We’re very proud to announce that we’ve now achieved the status of a carbon neutral company, verified by an independent third party (NQA) in accordance with PAS 2060:2014.
Our environmental commitments are at the core of our business operations; all of our actions have an impact on the environment, and we’re constantly striving to reduce that impact and create lasting change for us and our clients.
What did we do to become carbon neutral?
Achieving carbon neutrality has been a long term goal of ours, building on our ISO 14001 certification and carbon reduction plans.
Gaining independent verification of carbon neutrality is the result of a significant project for our compliance and accounts departments, as well as a rigorous auditing process that verified our carbon footprint (the emissions we create as a company), our carbon reduction efforts and work with pre-validated offset schemes. So far, Shredall SDS Group has offset a total equivalent of 1,240 tonne(s) of CO2 emissions via wind power and hydropower projects overseas.
Whilst offsetting our emissions however we’re making many efforts to reduce the carbon we emit too. For example, our power is provided through zero carbon, 100% renewable resources meaning we can confidently report that we make no carbon emissions from our electricity. We have also installed LED lighting in our newly-refurbished secure document storage warehouse.
Richard Walsh, Principal Assessor Environment & Energy at NQA comments,
I would like to congratulate Shredall SDS Group for the diligent manner in which the company’s carbon footprint was drawn up and for the commitment to retain this status going forward. It was a pleasure to work with the Shredall SDS Group team on this verification process and as the lead verifier I look forward to working with them again in 2023.
What is carbon neutrality and why is it important?
To become carbon neutral, a company or product must balance the amount of carbon they emit, versus the amount that they absorb. To achieve carbon neutrality, businesses such as Shredall SDS Group must offset their carbon emissions, as well as reduce the environmental impact of their day to day activities and avoid activities that produce excessive carbon emissions.
Under PAS 2060:2014, Carbon offsetting typically involves projects that help to capture an equivalent CO2 tonne from the atmosphere, just as we have with the wind power projects mentioned above. Carbon neutrality aligns with holistic action towards reducing climate change, ultimately aiming to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and the global temperature, which all businesses should be aiming to achieve.
Carbon reduction and offsetting will continue to work together in line with our commitment to on-going carbon neutrality and net zero, with reliance on offsets reducing year on year – an absolute requirement of PAS 2060:2014 and part of what attracted us to this specification in the first place.
Please visit our article on carbon offsetting and how businesses can start carbon offsetting to find out more.
Who are the NQA?
The NQA is a global certification body, and a leading independent provider of environmental simulation testing, inspection and certification. They work with small businesses and charities, as well as world famous brands such as NASA, to advise them on how to become better performers in departments such as environment, energy and sustainability management.
Their philosophy is to never stop improving, which is why we were incredibly privileged to have them audit our carbon footprint. By gaining accreditation through the NQA, our carbon neutrality is in accordance with PAS 2060:2014, which is inline with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helping to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions globally.
This means we can provide our customers with impartial verification and evidence of our environmental claims, demonstrate our sustainable services and brand, and reduce the risk of green-washing claims.
Learn more about how we can help you
We are proud of our achievements in sustainability, but we’re always striving to make ours, and our customer's businesses greener. If carbon neutrality and reduced environmental impact is one of your business goals, we can help you aim to achieve this with a number of our services:
- Confidential paper recycling and cardboard recycling, of which 100% gets recycled
- Hard Drive and computer recycling, with no landfill waste
- WEEE recycling that protects your data and prevents e-waste
- All of the above supplied with a waste transfer certificate to ensure compliance
For more information on our recycling services or to find out more about our environmental commitment, please feel free to get in touch today.
