Improving our sustainability performance is one of our primary objectives over the next five years and beyond. To show our commitment to this, Innovia Films has adopted the United Nations ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ of which there are 17. These will provide us with a framework on which to benchmark where we are and from this we will identify next steps to improve the contribution we make.
We have identified the following seven goals as our priority set. This does not mean however, that the others are less important. We already have activities underway that fit under the other goals; it just means that our initial focus will be primarily on these.
Using the criteria for each of the goals selected, we have reviewed what activities/procedures we already have in place to assess our current status. We have identified the improvements we want to make and plan to achieve these over the next year or two, before setting new targets.
Sustainable Leadership
The plastics industry has reached an important milestone in its history and we need to ensure that our corporate responsibility and sustainability journey underlines the benefits that polymer brings to our everyday lives. We already operate well within environmental regulations and all our manufacturing sites are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 qualified. However we are focused on improving our performance to build a more sustainable tomorrow to ensure our operations are operating within the circular economy
Our Sustainability Vision over the next Five Years
Simplification – Ensuring that our Research and Development Team are all working to a common goal to ensure that recyclability is at the forefront of our design criteria for products we launch into the marketplace so that they can remain within the circular economy. Also to include ‘where possible’ recycled content to our products to meet any future Legislation requirements.
Waste Management – Improving our systems to ensure that zero waste is going to landfill. Any waste currently being diverted for energy recovery is minimised and that all recyclable waste remains within the circular economy.
Energy Management – Energy saving programs are supported to ensure a reduced energy demand and carbon footprint reduction to guarantee that our products are manufactured using the minimum amount of resources possible. We also intend to generate more of our own energy and increase the percentage of renewable energy that we purchase, so that we can reduce the amount of energy bought from the grid year on year.
Water Savings – Programs of work are underway to reduce the amount of water required to produce our products, minimising the amount of water being abstracted and reducing the amount being disposed.
Packaging Waste Reduction – Reduce the amount of packaging used within our production environment. Implement packaging return schemes to maximise their use, thereby reducing our impact on natural resources.
Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) – Continuing to develop our systems, building OCS expectations into the fundamental operations of the business, with a goal of ensuring that any polymers and film from our site do not enter into the aquatic environment.
Emissions – That we continue to monitor any emissions from our Wigton site to ensure we are operating well within regulatory conditions at all times.
Modifications / Plant Improvements – We will ensure all modifications deliver an environmental improvement by way of design wherever possible.
Continuing to develop our Workforce – We will build environmental compliance and good practice into our training foundations to ensure all employees are aware, and are competent in their role, to prevent environmental incidents. This will help us to improve our environmental performance.
Research and Development – We will continue to improve our products performance, while, 'where possible', including recycled content to meet Government requirements. Recyclability will also be at the forefront of our design criteria when developing new technologies. These should also drive reductions in resources and chemical use.
Procurement – We will continue to develop our procedures to actively seek environmental and social benefits in our procurement processes.
Community – We will continue to engage closely with our local communities, schools, groups, charities and societies to maintain and build upon our existing strong relationships and interactions.