Our Changing Environment

Greenhouse Gases

The Group’s manufacturing operations do create greenhouse gas emissions and Hambleside has introduced policies designed to reduce them. By the end of 2006 the Group’s carbon footprint had been reduced by 25% over the 2005 level with further reductions targeted for 2007 and beyond.

The policies involved investment in its factory buildings, replacing old fashioned rooflights and installing its own Insulator rooflight system. These rooflights reduce the use of energy by having U-values of just 0.8W/km2K. Consequently the energy savings have been quite dramatic.

With virtually 20% of the total roof area incorporating the Insulator rooflight system there were additional environmental benefits due to the enhanced level of natural light reducing the need for artificial lighting creating further energy savings.

Other steps taken were quite simple; reducing light and heat levels, switching to low energy lighting and generally introducing good housekeeping.

In 2007, the Group switched to using power generated from renewable energy sources.

Where machinery is replaced, or plant introduced, the Group ensures that where practical it only purchases the most energy efficient equipment approved by the Carbon Trust.

Despite these reductions, there are inevitably still emissions. These are created through all aspects of the Group’s operations, company car use, air travel, commuting by employees, the distribution of products, the manufacturing processes and the office functions.

Whilst offset schemes may not be the answer to the problem of greenhouse gases, Hambleside’s view is that they do have a part to play whilst improved technology is developed to make a real difference.

Consequently, in 2005, the Group took the decision to voluntarily offset its emissions, through a scheme managed by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management. The total tonnage of the emissions of all greenhouse gases arising from the Group activities was calculated and independently verified and the Group made a financial contribution to support a reforestation scheme in Uganda.

This was the first step, and in May 2007 the Group became members of the dcarbon8 scheme which is a far more comprehensive scheme.