Responsible Manufacturing
Our kitchen furniture is manufactured in a responsible and efficient way, producing as little waste as possible and wisely using resources with due regard to future generations.
We have a well defined environmental policy which details exactly what we do to minimise our carbon footprint and the effects of our activities on the environment and individuals.
Recycling
All material waste is segregated for recycling. We recycle all sawdust, waste chipboard, cardboard and plastic. Our employees are encouraged to recycle paper, drinks cans, plastic bottles, toner cartridges and redundant IT equipment. We incentivise this by allowing any revenues generated to be distributed to the employees through raffle prizes.
Energy Conservation
We closely monitor gas and electric use and feed this information back to our employees. We encourage employees to turn off equipment when not in use and not to leave electrical equipment on standby.
We have modern facilities which require very low energy and water inputs. We have also invested in a host of new technologies to help conserve energy.
Our service doors all have automatic high speed curtains to conserve heat. Factory lighting has specialised equipment to drop the voltage to the lowest level possible in order to save power and some areas are controlled through timers. The battery chargers for our fleet of electric fork lift trucks have been fitted with timers to minimise power wasted when trickle charging. We have a condensing gas central heating boiler for the offices. All machinery has been fitted with solid state inverter drives to reduce energy losses. We have a variable speed compressor for the factory compressed air supply which responds to demand and conserves energy.
Sustainable Timber Sourcing
Omega has adopted a specific sourcing policy for timber products.
Our ultimate aim is that all the timber products that we purchase should come from verifiable sources with secure chains of custody and which meet minimum standards of good forestry management.
Carcase Materials
All of the melamine faced chipboard we use for producing furniture carcases is manufactured under the FSC chain of custody accreditation scheme. This guarantees that the raw materials come from sustainable sources. Please click on the logo below to learn more about FSC Chain of Custody.
Fascias and Accessories
Many of our suppliers have already achieved FSC or PEFC accreditation for the timber-based products they supply. We are working with suppliers to increase the number of components covered. We try wherever possible to select environmentally responsible suppliers who either have such accreditation or are working towards it.
Recycled Packaging
All the cardboard packaging we use is made from 100% re-cycled materials and is fully recyclable.
Careful use of Substances
We exercise great caution when selecting substances for use in manufacture. Very few chemicals are used. We use water-based adhesives for construction and water-based solvents for cleaning. We avoid the use of aerosols enabling us to avoid harmful hydrocarbons being released to atmosphere. We do not release any emissions or effluents to the environment other than from gas heating flues.
All chipboard achieves class E1 for formaldehyde emissions.
The air quality in the factory is virtually dust free due to the universal use of local exhaust ventilation systems to extract wood dust from processes. We undertake air quality measurements and employees undergo health surveillance to ensure they are placed in no harm from exposure to wood dust.
The local exhaust ventilation system is fully compliant with the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Careful Use of Packaging
We aim to carefully select packaging with the lowest environmental impacts and to avoid the wanton use of packaging materials. We fully conform with the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations governed by the environment agency.
This scheme ensures that we carefully control and measure any packaging waste and that funds are redirected back into the recycling industry. We avoid the use of polystyrene wherever possible and try to choose packaging which is easily recycled.
Waste Management
We fully comply with all legislation relating to waste management. This means that we properly dispose of all waste including general waste, batteries, electrical and electronic equipment, waste water and lighting tubes. Through widespread recycling we have dramatically reduced the volumes of waste being sent to landfill.
We use sophisticated software to minimise waste when cutting raw material.
Our Wildflower Corridor
At the side of our factory we have constructed a drainage dyke with the needs of the water vole and lesser spotted newt in mind. This area is planted with wildflowers designed to support the local wildlife and is managed accordingly.
Please click to download the OMEGA PLC ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY