Page 32 - Vaculug

A CIRCULAR & SUSTAINABLE WBUSINESS MODEL
e endeavour to be a responsible global corporate citizen and we value harmony with the environment.
At Vaculug, the three R’s of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle are all rolled into a fourth R that is at
the core of our business – Retreading. The practice of retreading, in and of itself, is a sustainable practice that saves millions of tyres from ending up in landfill each year.
As a zero-landfill operation, we are proud
of our efforts to minimise our impact on the planet by diverting unusable tyres and rubber- waste, and sending them to be repurposed
for other uses that benefit and create value
for our broader communities.
TRACKING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT
Carbon footprint
We are committed to becoming a carbon net-zero (scope 1 and 2) company by 2030.
To reduce our carbon footprint, we focus on all aspects of the supply chain. Our greatest contribution to carbon reduction is achieved through the process of retreading itself, which generates 70% less carbon dioxide than producing a new tyre.
Through our retreading and recycling efforts we are making progress to minimise our environmental impact by reducing our carbon footprint. Over the last two decades, we have tracked our tyre carbon footprint in relation to our energy consumption (gas, electricity, diesel).
Between the period of 2003 to 2020, our tyre carbon footprint was reduced by 20%, resulting in 39.29 CO2 per tyre in 2020 versus 50.04 CO2 in 2003.
It is important to note that while we saw an even further CO2 reduction in 2021 (30.26 CO2 per tyre), we recognise this is partly due to reduction in operations due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. So far in 2022, with recovery well underway across most industries, our CO2 tracking is closer to pre-pandemic outputs.
To further reduce our company carbon footprint and impact on the environment, we are also plugging into innovative solutions that are focused on the future.
In 2018 we installed two electric
vehicle (EV) charging stations at our HQ.
In line with our aim to reduce our carbon footprint, we are currently in the process of replacing all leased vehicles that have ended with new leases on hybrid vehicles only.
Additionally, we have a policy that requires all business-related flights by our employees to be carbon compensated. Furthermore, through efficient planning, we collect used tyre casings at the same time as making deliveries, thereby reducing fuel usage. Our delivery routes are also reviewed every year to ensure we are continuously optimising the most efficient route plan. Adding to the many initiatives we have put in place to reduce our carbon footprint, we are proud Patrons of the One Life One Tree - The Sequoia Project. Through our partnership, we purchased a Giant Sequoia tree which was planted in the Brecon Beacons.
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