Environmental Responsibility at LoCO₂ Heat
At LoCO₂ Heat, we recognise the importance of environmental responsibility. We’re committed to taking steps to reduce our environmental impact throughout our operations.
Our Approach:
- Waste Reduction and Recycling: We prioritise responsible waste management. All our waste undergoes careful sorting by Devon Contract Waste, this means the majority of our waste collected is recycled. We also explore opportunities to minimise waste generation through process and packaging improvements.
- Sustainable Materials: We actively seek to use recycled materials in our packaging and operations wherever practicable. We reuse boxes from our stock deliveries for external deliveries choosing minimising waste over branded packaging.
- Renewable Energy: True to our cause, LoCO₂’s office & warehouse are powered by Renewable energy. Fossil fuel use has been completely avoided as we keep warm with our biomass boiler, whilst our 30kW’s of solar panels pick up the slack for our electrical usage, including EV charging.
- Delivery Optimisation:
We collaborate with our suppliers to optimise deliveries wherever possible, minimising the number of journeys required and reducing associated transport emissions. In addition to this, we use DPD for our external package deliveries, who are committed to making every parcel they deliver carbon neutral; more can be found on their carbon-neutral commitment on the link.
Product Considerations:
We acknowledge that some of our products may have inherent environmental challenges throughout their lifecycle. We’re committed to understanding these challenges and working towards solutions.
This includes:
- Product Longevity: We prioritise product quality and durability to ensure long-lasting performance and minimise the need for frequent replacements.
- End-of-Life Management: We’re exploring potential options for responsible end-of-life management of our products, such as recycling programmes or partnerships.
- Focus on Overall Benefit: While some materials might have initial environmental challenges, we consider the bigger picture. For example, a product with a higher initial footprint might be crucial for long-term energy efficiency in a building, leading to environmental benefits over time.
Embodied Carbon (EC) vs. Whole Life Carbon (WLC)
At LoCO₂ Heat, as alluded we believe in understanding the importance of Embodied Carbon (EC) and Whole Life Carbon (WLC) regarding the environmental impact of products we supply. EC includes all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and construction processes of materials, while WLC encompasses these as well as the emissions from a building’s entire lifespan, including its operation and eventual disposal. By focusing on reducing both EC and WLC, we ensure that our efforts contribute to long-term sustainability. This holistic approach helps us make informed decisions that balance initial environmental costs with ongoing benefits, ultimately supporting our commitment to environmental responsibility. We are currently working to capture this information so it can be included on our website for our customers to use when considering purchasing choices and their impact on the environment.
Example: Installing 100 metres of Ø50mm plastic pipe compared to steel will save 3,687 km of car travel, derived from CO2e savings through its production from raw material to finished pipe.
Continuous Improvement:
We understand that environmental responsibility is an ongoing journey. We’re constantly evaluating our practices and exploring new technologies and solutions to further minimise our environmental impact. We are not where we want to be on this journey. But our commitment to continual improvement for environmental responsibility will always be the core focus of our approach.