Environmental Policy

PRINCIPLES & ORGANISATION

Kardex Systems UK Limited conducts its operations in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations with the objectives of avoiding the creation of any unacceptable risks to the environment and promoting pro-active environmental management.  To achieve these aims, we are committed to:

• Adopting our own standards where laws or regulations may not be adequately protective or where laws do not exist.
• Assuring that environmental laws and regulations applicable to our products and operations are known and obeyed.
• Working constructively with suppliers and sub-contractors to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.
• Identifying and controlling public health and environmental hazards stemming from waste products.

To ensure this policy is implemented correctly it is driven and enforced by the Health, Safety & Environmental Committee.  In addition, departmental managers and their staff have an obligation to keep informed about environmental issues relating to their operations, and to advise the Health, Safety & Environmental Committee of any adverse situation which comes to their attention which they are unable to address and/or which needs to be specifically incorporated into our Environmental Policy.

Implementation of this Policy requires us to:

• Initiate ongoing pollution control and waste minimisation by reducing the levels of emissions and volume of waste disposal.
• Conduct periodic surveys of waste disposal and transport companies to verify compliance with statutory and local regulations.
• Investigate the environmental management and control of public health hazards adopted by our suppliers.

Our German based manufacturing company, Bellheimer Metallwerk GmbH, is fully accredited with DIN EN ISO 14001, EU-system for eco-management and eco-audit which, amongst many things, addresses and controls material consumption, water consumption, energy consumption, and waste management during the manufacturing and packing processes.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS

To ensure that our Environmental Policy remains relevant to our operations and takes into account the latest legal requirements, periodic reviews are carried out by the Health, Safety & Environmental Committee at least once a year.  These reviews are recorded and retained for reference.  If required, the Environmental Policy is then updated and re-issued.

PRODUCT LIFE-CYCLE

During our product/service life-cycle, no hazardous emissions are produced and neither is there any requirement for special handling arrangements.  As such, no special environmental hazard warning labels are needed on our products.  As our operations and products do not normally require the use of substances which fall under the COSHH regulations, no environmental hazard arrangements are needed during installation, service or maintenance.

MATERIAL CONSUMPTION

Our operations do not entail the use of raw materials as we are not a manufacturer.  As such, there is no need for controls in this respect.

With regard to operating materials, where possible, recycled materials are used.

WATER CONSUMPTION

Our operations do not require regular use of water other than for toilet and refreshment facilities.  Therefore, there is no need for controls in this area.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

• Florescent lighting is kept on all day as it is more energy efficient than repeatedly switching on.
• Computers systems are powered down when not in use, including lunch breaks.
• The heating system is regularly serviced to provide efficient heating with minimum energy wastage.  The system is controlled by thermostats and a timer to prevent overuse.

NOISE CONTROL

Our operations do not produce noise levels which would require the use of controls.

POLLUTION

•  Electrical and diesel forklift trucks are regularly serviced to ensure efficient operation, and to ensure diesel emissions are within legally prescribed limits.
• When vehicles in our car fleet are replaced at the end of their contract, the replacement decision includes a balance between environmental factors with regard to fuel type, and economic factors.  Regular servicing maintains emissions within legally prescribed limits.
• Vehicle use is kept to a minimum to reduce the use of fuel and thus exhaust emissions.
• All detergents used must be biodegradable.
• Use of aerosols containing propellants which damage the ozone layer are forbidden.
• Vertical carousel Fire Protection Systems which use Halogen gas are no longer supplied.  Only Fire Protection Systems using Inergen and FM200 are supplied.  Where requested, we will remove Halogen from existing customer’s premises (at a cost) and then dispose of it via a licensed third party.

PACKAGING WASTE

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 have been fully implemented, with all responsibilities being duly executed.