Sustainability
Our Philosophy
At Zenith we recognise our responsibilities to operate in a manner which minimises the impact we have on the environment and to ensure our operations are as sustainable as possible.
We have an in house team responsible for the companies environmental performance which is chaired by our CEO to ensure a top down approach. This helps us communicate our procedures and policies to all levels of the company.
As a proud member of Sedex, we share our audit reports amongst our customers and suppliers. We’re also proactive in the using the platform to monitor the audit results and ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) performance of our suppliers to ensure we’re only dealing with credible and responsible companys who share the same views on the Environment, its sustainability and the welfare of our workforce.
Carbon Footprint
As a carbon assessed business, Zenith have been awarded the first trench of the internationally recognised Carbon Footprint Standard. Our first data set has been independently analysed and this will now provide us with a base year in which we can measure future performance against.
As a result we have now created targets and objectives to help make carbon reductions. These will be monitored by our ESG Committee, who meet quarterly to discuss progress. Some of the measures we’ve taken to date include monitoring the driving performance of our fleet, avoiding multiple part deliveries, reducing our energy consumption and planting trees.
Our efforts will reduce the carbon footprint of our products and the company as a whole, giving our customers peace of mind that their using an environmentally responsible supplier.
Responsible Sourcing
When procuring goods and services we are very conscious about who it is we’re dealing with and how they manage their supply chains. All procurement must be carried out in an ethical, sustainable and socially conscious manner.
99% of our paper & board is certified to either FSC® or PEFC standards. This ensures that Zenith is supporting sustainably managed forests.
In addition to this, we also promote the use of Carbon Balanced papers, an initiative that offsets the carbon emissions which have been generated from its production.
Did you Know? Trees aren’t cut down specifically to make paper. The main use is for construction materials and furniture. Paperboard is then made from the leftovers, ensuring all of the tree is put to use.
One of our major material producers are Holmen Iggesund. They have an exceptional focus and drive towards sustainability which is backed by international accreditations, including an EcoVadis Platinum Rating.
Energy Management
Good energy management is viewed as a high priority and is practised throughout the company. Our continuous investment in the latest manufacturing equipment helps to keep us productive and energy efficient.
We have taken several measures throughout our buildings to reduce energy consumption where possible, including the installation of LED lighting, automatic light switches and power saving policies on our IT equipment.
We’ve most recently invested in a cooling system which utilises the external ambient temperature to cool water coming out of our printing presses before it enters our chillers. This results in a lower entry temperature to the cooler, providing a 14% energy saving based on our total site usage.
While the above helps us reduce consumption we also ensure that our electricity procurement comes from carbon free sources. This represents a mix of both renewable and nuclear power, however we are currently in the process of surveying our properties for solar installation, starting with our largest consuming site in Pontypool.
The solar installation would potentially provide around 20% of the electricity used which equates to roughly 440,000 kWh annually. During periods of shut down any excess power would be diverted to the National Grid.