Smith Brothers are introducing more and more green initiatives to help reduce wastage and greenhouse gases within the business. Since the declaration of zero carbon emissions by 2050 set by the Government, the company thought it was more important than ever to start implementing schemes across the branch network to help reach this goal.
ISO 14001
Smith Brothers has been awarded ISO 14001 certification, a significant milestone that reflects our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. This achievement is a testament to our ongoing efforts to improve our environmental performance and demonstrates our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency.
Hybrid/Electric Cars
In 2020, we initially began transitioning away from petrol and diesel company cars in favour of electric and hybrid vehicles, and we eliminated all combustible engines by 2022. Investing in these vehicles has significantly decreased our carbon emissions.
EV Charging Points
Charging points have been installed at all Smith Brothers locations to accommodate our transition to hybrid and electric vehicles. Some possess multi-point installations, such as our Rainham branch (London East), which has six. At the time of installation, this was the largest single charging installation in the area.
Bike to work scheme
Smith Brothers employees can purchase a bike through a bike-to-work scheme, helping to reduce carbon emissions while improving fitness levels and mental well-being through increased physical activity.
Paperless Technology
Offering electronic copies via our customer portal and EDI software will lead to a decrease in demand for paper among our stakeholders. While this isn’t always possible, we have installed paper recycling bins at our branches to encourage recycling.
We strive to print our brochures whenever possible on World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Paper and FSC Mix certified stock.
Implementing these initiatives promotes responsible forestry and helps reduce the environmental impact of print materials.
FORS Accreditation
Smith Brothers maintains its FORS accreditation status, having been a member since 2013, and received Gold status since 2023.
Being a FORS member gives us peace of mind that we effectively manage our work-related road risk while demonstrating to our customers and supply chain that our commitment exceeds industry standards.
One of the significant commitments includes the environmental impact of the vehicles. The scheme collaborates closely with local authorities to recommend measures that reduce the environmental impact of our vehicles.
The main areas FORS focus on include:
- Data Tracking
- Fleet Care
- Driving Smart
- Training
- Tyre Management
- Fuel Management
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Noise Awareness