Millmead Optical Group - Sustainability Report - October22

PAGE TITLE
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
OCTOBER 2022
1

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our business is committed to
becoming a major player in sustainable
eyewear, lenses and accessories
for the optical industry.
We have already implemented many changes across our
companies, brands and platforms to ensure that we are
taking the necessary steps to a more sustainable future.
Our mission is to find new ways of working to improve
the impact that our business, and the wider industry,
has on the environment.
2

PAGE TITLE
Changes to
our BUSINESS
3

CHANGES TO OUR OFFICE
LED LIGHTING RECYCLE WASTE WASTE HANDLING
We have implemented LED lighting
throughout our head office in
Liverpool, which ensures our lighting
has an 80-90% efficiency.
LED lighting consumes less power
and reduces greenhouse emissions,
as well as being highly reliable.
LED lighting is also the closest alternative
to natural light and can increase energy
levels, improve mood and increase
production in the workplace.
All cardboard and paper waste
is recycled, helping to reduce
the amount going to the landfill.
By reducing the amount of waste
that goes to landfill, the quantity
of greenhouse gases emitted into the
atmosphere is also reduced.
Recycled cardboard can be used
for many different purposes, such
as cereal boxes, paper towels,
tissues and paperboard.
We compact all of our waste within
our Liverpool Head Office.
This helps us to reduce our carbon
footprint by recycling more and sending
less to the landfill.
It takes up less space than a regular
bin solution, as it reduces the volume
of waste by up to 90%. It ensures there
are no overflowing of rubbish bins
and no nasty smells.
4

CHANGES ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS
FSC
CERTIFIED PAPER
OFFICE
CONSUMABLES
THERMAL
EFFICIENCY
We are implementing a rolling change
across all packaging and marketing
materials used by our United Kingdom
and overseas operations.
We use either recycled or ethically
sourced FSC Certified Paper, and
stationery such as business cards
are made from recycled textiles.
We work with an accredited
AATF partner to recycle
all our used cartridges.
Therefore we not only comply with
WEEE Directive best practice, we are
also supportive of the environment by
not compromising general waste streams.
We are replacing single glazed with
double glazed windows to improve
thermal efficiency.
We are also making substantial
investments to improve the
insulation (R-value) of our factory roof.
Together these will reduce the
energy/carbon usage of our buildings.
5

CHANGES TO OUR OFFICE
WATER BOTTLES
We have distributed reusable
water bottles to all staff to reduce the
overall usage of plastic water bottles
within our offices.
The organisation that we have
purchased these from, Moon Bottles,
has teamed up with Eden Reforestation
Project to plant 5 trees for every bottle
sold and they donate 10% of their
annual profits to restore forests and
help communities in poverty.
COMMUNICATION
AND OPERATIONS
We use virtual conferencing Zoom or Teams,
both are efficient and reduce carbon
consumption by reducing the need for travel.
We encourage our sales team to drive hybrid cars
and plan their journeys to minimise overall travel.
Sustainability is consistently on the agenda
of all board meetings, management meetings
and works council meetings.
For office staff, we plan to introduce a bike to
work scheme and are building a bike shed.
RECYCLING CHAMPION
In June 2021, we appointed a
Recycling/Sustainability
Champion - Graeme Hasson.
He is passionate about recycling
and ensures we are doing all we can
to be as sustainable as possible.
His first action of his new role was to
enrol the business as an ISCC
Association Member.
6

PAGE TITLE
Changes to
our products
7

CHANGES TO OUR PRODUCTS
LENS EDGING
MACHINES
GLAZED PACKAGE
SERVICE
RECYCLABLE CARDBOARD
JEWELLERY BOXES
MADE IN
THE UK
We use MEI machines for the
majority of our lens edging.
These machines do not use
water and therefore avoid potential
micro plastic contamination
of our oceans.
Our new glazed package
service substantially reduces
carbon footprint by
reducing the number
of shipments.
We have introduced
recyclable cardboard
jewellery boxes and rPET
jewellery pouches
for retailers.
We began manufacturing rPET
spectacle cases in the UK, in
October 2021.
Manufacturing in the UK helps
to reduce lead-in times and
The fabric used for the pouches
offers a robust solution
Our MEI machines also
(rPET) is made from
during any potential
do not use blocking
recycled plastic bottles.
supply chain disruption caused
pads or blocks, reducing the
by off-shore production.
need for single use plastic.
8

