Millmead Sustainability Report | July 2022 by MillmeadOpticalGroup1946

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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

JULY 2022

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.

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Changes to our BUSINESS 3

CHANGES TO OUR OFFICE

LED LIGHTING

RECYCLE WASTE

WASTE HANDLING

We have implemented LED lighting

All cardboard and paper waste

We compact all of our waste within

throughout our head office in

is recycled, helping to reduce

our Liverpool Head Office.

Liverpool, which ensures our lighting

the amount going to the landfill.

This helps us to reduce our carbon

has an 80-90% efficiency.

footprint by recycling more and sending By reducing the amount of waste

less to the landfill.

LED lighting consumes less power

that goes to landfill, the quantity

and reduces greenhouse emissions,

of greenhouse gases emitted into the

It takes up less space than a regular

as well as being highly reliable.

atmosphere is also reduced.

bin solution, as it reduces the volume of waste by up to 90%. It ensures there

LED lighting is also the closest alternative

Recycled cardboard can be used

are no overflowing of rubbish bins

to natural light and can increase energy

for many different purposes, such

and no nasty smells.

levels, improve mood and increase

as cereal boxes, paper towels,

production in the workplace.

tissues and paperboard.

CHANGES ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS

FSC CERTIFIED PAPER

OFFICE CONSUMABLES

THERMAL EFFICIENCY

We are implementing a rolling change

We work with an accredited

We are replacing single glazed with

across all packaging and marketing

AATF partner to recycle

double glazed windows to improve

materials used by our United Kingdom

all our used cartridges.

thermal efficiency.

Therefore we not only comply with

We are also making substantial

We use either recycled or ethically

WEEE Directive best practice, we are

investments to improve the

sourced FSC Certified Paper, and

also supportive of the environment by

insulation (R-value) of our factory roof.

stationery such as business cards

not compromising general waste streams.

and overseas operations.

Together these will reduce the

are made from recycled textiles.

energy/carbon usage of our buildings.

CHANGES TO OUR OFFICE

WATER BOTTLES

COMMUNICATION AND OPERATIONS

RECYCLING CHAMPION

We have distributed reusable

We use virtual conferencing Zoom or Teams,

In June 2021, we appointed a

water bottles to all staff to reduce the

both are efficient and reduce carbon

Recycling/Sustainability

overall usage of plastic water bottles

consumption by reducing the need for travel.

Champion - Graeme Hasson.

We encourage our sales team to drive hybrid cars

He is passionate about recycling

and plan their journeys to minimise overall travel.

and ensures we are doing all we can

within our offices. The organisation that we have

to be as sustainable as possible.

purchased these from, Moon Bottles, has teamed up with Eden Reforestation

Sustainability is consistently on the agenda

Project to plant 5 trees for every bottle

of all board meetings, management meetings

His first action of his new role was to

sold and they donate 10% of their

and works council meetings.

enrol the business as an ISCC Association Member.

annual profits to restore forests and help communities in poverty.

For office staff, we plan to introduce a bike to work scheme and are building a bike shed.

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Changes to our products 7

CHANGES TO POST & PACKAGING

MADE IN THE UK

LENS EDGING MACHINES

GLAZED PACKAGE SERVICE

We use MEI machines for the

Our new glazed package

We began manufacturing rPET

majority of our lens edging.

service substantially reduces

spectacle cases in the UK, in

These machines do not use

carbon footprint by

October 2021.

water and therefore avoid potential

reducing the number

micro plastic contamination

of shipments.

Manufacturing in the UK helps to reduce lead-in times and

of our oceans.

offers a robust solution Our MEI machines also

during any potential

do not use blocking

supply chain disruption caused

pads or blocks, reducing the

by off-shore production.

need for single use plastic.

