The environment is top of most people’s agendas at the moment, thanks in part to eye-opening documentaries created by the likes of Sir David Attenborough, The Discovery Channel and National Geographic. 

We have been shown the extent of the damage caused by years of living with little regard for the significant issues that plastic is having on our oceans. Conversely, we have also seen what businesses are doing in response to try and cut down on their disposable plastic waste.

Going green doesn’t just stop at plastic though; there’s so much more we can be doing to help the environment.  Here at Enviroprint we’re actively reviewing our processes and thinking about how we can become greener.  Here’s a summary of what we’ve done so far:

Sustainability

We’ve sourced our bag manufacturers responsibly so that all the paper used for our paper bags comes from managed forests; meaning a new tree is planted for each one cut down. Where possible, we try to use paper that is certified with the FSC logo.  The Forest Stewardship Council promotes responsible management of the world’s forests, as well as the wildlife that call them home.

Recycling

We’ve always recycled, but during our warehouse refit we ensured each area had specific bins for different wastes.  Our offices have general and paper waste bins and our confidential waste is shredded ready for recycling.  Our coffee machine also has wooden stirrers rather than plastic.  The warehouse has separate industrial bins for general and cardboard waste, which is collected separately.  The staff rest area has different bins for food waste and for recyclable waste and we actively encourage our staff to think about the waste they generate and how best they can dispose of it.

LED Lighting

During a recent complete office refurbishment, all our office lighting was switched to LED lights, which are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting.  By using LED lights, we’re ensuring that 95% of the energy is converted into light, and only 5% is wasted as heat. 

Going Paperless

We’re trying to reduce the amount of paper used in the office.  That’s why you’ll notice that we email our customers with their invoices, rather than send them in the post, where possible.  We’ll also ask for your email address so that we can correspond with you regarding any enquiries you’ve made.  Not only is this approach helping to reduce paper usage, it also allows for much more efficient communication with all our customers.

ISO Accreditation

We’ve been ISO 14001 accredited since 2005.  This enables us to ensure we have  effective environmental management systems in place.  This voluntary accreditation helps us to manage environmental aspects, fulfil compliance obligations and address risks and opportunities.

Even by making the smallest changes, we can all make a huge difference to the long-term affects each of us has on the environment and help protect our most precious inheritance.