Policy on Sustainability
Environmental Management
Policy:
Bourne Furniture is committed to promoting sustainable practices and minimising our ecological footprint through effective environmental management and supplier engagement.
Practices:
| Monitoring and Reporting |
– Conduct quarterly reviews of our suppliers’ compliance with environmental standards and our own adherence to best practices in energy consumption and waste management. – Implement an annual assessment process to identify areas for improvement in our supply chain and logistics, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 10% over the next three years. |
| Supplier Standards and Engagement |
– Ensure compliance with all relevant environmental regulations and standards, such as: • ISO 14001: Environmental management standards. • FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): Ensuring responsible forestry practices. • PEFC: Promoting sustainable forest management. • GREENGUARD: Keeping indoor air quality safe. • EUTR: Preventing the placing of illegally harvested timber on the EU market. • REACH: Addressing the production and use of chemical substances. Our suppliers are required to provide certifications to ensure sustainable sourcing of materials. – Actively choose and collaborate with suppliers who follow eco-friendly practices and use sustainable materials such as recycled PET, HDPE plastics and follow water conservation practices. Example: Our largest wool production partner in the UK “WooltexUK” treats on-site wastewater, reusing it for new dyeing or rinsing batches, thereby reducing water use. |
Client Education: |
– Promote and educate clients about sustainable furniture options and their benefits. Provide clients with information on the sustainability features of our products, such as the use of recycled materials and low-impact manufacturing processes. – We have created a product range designed to have minimal environmental impact in both production and distribution. – Maintenance guide for sustainable product use: We aim to promote sustainable practices during product use by providing clear care instructions to extend the lifespan of our products. |
Transport Efficiency: |
– Consolidated Deliveries: Plan and consolidate deliveries to reduce trips. – Efficient Fleet: Use of 12-tonne and 7.5-tonne lorries to match load sizes and minimise fuel usage. – Electric Forklift: Utilize an electric forklift in our warehouse to reduce emissions. |
Evidence of Logistics Practices: |
Provide transparant evidence of our logistics practices to demostrate our commitment to sustainability: – Documentation: • We maintain comprehensive records of our logistics operations, including route planning reports, shipping records and carbon footprint analyses. • Our Carbon Footprint analysis data helps us to track progress and set future goals. These documents are available for review upon request. |
CO2 Emissions Management |
– CO2 Emission Calculation: We calculate CO2 emissions using the following formula: CO2 Emissions (Kg)=Distance (Km) x Load Weight (Tons) x CO2 Emission Factor (Kg CO2 per ton-km) Example: If transporting a 2-ton load over 100 km with an emission factor of 0.12 kg CO2 per ton-km, the CO2 emissions would be: CO2 Emissions=100km x 2 tons x 0,12 kg CO2/ton-km= 24kg CO2 – Emission Reduction Goals: We aim to reduce our CO2 emissions by 10% over the next three years by optimising routes, consolidating shipments, and exploring low – emission transport options. |
Waste Management: |
Minimise waste through responsible packaging and waste reduction practices. • Packaging: Use recycled and recyclable packaging material. • Target: Ensure at least 80% of our packaging materials are recycled or recyclable by 2025. |
Office Resource management |
Reduce resource consumption in our office operations. • Aim to reduce water consumption in our office by 5% annually. • Use energy-efficient lighting and encourage employees to turn of equipment when not in use. |
Small Business Advantage: |
Bourne Furniture’s small size allows us to be agile and efficient in our sustainability efforts. With a dedicated team of just 7 employees, we can quickly adapt to new sustainable practices and implement changes without the delays that larger organisations might face. Our streamlined operations enable us to: – Reduce Waste: Our small-scale operations produce less waste compared to larger manufacturers. For example, our waste output is 20% below the industry average for companies of our size. – Lower Energy Consumption: Our office and warehouse energy consumption are carefully monitored, resulting in a 15% reduction in energy use over the past two years. – Implement Rapidly: We can swiftly adopt new sustainable technologies and processes. For instance, our transition to energy-efficient lighting throughout our office and warehouse was completed within three months, cutting our lighting energy use by 30%. – These efficiencies contribute to our overall sustainability and demonstrate our commitment to being an environmentally responsible company. |
Economy
Practices:
Bourne Furniture is committed to ensuring that our economic practices support our sustainability goals and build trust with our stakeholders.
Economic Responsibility and Transparency: |
Financial Transparency: • Clear Practices: We maintain clear and transparent financial practices to foster trust with our clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders. • Sustainable Investment: We allocate financial resources effectively to support sustainability initiatives, including investments in eco-friendly logistics, energy-efficient operations, and community outreach programs. • Resource Efficiency: We continuously assess our operational costs and seek opportunities for cost-saving measures that align with our sustainability objectives. This includes optimizing our supply chain, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency. Economic Contribution: • Supporting Local Economies: We prioritize working with local suppliers and partners, which supports local economies and reduces transportation-related carbon emissions. |
Continuous Improvement: |
Continuously improve our environmental performance through regular assessments and the implementation of best practices. |