CSR Report (p2)

2. Environment

Policy
To promote and improve throughout the Group the benefits of efficient usage of energy and water.

Actions
Recycling processes have been in use in the Group for many years. Recycled materials and those that minimise negative environmental impacts are used wherever possible. A steadily increasing proportion of the packaging, paper, toner cartridges and cartons used by the Group’s operations is recycled after use and in many cases biodegradable packaging is used.

It is in the interests of the environment and in the financial interests of the Group to make the most efficient and responsible use of energy. The practice of responsible resource and energy management through reduced consumption and the encouragement of energy and water efficiency is widespread throughout the Group’s operations world-wide.

In previous years’ annual reports the Group has reported on developments during those years.

Developments during 2004 included:
Vinten continues to refine and develop its Environmental Management System, taking into account appropriate best practices. Vinten strives to improve consumption of materials in all operations and to reduce, rather than have to dispose of, waste wherever possible and to promote recycling and the use of recycled materials. Vinten works in partnership with its suppliers to minimise the impact of operations through a quality purchasing policy and recycling through suppliers. Vinten also uses a recycling system that covers paper, cans and plastic cups and has an ongoing water-efficiency programme.

Also in 2004, Vinten changed the protective finish on fasteners and screws from zinc plate to an organic protective finish. Soldering fume extraction was improved in robotics assembly areas and trials in the use of lead free solder were successfully completed. Waste paper recycling was extended to the whole of the Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk site and printer cartridges were also recycled. The viewing windows on machine tools were replaced to comply with safety regulations. Vinten also implemented a system of controlled disposal of used electrical equipment.

During 2005, Vinten increased the recycling of waste paper, printer cartridges and obsolete mobile phones from the office areas. Office equipment that became obsolete was donated to schools and colleges.

During 2005, Drake and Vinten in the UK continued implementation of EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) started during 2004. The UK manufacturing facilities are compliant in the control and management of waste arising from the production process and facilities waste. Management of disposal of returned used end of life, electronic and electrical products from customers will be in place in accordance with the effective date of the directive.

Restriction of Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) comes into effect on 1 July 2006. This has involved analysing in-house and third party supplied components to ensure they do not contain restricted levels of specified materials harmful to the environment. The aim is to phase out, as quickly as possible, the use of lead free solder and other components. Close monitoring is taking place to ensure compliance with the directive by the appropriate implementation dates, depending on the categorisation of the products.

Clear-Com in the USA, although not covered by EU legislation, is taking the same responsible approach to waste electrical and electronic equipment and to restricting its use of certain hazardous substances such as solder containing lead. Cardboard and toner cartridges are also recycled by Clear-Com. Cardboard and paper recycling has already been implemented. Toner cartridges are recycled either by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, a charity wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer, or through local vendors.

There is a continued reduction by Vitec Group Communications in the use of bubble wrap and polystyrene chippings facilitated by the increased use of bespoke packaging.

At our Bury and Cambridge manufacturing sites in the UK (this information is relevant also for Sachtler which is supplied by these sites), a waste management initiative commenced during 2005. Working with WAS Waste Management specific types of waste are segregated and disposed of through traceable routes to enable optimum environmental handling and compliance with relevant legislation, including WEEE.

In conjunction with the Carbon Trust, a government funded consultancy; the following recommendations have been implemented at Bury and Cambridge:

  • Reduction of overnight heating temperature through improved thermostatic controls.
  • Improved temperature controls for air conditioning units.
  • Improved insulation of the offices.
  • Heat recovery from the flue gas from the paint-curing oven and exhausts from the compressor.
  • Installation of motion sensors to automatically switch lighting off when areas are not being used.
  • Installation of passive infrared switching of security lighting in outside areas.

At our Costa Rica facility all recyclable waste; aluminium, plastics, cardboard are collected and disposed of by a registered recycling company. That facility now uses a high proportion of bio-degradable packaging and has reduced the use of cardboard. In 2005 we achieved a significant reduction in our facilities costs, the above actions have contributed to this.

A number of the machining processes in our Italian subsidiary, Manfrotto, have introduced de-greasing of components by using automatic washing with hot water in place of using compressed air to clean components prior to assembly. This reduces repetitive operator actions and noise levels. The water used in the process has no detergent added. The metal filings cleaned from the components fall away by means of gravity and are collected and recycled. The oil cleaned from the components is also collected and recycled. The water is used for a number of cleaning cycles until it becomes dirty and it is then disposed of by an approved disposal organisation.

Anton/Bauer continues to be an active member of the battery recycling scheme in conjunction with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). Anton/Bauer pays licensing fees to the RBRC, a non-profit public service organisation created to promote the recycling of portable batteries, and places the RBRC seal on its products. In 2005 Anton/Bauer forwarded more than 31,000 pounds of nickel cadmium, lithium ion and nickel metal hydride batteries returned to the company for recycling. Anton/Bauer also is a member of the PRBA (Portable Recharging Battery Association) whose mission is to provide leadership in obtaining consistent domestic and international solutions to environmental and other selected issues affecting the use, recycling and disposal of small sealed rechargeable batteries. Anton/Bauer now uses energy saving lightbulbs in all areas and lead free bulbs with low mercury content. They also continue to recycle cardboard and toner cartridges and all heating systems use timers for energy saving during non-working hours.

In 2003 Drake introduced the use of standard thickness packaging by switching from tri-wall to double-wall packing to reduce cardboard use. The use of bespoke packaging also reduced the use of bubble wrap and polystyrene chippings. Drake continues to reduce the use of bubble wrap and polystyrene chippings by increasing its use of bespoke packaging. Cardboard, paper and toner cartridges are each separately recycled.

OConnor continues to recycle the remnant ink from its printers and photocopier, use energy saving light bulbs, use electronic timers for heating and air conditioning units, and to recycle all of its machine cutting chips and scrap metal. OConnor’s waste materials and liquids are collected by a waste management company for disposal. Deburr particles are separated from process liquid by a cyclonic separator and properly disposed of; the liquid is then reused. All of OConnor’s product packaging is made of recycled materials.

OConnor uses recycling schemes for its potentially flammable metals and hazardous oils utilising outside agencies such as the State of California Environmental Protection Agency.

Energy usage 2005 2004
Electricity usage (in kilowatt hours) 8,904,922 8,344,586
Gas usage (in kilowatt hours) 7,091,551 7,133,146
Water usage (in cubic metres) 28,639 39,982

Compared with 2004, the Group’s electricity usage has increased. This is primarily due to increased activity at our Photographic manufacturing units in Italy and at Broadcast Systems manufacturing in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Gas usage has marginally decreased when compared with 2004. Water consumption has also reduced. Note that the usage figures for 2004 have been restated to reflect more accurate information gathering. The figures do not include the acquisition during the year.

Information correct at 03/05/2006