CHANGES TO POST & PACKAGING

SHIPPING BOXES

CONSOLIDATED DELIVERIES

PRODUCT POLYBAGS AND LENS ENVELOPES

All our cardboard boxes we use are

We began consolidating frame,

We have implemented a rolling

made from recycled cardboard.

lens and case deliveries at the start of 2022

change to our frames, lenses and

to reduce our carbon footprint and

accessory polybags and product

save costs for our customers.

packaging, to ensure where possible,

They can also be recycled after use but

they are made from recycled materials.

better still, they are all suitable for secondary use! We also use recycled and fully biodegradable paper packing tape.

OPTOPLAST SUSTAIN In January 2021 we launched Optoplast Sustain, a brand new eco collection.

SAVE NATURAL RESOURCES

Featuring a range of cloths and cases carefully crafted from a material

REDUCE POLLUTION

called recycled polyethylene terephthalate, otherwise known as rPET.

GOODBYE SINGLE USE

rPET is created by recycling previously used plastic bottles and giving them

REDUCE WASTE

a new purpose. The collection features felt effect cases and a

CREATES AWARENESS

microfibre style fabric cloth bag.

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.

SUSTAINABLE CASES After a signiﬁcant capital investment, Optoplast is pleased to say that a selection of the of rPET cases have been manufactured in the UK since October 2021.

QUICKER PRODUCTION TIMES REDUCTION IN CARBON FOOTPRINT OVERCOME POTENTIAL SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION

This investment in the Liverpool facility will enable us to offer a range of spectacle cases with several benefits:

CAMEO SUSTAIN Launching in July 2022, Continental Eyewear have extended the Cameo collection by creating a new eco brand, Cameo Sustain.

SAVE NATURAL RESOURCES REDUCE POLLUTION GOODBYE SINGLE USE

Made from rPET material packed in biodegradable polybags, the frames will feature recycled plastic demo lenses which are also recyclable.

REDUCE WASTE

Available in a variety of shiny and matte finishes to suit all tastes.

CREATES AWARENESS

ACCREDITATIONS

CERTIFICATION STATUS

July 2021

RPET materials are certified

We are now a ISCC Association Member. The GRS is intended to meet the needs of companies looking to ISCC works towards a more sustainable world

verify the recycled content of their products (both finished and

with regards to the following:

intermediate) and to verify responsible social, environmental and chemical practices in their production.

Implementation of zero deforestation Protection of land with high biodiversity value and high carbon stock

The objectives of the GRS are to define requirements to ensure

Protection of soil, water and air

accurate content claims and good working conditions, and

Compliance with human, labour and land rights

that harmful environmental and chemical impacts are minimised.

Measurement and reduction of green house gas emissions

This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting,

Traceability throughout supply chains

dyeing and printing and stitching in more than 50 countries.

Integration of small holders in international supply chains Compliance with laws and international treaties Good management practices

ACCREDITATIONS

CERTIFICATION STATUS

3-6 Months

1-2 months

In Process of Auditing

ISO 14001 sets the standard for Environmental

We have been awarded

The mission of the Carbon Trust is to

Management Systems. We are aiming to gain this

Certified B Corporation in principal and are

accelerate the delivery of a sustainable,

certification to reduce waste management costs

currently awaiting final confirmation,

low carbon economy by helping businesses,

and demonstrate our commitment

which is anticipated shortly.

governments and organisations across the

to protecting the environment.

globe to reduce carbon Certified B Corporations are businesses that

emissions and achieve

Implementing this global standard will also help

meet the highest standards of verified social

greater resource efficiency.

our organisation comply with increasingly

and environmental performance, public

stringent environmental laws and regulations,

transparency, and legal accountability

as well as building trust with customers

to balance profit and purpose.

and other stakeholders. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

FUTURE PROJECTS

LENS RECYCLING/REUSING

RECYCLED PLASTIC DEMO LENSES

We are looking into a solution for lens waste – demo lenses, waste from edging and surfacing.

We are implementing the change to using recycled demo lenses in all future production.

We aim to have a solution by late 2022.

POINT OF SALE

OFFSETTING CARBON FOOTPRINT

We are adapting our POS offering to be more sustainable.

We are constantly researching ways in which we can offset our carbon footprint and are engaged extensively with the Carbon Trust.

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.

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