Sustainability & Environment

Climate change seems like a challenge that is too daunting even for world governments but if we all do something the overall impact will help change our world for the better. Camlab has approached climate change in the same way we approach all our challenges. We measure and analyse and then look for ways to improve our processes to effect the change we want. 

Camlab has worked hard since the introduction of  ISO14001 to dramatically affect the emissions we create. We have significantly reduced the emissions we create by 63% since 2013. This represents a 29% reduction (61.23 tonnes) as at 2019 with covid having an impact in 2020 and 2021 with reduced travel.

Our approach is to identify each business area / process that generates significant emissions and then we create plans to address those areas. There are currently 4 primary areas which we have identified as key – electricity & gas, company cars, other business travel and waste.

Each of these areas have had specific actions taken to analyse, understand and then address the impacts as below:

Camlab has worked hard since the introduction of  ISO14001 to dramatically affect the emissions we create. We have significantly reduced the emissions we create by 63% since 2013. This represents a 29% reduction (61.23 tonnes) as at 2019 with covid having an impact in 2020 and 2021 with reduced travel.

Our approach is to identify each business area / process that generates significant emissions and then we create plans to address those areas. There are currently 4 primary areas which we have identified as key – electricity & gas, company cars, other business travel and waste.

Each of these areas have had specific actions taken to analyse, understand and then address the impacts as below:

• Electricity – We had solar panels installed on our business premises roof in 2014. This has produced 114MW per annum* compared to our consumption of 106MW* giving us a typically self sustainability figure of over 100%, with surplus energy fed back into the grid. Solar and LED lighting with motion sensor detectors have been installed throughout our premises to reduce unecessasry power waste when not required.
• Gas – Air sourced heat pumps were installed on site to reduce the gas boiler usage with the heat pumps being run by solar generated electricity.
• Other business travel – linked into the above we have reduced travel by operating more remote meetings. COVID has accelerated this programme and we now expect a much greater portion of meetings to be held remotely, as well as adopting a hybrid home/office working model going forward, thus avoiding large amounts of staff travel.

*latest 12 months of data taken 30th April 2023

• Company cars – Our fleet has largely now converted to electric / hybrid vehicles greatly reducing fuel usage. We also provide free of charge charging points for all staff for use outside of the company car scheme.

• Waste - a large portion of our shipments out are now packaged using recycled boxes. We have also taken steps to ensure any waste is recycled where possible. Our approach is to re-use, reduce, recycle or replace. 

And more...

Since we have made significant progress with the above areas we are now continuing our drive in the following indirect areas:

• Camlab are working with our UK based supply chain to minimise dual handling and dual delivery of a wide range of products. We remain able to reflect stocks available within our business system but the product remains at the UK manufacturer until required when it is then delivered direct to the customer.
• Camlab have implemented a robust but effective work from home policy for all our office based employees (24 staff). This means that an employee can choose which days of any week they wish to work from home or from the office. Most employees have moved from a 5 day week in the office to a 2 day week in the office. This saves 127,670 miles of travel to and from the office per year.

At Camlab alongside our ISO 14001 certification we are continually looking at ways we can reduce our impact on the environment. Our employee and engagement coordinators work with staff to continually come up with new and innovative ideas and this has continued throughout 2020 with planting flowers to encourage wildlife, through to more flexible working from home arrangements.  You can view our environmental statement here.

It is hoped that our environmental management system provides long term benefits to the company, the working environment, local community and the world in general.   

 Camlab is currently taking a leading role with our trade body GAMBICA to help other companies in our industry learn from our initiatives in a n effort to improve the whole sectors performance.

This certificate created by Crown Gas & Power (a registered biogas provider) confirms that Camlab Ltd is purchasing RGGO certified biogas (green gas) at these premises during the supply period: 1st January 2023 - 30th September 2024.

Biogas (green gas) produces significantly lower carbon emissions than its fossil fuel equivalent. Biogas is created using a natural process called Anaerobic Digestion (AD) in which organic material is broken down by bacteria to create methane (gas). Every kWh of biogas displaces a kWh of fossil fuel, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a better world. 

Download our full sustainability document here - Camlabs Sustainability Document