At SAYFA, we believe in taking responsibility for our impact on the environment and making a positive difference in the world. That’s why SAYFA has developed a comprehensive sustainability and environmental plan that outlines our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources, and promoting sustainable practices. Learn more about our efforts and how we’re working to create a better future for all.
Reducing our carbon footprint
One of the key focuses of our sustainability plan is reducing our carbon footprint. We have implemented a number of initiatives to achieve this, including investing in renewable energy sources, such as the installation of solar panels, optimising our transportation and logistics to reduce emissions, and implementing energy-efficient practices in our facilities.
As often as possible, we strive to reduce emissions by grouping our consignments together, delivering larger loads to central areas across the country.
Additionally, we are also working towards creating, as much as is practicable, a paperless environment. By incorporating technology such as computers, laptops and tablets, and creating paperless processes, we feel we can substantially decrease the necessity for printing of paperwork in many instances.
By reducing our carbon footprint, we are not only helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, but also demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
Investing in renewable energy sources
As part of our sustainability plan, we have made a commitment to invest in renewable energy sources. By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint, but also supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry.
We believe that investing in renewable energy is not only good for the environment, but also makes good business sense in the long term. We have seen substantial reductions in our energy consumption, saving over $51K, since the installation of solar panels in February 2021.
Reducing waste and promoting recycling
Another key aspect of our sustainability plan is reducing waste and promoting recycling. We have implemented a comprehensive waste management system that includes reducing the amount of waste we produce, recycling as much as possible, and properly disposing of any remaining waste.
We also encourage our employees to reduce waste in their daily activities, such as using reusable containers and cups instead of disposable ones. By reducing waste and promoting recycling, we are not only helping the environment, but also saving money on waste disposal costs.
Aluminium is the material of choice for the majority of our systems which in itself provides environmental and sustainability advantages and is infinitely recyclable. Would you be surprised to learn that nearly 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today?
We recycle as much of our aluminium as we can and have implemented into our internal production processes, alerts which ensure that minimum waste occurs when cutting and that any usable offcuts are utilised and put back into the manufacture of our products.
Pallet return/recycle program
In 2021 SAYFA introduced our timber pallet recycling program. This initiative has been a great success and has added a further service to our customers by helping to reduce their waste and disposal costs, plus the expense and reliance on purchasing new timber products.
Additionally, when we receive packaged products from our local and overseas suppliers we endeavour to breakdown any of the leftover components, re-purposing them into SAYFA pallets, chipping unused wood for mulching or sending scrap materials/metals to recycling companies.
Implementing sustainable practices in our supply chain
In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, we are also committed to implementing sustainable practices throughout our supply chain. This includes working with suppliers who share our values and commitment to sustainability, as well as implementing responsible sourcing practices to ensure that the materials and resources we use are ethically and sustainably sourced.
We also prioritise waste reduction and recycling initiatives, and work to minimise the environmental impact of our packaging and product design. Further to this, we are currently in talks with numerous companies looking to recycle our coloured plastics.
By taking a holistic approach to sustainability, we are working to make a positive difference both within our own operations and throughout our industry.
Raingarden and water tanks
During the most recent upgrade to our premises earlier this year, we installed a raingarden at the rear of the property. Raingardens are increasing in popularity and their benefits to the environment are numerous, ranging from filtering pollution mixed in with stormwater runoff, to encouraging a habitat for wildlife such as butterflies, birds and other creatures.
We also installed several water tanks which will be used to assist with water requirements for several points around the factory.
With the future always in mind, every initiative we take is moving us one step closer towards our plan of attaining ISO 14001 Accreditation in the coming years and truly making a difference.