49702 SMI ESG Recycling Scheme - Flipbook - Page 10
REUSE
A ‘throw-away’ culture in consumer behaviour
has led to one of the world’s greatest
environmental challenges. Single use plastic
is an increasing issue, placing more emphasis
and priority on reusing products across supply
chains and in the workplace. SMI has replaced
all single use eating utensils to recycled
bamboo or paper alternatives and encourage
the reuse of any packaging at our distribution
centre.
REPURPOSE
Repurposing products is commonly known
in the green community as upcycling, a
popular methoc which can extend a products
lifecycle through creativity and innovation. We
repurpose cardboard boxes where possible,
both at our Head O昀케ce for storage and at
our Distribution Centre. Suitable returned
products are collated, stripped of branding,
and repurposed within our local communities
as we donate to homeless charities.
RECYCLE
Recycling is a commonly used word throughout
society, however very few truly understand
its meaning and the process behind recycling
di昀昀erent materials. Responsible recycling
has been a key focus for SMI since we started
our sustainable journey. Since launching
our textile recycling scheme, we have been
exploring di昀昀erent methods we can o昀昀er
our customers for their remaining uniform
and PPE including footwear, safety helmets,
gloves, and other plastic related items.
Through extensive research we have gained a
10
deeper understanding of what it truly means
to recycle, and truthfully for the time being
not all PPE can be 100% recycled. More
challenging materials or products cannot be
100% recycled, however there are other ways
to prolong a product’s life cycle. Products can
be donated, repurposed, and converted into
Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) which is energy
from waste products. SMI have successfully
recovered 370kg of waste, repurposed 3% with
the remaining 95% of products being recycled.
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