| Environmental Policy |
Formica Limited recognises that sustainability is an increasingly important consideration in today’s specification process. As the only manufacturer of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) in the UK and a supplier of other surfacing materials and bonded components, we also recognise the environmental impact of our activities and processes.
We are committed to using sustainable resources, including paper from recycled sources and managed forests. Paper accounts for approximately 70% of the make-up of a sheet of laminate and therefore our procurement policy is one of sourcing raw materials from responsible vendors using managed renewable sources. Our specialist range of wood veneer laminates is produced using reconstituted veneers that are sourced from an FSC accredited supplier.
We are also highly committed to the protection of the environment. In order to facilitate this, an Environmental Management System has been put into place, which in June 2007 achieved accreditation to ISO14001: 1996(E) for our UK manufacturing plants.
The Environmental Management System looks at ways of continually improving levels of environmental protection and reducing wastes generated during our operations and commercial activities. Formica Limited has numerous initiatives in place to achieve these goals, for example, a target has been set to recycle 70% of in-process scrap materials. A fume abatement plant has also been introduced. Dust is the principal waste, which is burned to produce energy in a dedicated plant (20% of energy for the factory is generated this way). Routine monitoring of surface water drains and safe disposal of hazardous liquid wastes is also carried out.
An Energy Management System has also been established to minimise energy usage in respect to operational undertakings within the company, this is the responsibility of all Formica employees. Formica Limited has also signed up to a Climate Change Agreement with the Secretary of State through the Chemical Industries Association, where reduced Energy Consumption targets have been set.
A commitment to both the Environmental & Energy Management Systems at all levels of the Company includes instigating Auditing and Review procedures, with the aim of defining and communicating improvements on a regular basis.
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