We're working hard to provide the same level of protection we offer our customers to the planet and its people.
SMI is accredited to ISO 14011, an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. This certification requires us to consider all environmental issues relating to our operations, such as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste management, soil contamination, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and resource use and efficiency.
ISO 14001 includes the need for continual improvement of our systems and approach to environmental concerns. As such, we're constantly reviewing and improving our sustainability strategy, involving the whole SMI team as we contribute positively to the environment through our products and services.
“SMI is excited to have a very clear roadmap for our climate-neutral journey/goals, but it doesn’t stop there! We’re facing up to the future, doing more with our products, suppliers, customers and our impact on the environment."
- Lizzie Mellor, Environmental Social Governance Officer
We understand some emissions are unavoidable. However, by offsetting our emissions, we can bring balance back to the planet.
We're currently in the process of measuring our direct carbon emissions, which will enable us to take action to offset them and become climate neutral by the end of 2022.
This means we'll offset all our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions through investing in supported offset projects, such as reforestation or reducing plastic waste in the ocean.
But the work doesn't stop there. We aim to reduce emissions where possible year on year. This reduction, along with a continued commitment to offsetting, means we'll remain climate neutral for every year to come!
We're building great relationships with key suppliers who are as passionate about the environment as we are.
One such supplier is DPD, who we use as our primary delivery partner. DPD's packages are made from 80% reclaimed material and are 100% recyclable. They're also committed to greener energy, with 1,500 electric vehicles operating throughout the UK.
Another key partner of ours is J&A, an international heat seal company that's shifting its focus toward offsetting emissions using solar energy.
We work closely with our suppliers to stock their recycled, recyclable and reusable products, ensuring your safety is as sustainable as possible.
To name a few, we currently supply:
By giving your old workwear and PPE a second life, we can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerated.
Shredding and recycling of workwear is the most common method of uniform recycling and one we'd recommend if you have concerns about people impersonating your staff. Once shredded, the fibres are then used to create rags, wiping cloths, wool clothing, carpets, insulation, cushions, or even stuffing for car seats or mattresses.
We've moved to a paperless management system in our Kites Croft Distribution Centre.
Not only have we reaped the rewards of better organisation, increased efficiencies, and enhanced security, but reducing our reliance on paper has made our operations far more eco-friendly and sustainable.
Plastic waste refers to the accumulation of plastic objects in the environment that negatively affect wildlife, habitats, and humans. A significant amount of plastic ends up in landfills or is dumped on land or in rivers before ending up in the ocean. 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been created over six decades and over 90% of it isn't recycled. It's becoming increasingly clear our planet can't cope with this amount of plastic polluting the environment, and the urgency to reduce plastic waste has increased in recent years.
To do our bit, we're changing the materials we use in our packaging to reduce the amount of plastic that we need to use. Additionally, any orders that go through our own in-house production facilities are not bagged in plastic packaging, keeping the amount of plastic we use to a minimum.
We use motion lighting in our Kitescroft Distribution Centre which eliminates the possibility that lights will be accidentally left on.
This reduces our electricity consumption, which in turn helps reduce carbon emissions.
We recycle our own boxes wherever possible and re-use supplier boxes.
This helps us to reduce any waste sent to landfill, therefore also reducing greenhouse gases which are emitted. Additionally, recycled or re-using cardboard helps to save energy and trees!
We don't part-ship any orders below £250, which has greatly helped in reducing our carbon emissions.
Fewer shipments mean fewer deliveries, meaning less fuel consumption and emissions!
Our office staff can work from home at least one day per week, which helps to reduce travel emissions from commutes and saves the need to heat, cool, or light some parts of the office.
The flexibility in work-life balance also affords our staff extra time in the week to make an impact on the environment if they wish to - even if it's just looking after their garden, growing fruit and veg, or composting!
It's as important to look after people as it is the planet, which is why we've chosen Cancer Research UK as our 2022 charity of the year. We'll carry out various charity drives throughout the year to raise funds for this worthwhile cause.
We also offer all our employees access to an Employee Assistance Program completely free-of-charge, which includes counselling alongside other support services and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing.
SMI also supports and regularly donates money to the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), which is a major global charity. Our support stretches back as far as 2017!
This year alone we've donated £1000+ to RRT to support the people in Ukraine, providing emergency food and personal care supplies to those displaced.
We're proud to be a SEDEX member; we follow our Responsible Sourcing Guidelines in establishing and managing our supply chain.
We work closely with our suppliers to stock their recycled, recyclable, and reusable products, ensuring your safety is as sustainable as possible.
Insight
With continued plans to reduce our carbon footprint, SMI have decided to launch our first Made in Europe range of Rokwear products. Having these products made closer to home will help reduce our emissions and provide a quicker lead time for our customers – whilst still delivering style, comfort and performance.
Insight
We’re going to take a look at the various benefits associated with choosing a complete Workwear Solution package, consolidating your purchasing of essential PPE and Workwear. PPE packages are ideal for firms of all sizes who want to streamline their product suite and maintain full control over the procurement process.
Insight
For many companies, sustainability is high on the agenda. However, implementing initiatives can be both cost and time consuming.
