Social & Environmental
Trainspotters is perennially committed to having a positive social and environmental impact. Better Business is at the heart of who we are and what we do.
“Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance”. Ban Ki-Moon
SOCIAL IMPACT
Trainspotters is committed to improving its social impact through charitable giving, focussing on three distinct areas:
Social & Environmental Transformation
Strength in Community
Democracy & Human Rights
“A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful”. Charles W. Pickering
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Trainspotters’ Environmental Policy follows three guiding principles:
Lighting for life
Design-led not cost-driven
Sustainability with style
Trainspotters started out dealing in nothing but reclaimed fixtures and fittings and a significant proportion of its lighting is still reclaimed and reused. This lighting is designed to last for generations. Sustainability and re-use is something that has always been hardwired into our thinking and it always will be.
Buying Policy
Wherever possible we buy recycled, sustainable products and use ethical services. This applies to both our stock and our workplace. Our salvaged (reclaimed) stock inherently ticks these boxes. For our new stock we are lucky to be working directly with manufacturers allowing us to build in efficiencies throughout the production process thereby minimising the environmental impact. For example, our glass products are made using 20% recycled glass in furnaces that are fitted with heat exchangers that save 20% on energy consumption. Being designers and producers (rather than re-sellers) ensures we have input throughout the production chain.
Although offering a personalised service, we do not design and manufacture to order based on trends, which ensures significant efficiencies to production and transportation and allows customers to buy the same design over and over.
We strive to be a paperless office, using technology to bypass the need for waste paper production. We seek to work with either ethically conscious or BCorp companies, locally wherever possible.
Product Packaging
In September 2019 we gained SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) Plastic Free Champion status, meaning we have eliminated single use plastic from our business. More information can be found here. Our products arrive packed in a combination of cardboard boxing, paper wrapping and cushioning, paper bags, paper tape, gummed paper tape reinforced with natural filament. Around 85% of our packaging is made from recycled materials and 100% of our packaging is recyclable by our customers. These packaging products are FSC certified and certificates can be provided on request. We will always adapt to future sustainable technology that becomes available for our packaging and shipping solutions.
Energy Consumption
Trainspotters aims to reduce energy consumption and employs various energy saving measures such as, computers and monitors are switched off when not in use, monitors use a low energy screen saver, electronic equipment including computers, lights and machinery is switched off when the premises are not in use, windows & doors are kept closed in the winter to avoid the loss of heat, LED bulbs are fitted throughout our premises and lastly, happy to do it the old-fashioned way – we just put our coats on rather than turning the thermostat up!
Future energy considerations include the installation of a PV array on the roof of New Mills to produce more than the company requires in clean renewable energy, providing a surplus over and above the business’ electricity requirements that can be fed straight back to the grid.
Reuse & Recycling
Inbound and outbound re-use includes, approximately 40% of our present stock is reclaimed/ salvaged and reused, boxes and void filler on incoming goods are saved and reused on outgoing goods, or recycled, timber pallets and crates are adapted and reused to deliver globally
Through our business operations, we also recycle paper & cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminium & mixed metals, batteries, lightbulbs and food waste.
Transport
At Trainspotters, 85% of our deliveries worldwide are conducted by DPD, selected for their Carbon Neutral policy. Some carbon offsetting is required by DPD however it is a big step in the right direction. More info can be found here We constantly re-evaluate our courier options and will move to more carbon efficient options as and when they become available, with sustainability trumping cost in our evaluation process.
On a local level we have installed a bike store at our premises and actively encourage staff to cycle through the Cycle to Work scheme. More info can be found here. In 2021 we completed the installation of two Electric Vehicle Charging Points and in 2022 we welcomed our first electric hybrid works vehicle.
Going Forward
After a period of time consolidating our manufactured re-makes, the company’s refreshed focus is to expand the reclaimed lighting range with reuse being one of the most environmentally beneficial things we can be involved in.
Trainspotters commissioned a Carbon Footprinting exercise as part of the BCorp Impact Assessment process and alongside attaining BCorp Certification in 2023, the result of exercise allows us to consider further offsetting to improve our environmental impact even more.