Wernick Social Responsibility 2024_A4L_30'OCT25_Job_no_2029 - Flipbook - Page 32
8.4 Circular economy
During 2024, we continued to undertake R&D into circular
economy practices and net zero. We collaborated with academia
to understand what steps we need to take in our manufacturing
processes.
At our manufacturing facility in Kenfig, we conducted an academic study with Swansea
University to understand the Life Cycle carbon emissions of modular building systems.
Funded by the EPSRC Switch to Net Zero Buildings Place Based Impact Acceleration
Award (PBIAA). The project provided a detailed evaluation of the environmental impact
of modular units throughout their entire life cycle.
At a Group level, we are adopting ambitious circular economy principles to drive change in
the way we operate:
>> Adopting a consistent approach to waste
management, to ensure that 98.6% of
our total waste was either recovered or
recycled. We are working with AWS to
prioritise waste streams and VCSEs. Our
local supplier base also enables us to
source end users with our waste streams,
as well as reducing transport emissions
>> Purchasing products and materials that
are the most socially and environmentally
responsible throughout their lifecycle
>> Eliminating waste from products and
materials. With our supply chain partners,
Danfast, we trialled a consignment stock
system at our busy Widnes depot, which
reduced transport delivery miles by over
40%. By focusing on the most used
consumables and stock, we were able to
reduce deliveries to the depot by holding
them locally
>> Working with our stationery partner
Lyreco, we have consolidated deliveries
to a single day, which has allowed for bulk
stock to be delivered and reduced transport
movement. Lyreco also transitioned 40%
of the Group’s deliveries to electric vehicles,
helping to drive down emissions
>> Our furniture provider, Harlequin’s have
partnered with Over2hills who recycle
office furniture and donate to charities that
are in need. All of the furniture provided to
Wernick is 95% component form and can
be recycled and reused. Partnering with
Over2hills allows for a fully closed-loop
service, with any repurposed furniture then
being donated
>> We collaborated and promoted Men’s sheds,
enabling access to the 900 Men’s Shed
groups across the UK. Wernick Buildings
has supported its local Men’s Shed in
Maesteg by donating off-cuts of timber and
giving eight of the shed’s members a tour
of the factory. Our Hire depot in Horwich
and factory in York, also made donations of
wood
>> Across our estate we have an ambition to
generate over 1 mWh of our own renewable
energy. Working with SolarCentric, we
installed a 118 kWp solar array operated by
a SolarEdge system. This system has now
been mandated across all future installs
across our estate, allowing remote access
and monitoring of all the systems that we
operate
>> We trialled a reusable transport sheet on
our most popular modular system, the
AVflex unit. This was successfully trialled
and will be introduced into the fleet in 2025
with an ambition to eliminate single-use
plastic
>> Undertaken Life Cycle Analysis studies
with our suppliers Thurstons, MCS and
Groundhog for our modular building,
portable and welfare products. LCAs now
cover 34% of our portable and modular
building systems and welfare offering. We
are engaging with our suppliers for higher
recycled content steel and more sustainable
materials
These plans will continue to be formally developed and implemented in conjunction with our carbon
management plan, ensuring circular economy principles are embedded into our working practices.
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