As part of its continuous commitment to improving environmental performance, Swish Building Products has once again cut its carbon footprint; seeing a decrease of 26% since 2008.

2012 saw the company achieve the equivalent of Carbon Trust Level One carbon reduction from 2011 of 8.82% across electricity, gas and heater fuel uses (Fixed Utilities).

The low maintenance building products specialist cut 29% from its water usage and 10% from its electricity consumption in 2012. The Company generated 255 tonnes of general waste over the year; including pallets, shrink-wrap, and paper; all of which was sorted and recycled, with only 2% going to landfill.

Greg Wilde of Swish Building Products said: “Gaining our ISO 14001 accreditation in 2007 allowed us to focus on, and make year-on-year improvements in energy efficiency and water usage. These best practice measures continue to make good business sense, and remain a fundamental part of our business strategy.

Since our base-line year of 2008 our reduction in electricity is equivalent to the average annual consumption of 900 UK homes! We have also cut our space heating (oil and gas) by an average of 50% and are 11% more fuel efficient when delivering our products to our customers.”

As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of PVC-U and PVC-Ue products, and as part of the Epwin Group, Swish Building Products is at the forefront of post-industrial and post-consumer recycling in its sector. It’s guttering and pipe products, for example, are manufactured from 84% recycled material, saving 70% in CO2 generation when compared to virgin material.

The company was among a pioneering group of building product suppliers to secure the environmental management standard ISO14001 in 2007 to add to its quality management standard ISO9001. The occupational health and safety OHSAS18001 followed in 2009.

Swish Building Products is the first and only roofline and cladding manufacturer to have gained BES6001 Responsible Sourcing Certification ‘Very Good’ for fascia and cladding systems. Consequently, it is also the only manufacturer to offer Maximum points for Mat2 and Mat3 for roofline and cladding under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

For more information on Swish’s full range of rainwater, roofline and cladding products visit www.swishbp.co.uk or call 01827 317 200. You can also keep up to date with news, views and projects by following us @swishbp.