consumption, enabling us to reach a zero land-fill position.
Packaging / Product Development
With
a renewed focus on reducing packaging and prioritising sustainable
materials for NPD, the changes made to Zip’s packaging across the globe
in 2023 have seen a card reduction equivalent to saving 1,430 trees. Our
new product launches now focus on materials that are both sustainable
and renewable, such as sugarcane.
The sustainability plan is just
the start for Standard Brands as we continue our investment into
securing our future, not just with our products but by educating our
people, and helping to improve the planet. We continue to evolve, and
look at ways we can introduce more sustainable fuels and firelighters
with 25% of our sales now attributed to natural products. Please look
out for further quarterly updates.
Certification and Accreditations
Our certifications and accreditations demonstrate our commitment to excellence, ensuring you receive the highest standard ZIP products we can provide.