CHANGES TO POST & PACKAGING
SHIPPING
BOXES
CONSOLIDATED
DELIVERIES
PRODUCT POLYBAGS
AND LENS ENVELOPES
All our cardboard boxes we use are
made from recycled cardboard.
They can also be recycled after use but
better still, they are all
suitable for secondary use!
We began consolidating frame,
lens and case deliveries at the start of 2022
to reduce our carbon footprint and
save costs for our customers.
We have implemented a rolling
change to our frames, lenses and
accessory polybags and product
packaging, to ensure where possible,
they are made from recycled materials.
We also use recycled and fully
biodegradable paper packing tape.
9

OPTOPLAST SUSTAIN
In January 2021 we launched Optoplast
Sustain, a brand new eco collection.
Featuring a range of cloths and cases carefully crafted from a material
called recycled polyethylene terephthalate, otherwise known as rPET.
rPET is created by recycling previously used plastic bottles and giving them
a new purpose. The collection features felt effect cases and a
microfibre style fabric cloth bag.
SAVE NATURAL RESOURCES
REDUCE POLLUTION
GOODBYE SINGLE USE
REDUCE WASTE
CREATES AWARENESS
Each case or cloth has been named after some of the most beautiful coral
reefs from around the world that are being impacted by plastic pollution.
10

SUSTAINABLE CASES
After a significant capital investment,
Optoplast is pleased to say that a
secelction of the of rPET cases have been
manufactured in the UK since October
2021.
This investment in the Liverpool facility will enable us to offer a range
of spectacle cases with several benefits:
QUICKER PRODUCTION TIMES
REDUCTION IN CARBON FOOTPRINT
OVERCOME POTENTIAL SUPPLY CHAIN
DISRUPTION
11

ACCREDITATIONS
CERTIFICATION STATUS
July 2021
CERTIFICATION STATUS
RPET materials are certified
We are now a ISCC Association Member.
ISCC works towards a more sustainable world
with regards to the following:
Implementation of zero deforestation
Protection of land with high biodiversity value and high carbon stock
Protection of soil, water and air
Compliance with human, labour and land rights
Measurement and reduction of green house gas emissions
Traceability throughout supply chains
Integration of small holders in international supply chains
Compliance with laws and international treaties
Good management practices
The GRS is intended to meet the needs of companies looking to
verify the recycled content of their products (both finished and
intermediate) and to verify responsible social, environmental
and chemical practices in their production.
The objectives of the GRS are to define requirements to ensure
accurate content claims and good working conditions, and
that harmful environmental and chemical impacts are minimised.
This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting,
dyeing and printing and stitching in more than 50 countries.
12

ACCREDITATIONS
CERTIFICATION STATUS
3-6 Months
CERTIFICATION STATUS
1-2 months
CERTIFICATION STATUS
In Process of Auditing
ISO 14001 sets the standard for Environmental
Management Systems. We are aiming to gain this
certification to reduce waste management costs
and demonstrate our commitment
to protecting the environment.
Implementing this global standard will also help
our organisation comply with increasingly
stringent environmental laws and regulations,
as well as building trust with customers
and other stakeholders.
We have been awarded
Certified B Corporation in principal and are
currently awaiting final confirmation,
which is anticipated shortly.
Certified B Corporations are businesses that
meet the highest standards of verified social
and environmental performance, public
transparency, and legal accountability
to balance profit and purpose.
B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift
to redefine success in business and build a more
inclusive and sustainable economy.
The mission of the Carbon Trust is to
accelerate the delivery of a sustainable,
low carbon economy by helping businesses,
governments and organisations across the
globe to reduce carbon
emissions and achieve
greater resource efficiency.
13

FUTURE PROJECTS
RECYCLED PLASTIC
DEMO LENSES
We are implementing the
change to using recycled
demo lenses in all future
production.
LENS RECYCLING/REUSING
We are looking into a solution for
lens waste – demo lenses, waste
from edging and surfacing.
We aim to have a
solution by late 2022.
POINT OF SALE
We are adapting our POS offering
to be more sustainable.
As a rolling change, we will not be producing
any point of sale material using virgin plastic.
Where possible, we aim to use recycled plastic
or ethically source wood or metal.
OFFSETTING CARBON FOOTPRINT
We are constantly researching
ways in which we can offset
our carbon footprint and
are engaged extensively
with the Carbon Trust.
14

CONTACT INFORMATION
Liverpool Head Office
83 Sefton Lane
Maghull
Liverpool
L31 8BU
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)151 526 2626
Email: info@millmeadopticalgroup.com
www.millmeadopticalgroup.com
15