Astor Bannerman’s Sustainability Journey: Earth Day Reflections on Plastic Waste

We have been focusing on sustainability within Astor Bannerman recently, especially with our project to gain ISO14001 accreditation, which has provided us with a solid framework on which to build. Today’s Earth Day theme, ‘Planet vs. Plastics’ has given us the opportunity to reflect on our ongoing efforts to tackle plastic waste.

Over the past year, we have implemented significant changes aimed at reducing plastic waste at our factory near Cheltenham. Transitioning to a new waste management company, Grundon, has allowed us to improve our recycling rates and significantly decrease the amount of waste we send to landfill. The success of this work has spurred us on to make ‘Zero to Landfill’ a key target for 2024.

Investing in new and innovative technology is important for our growing business. We have recently ordered a new router, which will enable us to optimise our use of plastic sheets, leading to reduced waste and increased production efficiency. This is a perfect example of a solution that benefits the business, our customers, and has a positive environmental impact.

We have also been working to reduce plastic pollution in our local area. Team members have initiated regular litter picking sessions on the industrial estate where our factory is based. By actively engaging in community clean-up efforts, we hope to reduce pollution and inspire other companies on-site to get involved.

Having said all that, we recognise that our sustainability journey is ongoing. Looking ahead, we are committed to exploring further opportunities to minimise plastic usage and maximise reuse.

While the bathroom equipment we manufacture is durable and long-lasting, we are also considering its end-of-life impact and are actively exploring ways to ensure that the equipment is disposed of responsibly, with minimal harm to the environment. We have a specific challenge with the Glass Reinforced Plastic that we use to manufacture our baths. It is incredibly strong – making it the correct material for assisted baths designed to last more than 10 years. However, we cannot find a way of repurposing or recycling it at the end of the bath’s life.

If you can help us with this, get in touch!

As people all around the country and world mark Earth Day, as a responsible business we reaffirm our commitment to environmental stewardship. By continuing to prioritise sustainability initiatives using our ISO14001 framework, and by embracing new opportunities for plastic recycling, reduction, and reuse, we aim to contribute to our community and country’s efforts to reduce plastic production and waste.