Sustainability

Sustainability is a key focus for SLS evidenced by our ISO:14001 environmental management standard accreditation and we firmly believe today's scientific industry should play a lead role in protecting the environment to help ensure a sustainable future. Scientific Laboratory Supplies is committed to making clear our objectives and achievements in this area to both our customers and suppliers. Our Environmental Policy statement and EMS-Manual can be viewed here.

As part of this commitment we are pleased to be able to detail our 2011 results:

2011 ISO:14001 Objectives Result

Objective:	To reduce delivery based vehicle emissions by 10% or 34 tonnes
Result:	Against a background of growing business with a 20% increase in mileage and an 8% increase in orders despatched, we can confirm that average emissions per vehicle were reduced by 10% from 35.1 tonnes to 31.9 tonnes. Total vehicle emissions also dropped by 23 tonnes to 319 tonnes, a reduction of 7% and, whilst we recognise that this is below the 10% target we set, overall vehicular emissions were impacted by the increase in mileage and the need to add an additional van to the fleet. Fuel consumption also improved by 30% from an average 4.35 miles per litre in 2010 to 5.65 miles per litre in 2011, this and the reduction in CO2 emissions both reflect the benefits associated with investing in a new fleet of speed limited Mercedes Sprinter vans during 2011.
Objective:	To reduce site energy consumptions by 5%
Result:	2011 energy consumption was reduced by 57% in 2011 as a result of investing in improvements to the heating system and the building insulation. This has also had an impact on non vehicular CO2 emissions which reduced by 20% from a total of 153 tonnes to 123.7 tonnes. This makes for a combined annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 52 tonnes or 10%.
Objective:	Increase pipette tip box recycling by 50%
Result:	Tip box recycling increased from 79 tonnes to 105 tonnes or 25% against a target of 50%
Objective:	Increase WEEE collections by 50%
Result:	WEEE collections increased from 2.6 tonnes to 2.9 tonnes, an increase of 10% and against a target of 50%

2012 ISO:14001 objectives:

Background:

SLS is an expanding business and, during the latter part of 2011, acquired an additional 9,000 sq. feet of adjacent warehousing which has enabled us to increase our storage capacity by 40%. This investment programme has driven a number of benefits including improvements in the flow of goods within the warehouse and our ability to centralise externally stored stocks reducing both the costs and the environmental impact associated with additional warehouse movements. In order that we can reflect the impact of the increase in storage area and normalise comparative energy and none vehicular emission data, 2012 measurements will be made as KWH or Kg CO2 per 1,000 sq. Feet.

2012 Objectives:

• To reduce van fleet fuel consumption by 3%
• To reduce energy consumption at the National Distribution Centre by 5% on a comparative basis to account for warehouse expansion
• To recycle 70% of all general waste generated at the National distribution centre, Nottingham

We have chosen to focus our 2012 objectives on those areas over which we have a direct control and influence. Both WEEE and pipette tip box recycling remain very important to us and are services we actively promote and encourage our customers to utilise. However, since these will always be a matter of customer choice we have excluded them from our measurable objectives.

Recycling and Waste services available from SLS include:

• WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection service *
• Pipette tip box Recycling service
• Packaging Collection service
• Chemical/Hazardous Waste collection and treatment service* - click here to find out more
• Empty chemical bottles*
• Household batteries
• Out of date (unused) consumables
• Paper catalogues

* service will be chargeable dependent upon quotation. Service may be provided by a third party waste management company.