RECOVER Ancient Values In A Modern World The Burmatex Approach To Sustainability

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1 RECOVER Ancient Values In A Modern World The Burmatex Approach To Sustainability Issue 3, April 2006

2 "The recycling of waste has been the cornerstone of Burmatex's operations for many years. The reclamation of material from other processes and their conversion to first-class products is the core ethos of the company and has resulted in our rich tradition of profitable yet sustainable growth. Today's challenge is to develop from this strong base and ensure that Burmatex's 21st century management continues to put consideration for the environment at the heart of all we do" Gordon Donald, Managing Director, Burmatex

3 THE BURMATEX APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY Here at Burmatex we believe we hold a unique position in the soft floorcovering business. One that has existed for over a century. One that underpins our philosophy about sustainability and our responsibility. How many other companies can say that they started as a business 100 years ago to Recover waste? Quite simply, Burmatex was founded a century ago to recycle old clothing and rags. We began to manufacture carpet in Today, we occupy a 500,000 sq ft factory in West Yorkshire, employ over 150 people, and are one of the UK s leading producers of contract carpet, both tile and sheet, supplying buildings throughout the world. A HOLISTIC APPROACH REDISCOVERING NATURE We ve come a long way in 100 years, and so have people s concerns about and attitudes towards our environment. Today, we believe that responsible business operation is not just about recycling old clothing and rags into underlay. It s about much more. It s about the balance between what we take from our precious world and what we put back; it s about minimising damage to our world during the manufacturing, marketing and delivery process; it s about not leaving our children with the issue of how to live with the waste of their forefathers; and, crucially, to achieve all this, it s about education to create a culture, consciousness and systems so that Burmatex employees, together with our supplier partners and customers, are aware of their environmental responsibilities and can strive in every way they can to create a better world. We believe it s about operating in a modern, sophisticated, commercial world whilst living in harmony with our planet and the life that lives on it. It s about rediscovering those ancient values. Which is why we proudly call our approach Recover.

4 AT A GLANCE Some of our current initiatives include: Our BSI registered site manufactures over 3 million square metres of carpet sheet and carpet tiles per annum, using and researching ever better processes to minimise both the natural product we take from the land, the pollutants we emit, and the waste we need to manage. Today, 90% of all manufacturing waste is recycled and we are striving to make this 100%. The majority of Burmatex products are manufactured for heavy contract use and are sold with a ten year manufacturer s guarantee maximising their product life minimises the need for the production and purchase of replacements. Product specifications meet or exceed all required performance tests, and continue to push these boundaries even higher to provide perfect floorcovering for a safe and balanced environment. We are working towards taking back clean carpet waste for new Burmatex floorcovering installations and then recycling it at our UK production facility. Operating in harmony with our working environment by encouraging the development of wildlife around our 500,000 sq ft of factory, office and warehouse space surrounded by woodland areas in Yorkshire. Introducing a programme of tree planting on land surrounding and adjacent to our premises, and rigorously maintaining this area to remove litter and encourage nature to flourish safely. Maintaining dialogue with our neighbours, to maintain our excellent relationship and enable speedy, direct and open communication with them should any issues or concerns arise. Nurturing community engagement and a responsible relationship with our neighbours by seeking to employ as many people as possible from the local area today we employ over 150 people, most from the local area.

5 PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES At Burmatex we re proud and passionate about the care that goes into making our products and the processes we use to make them. Fundamental to the creation of a new carpet is the decision about the choice of materials that will make up the product. At Burmatex we are working to reduce, and eventually eliminate, any pollutants released to the environment. All latex products used in our manufacturing processes are chosen specifically to ensure that they have a very low VOC (Volatile Organic Content) and are therefore water-based. This ensures that emission levels both in processing and in the finished products are kept to a very low level. Even the boxes our tiles are delivered in are made from 75% recycled cardboard and, when it comes to installation, we recommend that our partner contractors use only water-based adhesives with low VOC emissions. We re constantly reducing the consumption of nature s resources in all areas - such as energy, raw materials and fuel. By reducing the amount of water in our raw materials we have been able to increase the efficiency of our manufacturing processes without increasing the amount of energy consumed. This equates proportionally to reduced CO2 emissions. Changing other raw materials has led to further process improvements and waste reductions. We use blended fibres to create the beautiful spectrum of colours that appear in our range. Our solution-dyed fibre products mean that we re not contributing to waste water or creating effluent discharges from the dyeing process. This not only minimises effluent problems with wet, water-based fibre dying but also reduces cleaning and maintenance issues on installed products, again minimising the use of chemicals and wash water required to keep the office environment clean wherever Burmatex carpet is installed. Considering environmental issues when purchasing raw materials is at the heart of our philosophy here at Burmatex. We are currently trialling yarns with up to 100% recycled content, which will significantly further reduce the amount of energy used and CO2 emissions. We re also committed to research, which is helping us to introduce more recycled and biodegradable materials into our products.

