Hanson UK considers effective management of safety, health, environment, quality and responsible sourcing to be of prime importance to the sustained success of the business. We take an integrated approach to all our business processes and have therefore adopted a single sustainability policy, which is regularly reviewed for continuing suitability and appropriateness.
We provide employment and economic activity and build our business on the basis of responsible practices. We empower our employees, contractors and supply chain to operate in accordance with these practices and we actively engage with our customers, communities and other stakeholders to promote their wider adoption.
We value our workforce and by recruitment, selection and development of employees, contractors and suppliers, ensure that they are appropriately skilled and competent to carry out their roles.
We engage with our stakeholders to encourage innovative development of our products and manufacturing systems to continually improve sustainable performance throughout the product lifecycle and build a profitable and sustainable business.
Management systems
We adopt a systematic and integrated approach to all aspects of our business and are committed to compliance with the requirements of BES 6001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BS18001 and the CE certification marking schemes relevant to our products.
Legal and regulatory compliance
As a minimum, we comply with the law and other regulatory requirements applicable to our business.
Continual improvement
We are committed to continually improve performance and to develop our integrated management system processes and activities. We maintain a documented framework for setting, implementing and reviewing objectives to drive forward this improvement.
Communication
We communicate our policy to all employees and contractors and seek to ensure it is understood and implemented. Our policy is made available to our supply chain and other interested parties to inform and promote wider adoption of responsible practices. We identify and consult with local community stakeholders affected by our operations. We inform our customers about the functional, environmental and safety performance of our products.
Prevention
We strive for the prevention of injury, ill health, pollution and non-conforming products; the minimisation of environmental harm, and the fair treatment of our employees and everyone in our supply chain.
Procedures and work practices
We incorporate safety, health, environment, quality and responsible sourcing in the following business processes:
- design, selection and installation of plant
- management of suppliers and services
- identification of customer needs
- supply of products and services to meet or exceed customer expectation
- development of rules, standards and procedures
- provision of information and assistance to those who distribute, use, recycle or dispose of our products
- recruitment, induction and development of skilled, competent employees, contractors and suppliers
- consultation and involvement of employees, their representatives, contractors and suppliers
- reporting and investigation of incidents, near misses, hazards and non conformances
- operation and maintenance of plant and processes
- provision of welfare facilities
- development and testing of emergency procedures
- management and supervision of practices and performance
Climate protection
We set targets for the reduction of carbon emissions and aim to reduce our use of fossil fuels by seeking alternative and renewable energy sources. We promote best practices in sustainable construction, including use of a life-cycle approach.
Environmental stewardship
We are committed to the principles of environmental stewardship and seek to apply these throughout our operations and our supply chain. We develop products that improve the quality and sustainability of the built environment. We manage and restore sites to ensure land remains valued in its local environment, protecting and enhancing biodiversity and safeguarding geodiversity where appropriate. We respect and protect our national heritage and we optimise our distribution operations to minimise social and environmental impacts.
Resource and waste management
We use resources appropriately and sustainably and, where appropriate, substitute primary resources with alternative materials. We adopt the waste reduction hierarchy of waste prevention, reuse of materials, recycling, and energy recovery to minimise waste disposal and maximise productivity. We use water efficiently and recognise that we must safeguard this resource by recycling where possible to reduce consumption and protect water quality in the natural environment.
Monitoring, auditing, reporting and review
We routinely audit the performance of our business in accordance with recognised standards and methods. We review the credentials of our supply chain for constituent materials in accordance with the principles of responsible sourcing. We respond to non-conformances against our standards. And we implement a thorough management review process to ensure we meet our objectives.
Responsibility
The resourcing and implementation of this policy is the responsibility of our management team. Co-operation in the effective implementation of the policy is a condition of employment, partnership and supply.
Patrick O'Shea
CEO Hanson UK
March 2011