Notice Board
UAP UNDERLINES SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT WITH NEW CAMPAIGN
» UAP , THE SPECIALIST IN LOCKS AND hardware for doors and windows , has launched a new scheme to proactively improve sustainability across the business .
The initiative considers the social , economic and environmental ( S . E . E ) factors that must be addressed by UAP to drive positive change . Designed to engage employees at all levels , every department is tasked with developing new ideas and practices that can make a tangible difference .
“ Our aim is to go above and beyond what is required by accreditations such as ISO : 14001 ,” explained David Jennings , CEO of UAP . “ That ’ s why , unlike many other sustainability initiatives , our S . E . E . scheme doesn ’ t just focus on minimising our environmental impact . We also want to identify opportunities for creating social value in our local communities and continue to drive efficiencies to ensure UAP remains a sustainable business .
“ This will make sure that we approach sustainability more holistically and develop commercially viably ideas focused on generating long-term benefits .”
As part of the campaign , sustainability champions have been appointed in each department to raise awareness of the campaign and to inspire others to generate new ideas . This approach has already led to the launch of several environmental initiatives , including a competition that encourages customers to reduce waste and recycle .
Any business that buys Fullex locks in crates or pallets are challenged to upcycle the packaging . A £ 10 prize is awarded to anyone that enters , while the person with the best upcycling idea wins a £ 500 voucher for a high street store . To kickstart the initiative , UAP ’ s marketing director , successfully upcycled pallets into garden storage and planters , and the photos have been used as part of the promotional campaign .
UAP ’ s warehouse team has also developed a plan that will see bubble wrap replaced with more eco-friendly packaging and ‘ waste walks ’ implemented to identify areas of improvement .
David continued : “ Our sustainability champions are playing a vital role in engaging employees in our S . E . E scheme and enabling every department to bring forward ideas that can make a tangible difference . To make sure these are viable , we set SMART ( specific , measurable , achievable , realistic timely ) targets and then closely monitor progress , ensuring there is sufficient resources to meet the objectives .
“ Initiatives have been generated to help encourage a more sustainable way of thinking outside of the office too . We encourage our people to share the outcome of these measures with their colleagues to help motivate others to do the same .”
To share best practice , UAP has also asked its sales team to introduce ‘ green customers ’ to the business with a view to collaborate with them on new sustainability initiatives .
On a wider scale , the S . E . E . scheme is aiming to drive change across UAP ’ s manufacturing processes . The business is working with its suppliers in China to audit products and factories to stop the use of virgin plastic packaging .
Meanwhile , UAP ’ s technical services team has launched a long-term project aimed at replacing cold runner tools with hot runner moulds , which are used to produce plastic products and parts . The hot runner version provides a more sustainable solution , producing less waste and using less energy . UAP is working closely with suppliers to assess the full lifecycle costs of hot runner moulds to develop the most cost-effective options .
Reducing the company ’ s carbon footprint is another priority for UAP and forms part of the S . E . E . scheme .
“ At director level , we are assessing our carbon footprint and putting measures in place to reduce energy use in the UK , China and India ,” added David . “ We already have solar panels on the factory roof in the UK and are refining policies across the business to help mitigate the impact of climate change . This is another area where we are engaging staff as even small changes can make a difference .
“ As a long-term campaign with clear objectives , the S . E . E . scheme is already having an impact on our business , encouraging people at all levels to make positive changes . The ideas that are being developed will deliver consistent improvements and enable UAP to share best practice and knowledge , both internally and externally .”
www . uapcorporate . com
8
MAR / APR 2023
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