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and reused materials. For instance, plasticfree Huggies Naturals baby wipes are already available in the UK, but the drive for continuous improvement and performance is relentless. “We keep a close eye on the EU regulatory framework – sometimes it’s not clear how directives on certain products will evolve, so we continue to explore a number of options,” Oriol explains. Leaving aside the EU’s perspective, how does the UK’s attitude to sustainability compare with the rest of the EMEA?

“I would say that the UK is moving a bit faster on the net zero support mechanisms front than other markets, and we certainly get a lot of feedback on materials, plastics and circularity. “We’re looking to reduce emissions here by 76% between 2015 and 2023, and have recently invested £92m in state-of-the-art manufacturing assets.” Oriol does however agree there are significant differences in some regions (outside of Europe), in terms of fewer regulatory guidelines and lower consumer sensitivity to the issues at hand. “We are aware some of our products may have a bigger impact in certain markets, and we are accelerating our sustainability drive to benefit their infrastructure. Not necessarily because the consumer is asking for change, but because the impact may be different than it is in Europe.” Change may be the one constant in life, but while Oriol doesn’t see any trends of particular concern, he notes there is a definite shift in support for circularity. “Many of our products are single use, so we do need to look at a true circular economy. “With this in mind, Kimberly-Clark recently became a majority stakeholder in Thinx, a company working on reusable feminine care. “It’s a very new area of R&D for us and the solutions aren’t all cut and dried. We’re looking at hybrid solutions, such as reusable frames with disposable parts, but we are very aware that our customers want a wide range of choices to meet their individual needs.”

“The pace of change continues to be very fast. Kimberly-Clark is constantly adapting, hitting new targets, setting new goals. So even within a couple of months – in areas like hydrogen energy – we will have more exciting developments to announce.” In other words, ‘Watch this space!’ Kimberly-Clark’s annual sustainability report* is now available.

ORIOL MARGO

Sustainability Transformation Leader, Kimberly-Clark

kimberly-clark.com

Key findings for 2021 are:

A reduction of 7.9% in operational (Scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions, achieving a 40.7% emissions reduction against the 2015 baseline.

Supporting the well-being of 15.7m people in vulnerable communities through initiatives like WaterAid, raising its support for a total of 41.4m people since 2015.

Doubling the percentage of recycled content in plastic packaging.

Increasing reusable, recyclable or compostable packing to nearly 84%, progressing towards a 100% goal by 2025.

Obtaining 87% of tissue fibre from environmentally preferred sources.

Reducing water consumption by 34% in waterstressed regions against the 2015 baseline.

Prepared in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards “Core” level.

Cadworks.

FORGET WFH – WELCOME TO THE OFFICE OF THE FUTURE

Tables made from recycled suits. Air-purifying paint. An E-scooter fleet. Welcome to Glasgow’s first net zero office building. Cadworks-based TLT LLP tell Karen Southern how office life has changed forever.

MARIA CONNOLLY

Head of Real Estate & Future Energy, TLT

JOHN PAUL SHERIDAN

Head of Scotland, TLT

Cadworks is one of Scotland’s most sustainable and progressive buildings. And the same ethos can be applied to resident law firm TLT, who have prioritised the health and wellbeing of their employees – and the environment – above all else.

The trail-blazing firm launched a new agile approach to working last summer. Their aim was to create a fully flexible, progressive and inclusive workspace, based on three core commitments:

More choice for employees to work at a place and time that suits them, their clients and their role.

Investment in new physical and digital environments enabling employees to connect, collaborate and innovate effectively. Supporting that transition through a culture inclusive of different working styles. Cadworks fits that brief perfectly, thanks to its cutting-edge design, technology and facilities, and the people at TLT were able to design their own office within the building from scratch, as explained by Maria Connolly, head of real estate and future energy. “The overall aim is to support agile working, so our space features a large communal area for meetings and hot desking throughout,” she says. “We’ve also invested in technology upgrades in support of home to office interactions. Everything is entirely connected to ensure ease of transition from space to space.” “The impact on the TLT team has been huge,” adds John Paul Sheridan, Head of Scotland at TLT. “It’s enhanced everyone’s working experience and provided a significant morale booster.”

Eco-office

You could say that Cadworks is the ecooffice ‘poster child’, whose impressive list of credentials include:

100% of waste diverted from landfills.

Use of sustainable materials such as air purifying paint, up to 41% recycled glass, minimum of 50% cement replacement in concrete, 100% FSC recycled timber, and up to 80% recycled content steel. Regenerative braking in lifts to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy. Air source heat pumps.

LED lighting. Electrical car charging points.

Reporting on energy consumption to monitor and target areas in need of improvement. All-electric 100% renewable energy supply. Green plant wall in reception. Live air quality testing sensors. John explains: “It’s the first building in Scotland to use Airlite anti-viral paint technology that turns walls into natural air purifiers (with the same air purification power as around three acres of forest). “The 100% natural technology is anti-viral, antipollution, anti-bacterial and self-cleaning, with a protective oxidant barrier that decomposes harmful organic and inorganic substances.

TLT’s office space.

The paint also reduces a building’s solar heat absorption, saving on air conditioning and lowering C02 emissions.

“The lifts have a regenerative braking system which converts kinetic potential energy to electrical energy when the lifts are going down.

“We also have use of an E-scooter fleet and a ‘saddle to seat’ scheme which features the country’s first cycle-in access ramp and bicycleonly parking with 119 bike stations.”

While there are four EV charging points onsite and limited parking for electric cars, Cadworks doesn’t offer traditional parking facilities, as the overall aim is to reduce carbon and create a people-centric, green society. Hence people are encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport wherever possible.

Sustainable furniture

And no, the innovation doesn’t stop there. TLT has sourced over 100 stationery products containing recycled materials (in many instances, over 50% recycled). Their photocopying paper is PEFC accredited, printers are set to duplex black and white printing by default, and wastepaper is reduced by Follow Me printing. Maria says: “Along with dry mixed recycling initiatives, we have mains-fed drinking water dispensers, eliminating the need for plastic water bottles. We bottle our own still and sparkling water in our client conference suites and use glasses rather than plastic or disposable drinkware. “We also use a wide range of catering suppliers with strong sustainability ethics in production. “Our new furniture uses sustainable materials like cork, felt, rebar, reconstituted polymer and composite panels. Just one storage wall module (based on 2,500mm x 472mm) contains the equivalent of 4,000 bottle tops, 1,600 yoghurt pots, 1,100 cosmetic bottles, 14,000 straws, 2,800 single use plastic cups. “ Maria continues: “Our café tables use 100% recycled textiles from old suits with a biodegradable plastic made of potato or corn starch to make a unique finish. “All timber used in the new furniture is sourced through Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and responsible supplier schemes. The focus has been on components and materials without chemicals harmful to human health or the environment, which adhere to low VOC emissions

It’s the first building in Scotland to use Airlite anti-viral paint technology that turns walls into natural air purifiers.