We
recognise the need to manage and develop our businesses in
an ecologically sustainable and socially responsible manner
– development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. RF Global Solutions is also taking action
on waste, chemicals and are RoSH Compliant. When choosing
your RF provider it is important to ensure that the company
you choose are in line with your own companies policies and
procedures to avoid possible conflicts, many other RF
companies DO
NOT have any
procedures in place when it comes down to Ethics and
Sustainability, RF Global Solutions however feel its far
too important an issue to overlook and not be proactive
with.
Waste
RF Global Solutions addresses waste management in terms of
the waste we produce directly, through the activities of
our businesses, and indirectly, through the packaging waste
passed on to our customers.
Our local waste management contractor recycles as much
as our waste, as we possibly can.
Chemicals
Over
100,000 synthetic chemicals are now registered for use in
the EU, and 400 million tonnes are produced globally each
year. Concerns with synthetic chemicals and their use
generally centre on the following:
• Persistence – where chemicals are resistant to
degradation through natural processes and consequently
persist in the environment.
• Bioaccumulation – where chemicals that plants and
animals cannot break down properly accumulate in Nature.
• Toxicity – where chemicals cause direct damage to
organisms that are exposed to them.
In 2009, RF Global Solutions has taken the hard stance to
actively reduce the number of chemicals we use in all areas
of our operations and where possible ban the use of the
worst offenders.
• Formaldehyde is often used in cleaning products,
such as washing-up liquid, as a preservative. It is
carcinogenic to humans, so we no longer purchase cleaning
products containing this. • Diethyl phthalate (DEP),
dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP)
are from a group of chemicals collectively known as
phthalates, that can be found in plastics. DEHP and DBP are
suspected of disrupting the body’s hormone system, where
possible RF Global Solutions will now source alternatives.
RoSH
The definition and aim of the
RoHS directive is quite simple. The RoHS directive aims to
restrict certain dangerous substances commonly used in
electronic and electronic equipment. Any RoSH compliant
component is tested for the presence of Lead (Pb), Cadmium
(Cd), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent chromium (Hex-Cr),
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and Polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDE). For Cadmium and Hexavalent chromium, there
must be less than 0.01% of the substance by weight at raw
homogeneous materials level. For Lead, PBB, and PBDE, there
must be no more than 0.1% of the material, when calculated
by weight at raw homogeneous materials. Any RoHS compliant
component must have 100 ppm or less of mercury and the
mercury must not have been intentionally added to the
component.
- Further Initiatives
- As part of our on going environmental commitments RF Global Solutions is looking at ways to reduce the environmental impact of out packaging. Such initiatives are:
- Trial to establish the impact of using a recyclable polythene mailer instead of existing non-recyclable MailLite bags.
- Replace Kraft paper (up to 75% virgin fibre) with a fully recycles outer paper.
- Investigation into using a polytheist pillow system instead of the usual brown void fills paper, reducing our use of raw material. the polythene pillow are fully recyclable
- Increase in recycled content of cartons is being investigated.