Management Responsibility

The Managing Director acts as the Company's Environmental Officer. It is the responsibility of the Environmental Officer to implement, maintain and modify where necessary, the Company Environmental Policy and to be fully familiar with all relevant legislation and directives concerning environmental issues. Matters arising are discussed and actioned at regular Board Meetings.

All employees including new recruits have a copy of the Company's Environmental Policy which is included within the Staff Handbook.


Company Products

The Company is proud to be involved within the aluminium industry in today's world where we have to be more aware of the impact on the environment of our actions such as global warming and the use of scarce resources. The aluminium industry in constantly striving to reduce any adverse impact that aluminium and its production may have.

Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust and an inexhaustible supply. We are therefore not utilising scarce resources. Whilst the production of original aluminium is energy intensive, aluminium products are recyclable and in the near future, low energy reworking of recycled aluminium will provide an adequate supply of material.

Aluminium recycling has been gaining momentum in recent times and campaigns, such as those for aluminium cans, have been initiated. The recycling process produces no loss of quality or performance; however many times the process occurs. Scrap aluminium has therefore a high value which encourages recycling schemes.

The other major component of our products is the glass. Since April 2002, new legislation brought in through Building Regulation L1 and L2 means that greater energy efficient units have to be used. These units reduce the heat loss and result in the need for less heating in the home. With window installations now falling under Building Regulations, greater control through a system of inspections will mean that the industry as a whole has to comply with the legislation to reduce the effects on the environment. The Government is also to further increase the energy rating requirements of the units which will lead to further benefits.

Other components of our products are often driven by the customer's specification. Where the Company has a choice of components, subject to being competitively priced, the aim is to use the more environmentally friendly product.


Use of Energy

The Company uses little energy in the manufacture of its aluminium products. These in turn are able to be recycled, a process which reduces the energy by 95% compared to that for the production of original aluminium.

The Company has small energy bills but undertakes procedures such as boiler and heater servicing to ensure systems remain efficient. Subject to health and safety, the Company tries to ensure heating or cooling equipment is not used unnecessarily.

It is the objective that all high-mileage Company operated vehicles use only diesel fuel as this is more energy efficient than petroleum. In 2007 the Company intend to start a trial involving the use of LPG in a diesel van and will be considering alternative fuels in the future as these develop more fully.

Employees are asked to plan journeys to make the most efficient use of their travel.

All vehicles are regularly serviced in line with manufacturers' guidelines and legislation to ensure they continue to run as efficient as possible.

The Company seriously considers the CO 2 ratings for new vehicles and aims to purchase lower rating vehicles.


Office Supplies

The Company has limited overheads in the areas of office supplies. Subject to competitive pricing, the Company aims to purchase more environmentally friendly products.

The Company is striving to reduce the demand for paper by greater use of computer technology e.g. to send emails instead of faxes, and expects further savings in the future as the construction industry gradually moves to electronic processes. The Company recycles ink cartridges where possible.


Waste Management - Factories

The Company has an agreement in place with a recycling Company, for the collection of waste and scrap aluminium profile. Recycling is a very important element for the Aluminium industry.

The Company also recycles swarf generated by saws.

All other waste at Company premises is collected, under a licence agreement, by skip weekly. This may include building materials from site which have been brought back to Company premises. The Company is licensed to carry such waste on its vehicles.

Subject to the restrictions on space at our premises, the cost for a small company such as ourselves and the availability of such services, the Company would aim in the future to have as much of its waste recycled, as reasonably practical.


Waste Management - Sites

Materials suitable for recycling are separated on site from other waste materials.

Waste materials from site, suitable for recycling include old aluminium, steel and timber window frames, and glass.

The Company has licence agreements for the disposal of waste from sites by way of skip and ensures that all hazardous waste, for example asbestos, is properly disposed of through authorised sub-contractors.


Customers and Suppliers

All suppliers and sub-contractors are issued with a copy of the Company Environmental Policy and are expected to respond positively to its aims and objectives and to provide Eurowindows Limited with accurate environmental information regarding products supplied to the Company.


Company Environment

It is the objective of Eurowindows Limited to reduce wherever possible the impact of the Company's operations on the local community.

The Company has a policy which allows staff to work at home when possible and practical and is developing computer technology to allow staff to use their office laptops at home "as if in the office". This reduces unnecessary travel, reduces unnecessary hours away from family and reduces the environmental impact of unnecessary travel.


General

Eurowindows Limited actively encourages all its employees to participate in its Environmental Policy and welcomes suggestions on how to improve/minimise the impact of the Company and its products on the environment.

Any potential issues outside the scope of this policy should be advised to the Environmental Officer and will be duly recorded. Where appropriate, changes will be considered for incorporation into the Company Environmental Policy.

Eurowindows Limited will respond positively and honestly to all requests for information on its Environmental Policy or its environmental performance which may be received from customers, consumers, local residents or other interested parties.


For The Future

As part of our programme of continual improvement Eurowindows aims to achieve the following:

•  The possibility of the implementation of an employee awareness raising scheme, to ensure all employees and sub-contractors are informed of their environmental responsibilities and to promote dialogue aimed at improving existing working practice, specifically regarding our use of transport, energy consumption and waste disposal.

•  Continued investigation of the environmental effect of our regularly purchased materials in order to continually improve the insulating properties and longevity of the products we promote and to ensure that we minimise our use of hazardous substances.

•  Monitoring and continued supervision of existing working practises which aim to ensure that work is conducted safely and in a tidy and systematic manner, in order to minimise the risk of pollution.

•  Continue to reduce the CO 2 ratings of the Company fleet and reduce unnecessary travel, in order to optimise the environmental impact of existing practices which aim to minimise mileage.

•  Continue to encourage metal suppliers to manufacture products out of recycled materials