6 RECOVER, DON T REJECT At Burmatex we re proud of the fact that over 90% of all manufacturing waste is now recycled. This circle-of-life loop significantly reduces the volumes of waste being sent to landfill and reduces our need to use natural resources. Encouraged by our parent company, Sirdar PLC, we ve invested over 1/2 million in developing our own unique four-stage Recover recycling process. Now, 90% of all manufacturing carpet tile waste is recycled using our unique Recover technology the waste is recycled back into the manufacturing process, reducing and saving pro-rata the use of natural limestone filler. What s more, all roll carpet waste is reused for equestrian riding school surfaces applications, where it is itself recycled a number of times. Burmatex has a commitment to further reduce/eliminate the quantity of carpet waste going to landfill by taking back our product when it is no longer required. We are working towards taking back clean carpet waste for new Burmatex floorcovering installations and then recycling it at our UK production facility. Also when Burmatex carpet has reached the end of its useful life, and replacement carpet is purchased from Burmatex, we are working towards taking the old Burmatex carpet product back and, as part of our circle-of-life loop, recycling it at our UK production facility. MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENT Here at Burmatex, we re realistic enough to appreciate that we live in a commercial world where sound economics are key. But we also realise that it is important to create a culture where people understand that they should not compromise on quality and concern for our environment for the sake of economics. Care for our environment and the Recover philosophy permeates throughout the whole company. At the very heart of our strategic planning is the goal to minimise the environmental impacts of all new developments. We liaise closely with our local authority to eliminate and reduce environmental pollution and minimise discharge to drains. We ensure we comply with local authority regulations and all legal requirements. Burmatex ensures that all waste operations are carried out in compliance with current legislation such as The Environmental Protection Act 1990, and that all transfers are carried out following Duty of Care codes of practice.

7 We have long recognised and responded to legislative pressures, planning pressures, customer concern and public opinion relating to environmental issues and performance. Burmatex not only complies with all legal requirements but it aims to exceed them by introducing its own standards incorporating best industry practice. We operate in line with the essential requirements of ISO and have applied for BREAAM Certification. It is our aim to achieve full compliance to BS EN ISO We actively and expressly encourage full participation and commitment from all our employees, through appropriate communication and training in environmental policies and practices. We train all employees to carry out necessary duties to improve the general wellbeing and health and safety of fellow employees and our neighbours. Here at Burmatex we have a dedicated environmental team who consider the impact of all our business decisions and drive research to find new and better ways of doing things. But everyone is encouraged to seek out and create new approaches to the way we work and operate. Some of the recent suggestions of our employees that we are actioning include: - reducing energy consumption through measures such as self-closing doors and low energy light bulbs as well as improving plant efficiency - reducing water consumption - using recycled paper and packaging - recycling incoming packaging waste as well as our own production waste - working towards both BS and BREEAM accreditation - monitoring the environmental policies of our supplier partners - and of course, talking to our customers, so that we can work together to design, make and install beautiful carpets that ensure a beautiful future.

8 RECOVER YOUR FUTURE By specifying and installing Burmatex carpet tiles you will ensure that installation waste is kept to a minimum when compared to similar installations with broadloom carpeting. Off-cuts are reduced, and may in the future be Recovered for recycling into tile production. By using carpet you will help to reduce noise pollution within buildings. Soft floorcovering has been proven to help dampen and reduce the total amount of impact sound created in building environments. Carpet has proven acoustic dampening properties and reduces noise reverberation compared with hard flooring. And by specifying Burmatex, you ll ensure that you have chosen a manufacturer and product that not only complies with all legal requirements but aims to exceed them by introducing its own standards incorporating best industry practice. This Land Is Precious Only when the last tree has been cut down, Only when the last river has been poisoned, Only when the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten. - Cree Indian Prophecy Only when I saw the Earth from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that humankind s most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations. - Sigmund Jahn, German cosmonaut To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them - Theodore Roosevelt You must be the change you wish to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi