Environmental and Ethical Policy
Gardman Holdings Ltd (Gardman), through Gardman Ltd., is the UK’s leading supplier of garden and wild bird care products that also exports to over 40 countries worldwide. Furthermore Gardman has similar subsidiary companies based in the USA and Australia supplying those markets (Gardman USA Inc. and Gardman Australia Pty.) as well as a bird seed manufacturing business in Devon, England (Parnell Lang Enterprises Ltd.). It employs over 300 people and has sales revenues approaching £100m pa. This Policy covers all of Gardman’s activities.
Gardman has taken a considered decision to investigate how it can operate in a more positive way for the environment and with a fairer ethical regard for its suppliers, staff and local communities.
Gardman ensures it complies with all legal and regulatory requirements in the countries in which it does business, as well as conforming to Codes of Practice where appropriate. It will endeavour to go further than this to develop ways of operating that are good for the environment and the people concerned.
To achieve this aim Gardman has embarked on a programme of action which falls into four main categories:
- Measuring, recording and storing relevant parameters on energy and resource use as well as waste production.
- Developing and introducing working practices that are positive for the environment by reducing energy and resource use and waste production. Gardman will also consider ethical issues and will closely work with its supply chain to move towards compliance with these improved practices.
- Enhancing environmental and ethical awareness as well as providing training for staff, suppliers, retail partners (stockists), sales personnel and external contractors, so that they conduct their operations in an environmentally and ethically responsible manner.
- Taking the lead within the gardening sector on ‘greening’ and ethical issues and promoting Gardman’s achievements through the media.
Managers at all levels throughout Gardman are encouraged to ensure that environmental and ethical issues are considered when making decisions about any fresh initiatives involving products, processes or projects, whether administrative or operational by nature.
All Gardman personnel are encouraged to act in accordance with this Environmental and Ethical Policy and to suggest ways to improve its implementation. Training and support are available to enable them to do so.
Gardman’s priorities over the next two years are the auditing of packaging, energy use, waste disposal and ethical trading, leading to a reduction in unnecessary packaging, waste and ultimately Gardman’s carbon footprint. This will result in a decrease in energy use and the enhancement of the fair treatment of all those involved in its supply chain. In addition, Gardman seeks to improve sustainable sourcing by increasing its use of timber from FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) sources, developing sustainable sources for its other ‘natural’ products and reducing its already limited dependence on peat.
The priorities mentioned above are considered by Gardman to be the most important. They will be translated into costed action plans, with target dates, during 2008. Progress against these targets will be measured and reported annually to the Board of Directors and all personnel.
This Policy is overseen by the Director – Environment and Conservation who will ensure it is developed effectively and who will report on progress to the Chairman and the Management Board. This Director will also ensure that all personnel are kept fully appraised of its contents and purpose.
Paris Natar
Chairman
August 2008