Environment. At Rixonway Kitchens we acknowledge our environmental obligations and take our responsibilities very seriously.

Transcription

1 The Environment

2 Environment At Rixonway Kitchens we acknowledge our environmental obligations and take our responsibilities very seriously. To meet the current environmental challenges, we have developed a variety of tools, policies and strategies to reduce our environmental impact. These include setting and communicating environmental performance targets and commitments which have been ISO certified. We are mindful not only of our environmental obligations but that of our customers and therefore have introduced a number of initiatives to facilitate the achievement of our collaborative environmental goals. 3

3 Recycling To enable the recycling of kitchen furniture or any timber product taken out during the refurbishment of a property we have introduced an alternative way of managing waste. The service enables all the segregated component parts of a kitchen to be recycled. Kitchens that are normally disposed of via landfill can be collected and delivered to designated recycling centres throughout the UK. The wood can be utilised to create biomass fuel for power generation which avoids the use of fossil fuels, land reclamation or used to make new raw materials. The remaining components i.e. plastic and metal are segregated and used within the recycling stream. This method of disposing of kitchens is far more cost effective and environmentally friendly than landfill. Each council faces large fines if they exceed the agreed amount of biodegradable waste that they send to landfill each year. Under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), local authorities could be fined per tonne if they landfill more than their allocation without having bought extra allocations from other Waste Disposal Authorities (WDA). Rixonway recycling service provides an alternative means of disposing of waste and reduces the volume of waste that is sent to landfill. 5

4 National Kitchen Recycling Service Whatever your requirement, Rixonway and our national recycling partners can offer a flexible and made to measure service that will suit your needs in terms of quantity, frequency and method of collection: A collection service. A 40 and 55 cubic yard container service delivered to your site on an exchange basis. Please call to confirm the services in your area. What type of wood can we recycle? All types of non-hazardous wood can be recycled including: All soft and hard woods Chipboard and OSB Pallets Plywood Off-cuts, boxes, packaging cases Floorboards Melamine and laminates MDF What will I get? If required we can provide you with: A full audit trail of your recovered wood from site to recycled products. Dates and times of loads received from your company. Tailored reports - monthly, quarterly, yearly to meet your requirements. A list of acceptable materials that we can collect from you. What will it cost? The cost of recycling your wood is dependent upon the quality of the materials received. The price will be based on the lowest grade of wood in the mix, therefore segregating the materials in mixed loads before they arrive on-site will prove to be the most cost effective. Please contact your Rixonway Recycling Co-ordinator for further information on: and remember that recycling your wood is not only a greener option than sending it to landfill, it s also cost effective. 7

5 Waste Management All wood waste produced during the manufacturing of the kitchen furniture is collected and fed into a state of the art wood waste system. The system quickly and effectively grinds the raw material down and produces a fine, sawdust like residue which is then recycled and used to produce biomass fuel for power generation which avoids the use of fossil fuels or land reclamation and composting. Waste packaging has been reduced to a minimum and in line with the Producer Responsibility Obligation (packaging waste) Regulation, is recycled via a Nationwide Packaging Compliance Scheme. Improved efficiency has been gained with the investment in a new automated wrapping system, the result is a product that protects the finished goods during transit and is recyclable. Upon request the stretch wrap used to protect the cabinets can be removed and recycled by Rixonway. As members of a WEEE compliance scheme we reuse, recycle and minimise the negative environmental aspects of disposing of electrical items. At Rixonway we only use an approved list of companies to dispose of any waste. All carriers are registered and vetted annually to ensure they carry and continue to carry the relevant waste management, storage and disposal licences. 9

6 Sustainable Products A key part of our environment obligation is the protection of the natural environment. With this in mind only timber which is not on the CITES endangered list is used in our manufacturing process. Additionally we ensure our timber is responsibly sourced using chain of custody schemes to avoid:- Involvement with illegal logging. Trade in illegal wood. Violation of traditional and human rights in forestry operations. Destruction of high conservation values by forestry operations. Significant conversions of forestry to plantations or other non forest use. Introduction of genetically modified organisms in forestry operations. Violation of any of the ILO core conventions. Responsibly sourcing wood through chain of custody schemes recognises that the timber is derived from managed, sustainable sources and can be literally traced back to its roots. By meeting these standards the timber is guaranteed to meet stringent environmental, social and economic standards and to keep pace with these evolving standards. 11

7 Responsible Purchasing Policy Rixonway Kitchens is committed to the eradication of illegal timber in European markets. By implementing the Timber Trade Federation s (TTF s) Responsible Purchasing Policy and improving the supply chain Rixonway are putting that commitment into action to ensure, as best as possible, that all timber and wood products it uses have been sourced ethically and legally. As well as being a signatory of the TTF s Responsible Purchasing Policy, Rixonway take part in regular chain of custody audits to ensure, as best as possible, that all timber which is purchased is harvested responsibly. 13

8 Greener Transportation At Rixonway we have trialled a number of initiatives which are aimed at encouraging greener transportation. The company car share initiative aims to reduce the level of transport on the road and consequently reduce the carbon footprint. Staff are encouraged, where possible, to make use of public transport. Rixonway has invested over 370,000 into its new environmentally friendly vehicle fleet, which are all fitted with Euro 5 compliant engines - the highest European Standard for the control of CO² emissions. Additionally, vehicles are fitted with an ADBLUE system which injects a non-hazardous compound directly into exhaust gases as they leave the engine, breaking them down into harmless natural water and nitrogen. Rixonway Kitchens HGVs are fitted with Greener tyres which, saves the company up to 520 litres per vehicle, has a better tyre footprint, and improved wear pattern, load carrying capacity increases of up to 500kg and up to 7% more grip. 15

9 Energy By regularly reviewing environmental performances Rixonway incorporates a process of continuous improvement. Diesel, gas and electrical energy usage is monitored via an environmental scorecard system which has enabled the business to reduce energy consumption levels. The implementation of an energy policy coupled with a programme of environmental projects has resulted in a further reduction in the amount of energy used. Rixonway has become the largest organisation in the UK to install the Ecogate System, dramatically reducing its carbon footprint. The Ecogate System has been developed to support large woodworking manufacturers like Rixonway. Traditional dust extraction systems run constantly across the whole plant even if a machine is not in use. The intelligent Ecogate System monitors when a machine is not in use shutting down that particular extraction unit, saving the electricity needed to run the unit and heat the factory as less hot air is removed. 17

10 Environmental Policy Rixonway Environmental Policy clearly states the aims and principles of the company s mission with respect to its impact on the environment. The policy demonstrates how the company recognises the effect that it has on the environment and details the environmental practices that have been implemented to reduce the effect. Upon commencement of employment with the company each member of staff is issued with a copy of all the company policies (including the Environmental Policy). Compulsory training on the meaning and scope of the organisation s policies and standards ensures that everyone is fully aware and understands the company objectives. Involving employees in day-to-day decisions and the development of environmental work makes the best possible use of an environmentally aware workforce. 19

11 Rixonway Kitchens Ltd Shaw Cross Business Park Dewsbury WF12 7RD Tel: Fax: Printed on 100% recycled paper. 05/15V14 05/15V17