Ok, you’d perhaps be forgiven for reading the title and thinking ‘Oh, here we go again. Another “We’re Going Green” article’, and questioning before you read-on just how ‘Green’ the product or company in question really is.
After all, I’m sure we’ve all watched TV adverts for the latest cars with a hint of scepticism as they promise wonderful MPG figures and talk about hybrid and eco battery powered models. Haven’t we all been guilty of questioning “Yeah, but where does the electricity come from?”, and harbour some reservation about the materials used to produce the battery cells.
It seems somehow to be a natural response that we question and doubt environmentally friendly claims. I wonder if that’s because they are usually deployed in an attempt to sell us something…?
It’s not just our built-in prejudice on going green that works against us. Doesn’t the scale of the problem overwhelm us too? What difference can “I” make? And then, there’s also the very real cost to consider. For example, the eco car is often significantly more expensive, the plastic packaging keeps our food fresh for longer and we all (well most of us), whether acting for our business or as a consumer tend to prioritise financial economy and profit.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently issued a stark warning to policymakers after research suggested we are on course to exceed a goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C, with dire consequences, by 2030.
The report produced for the UN does however offer a glimmer of hope. It is no-longer good enough for all contributing nations to just deliver on their Paris Agreement pledges to reduce greenhouse-gas-emissions. Instead, urgent change is required, on a scale currently unseen, with investment equal to 2.5% of GDP.
If the scientists’ reports weren’t powerful enough, anyone who got to see the recent BBC One documentary ‘Drowning in Plastic’ would certainly agree that “we must try harder!”.
Canford is actively taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. With the support of our suppliers and other businesses who have contributed to this year’s Source Material magazine, we’ve made some decisions which prioritise the environment over financial economy.
The 2019 Canford Year Planner and Source Material magazine were packaged within a biodegradable wrap instead of polyurethane, and we used Carbon Balanced Paper. This is where the carbon impact of the production and distribution process has been offset. Funded by Canford, the World Land Trust will preserve a portion of high conservation value forest, which would otherwise have been under the threat of clearance.
100% of our electricity is now sourced from Biomass, a renewable organic matter used as fuel, and (at the time of writing this) Canford is well under way with a programme to replace old lighting systems with newer, energy efficient LED technology throughout the building.
The latest Canford product developments will also enable our customers to better manage and monitor mains power distribution. Our new IP MDU is, without doubt, the most advanced design to date, and is suitable for smart building designs of today and into the future, providing greater control with detailed measurement and reporting.
I’m sure we can all do our bit – just a little bit more. Please remember to recycle your copy of Source Material once you’ve read it.
Stephen Gallagher - Canford Marketing Manager