When you look at a problem differently, you always find a better solution.
This approach has fuelled half a century of innovations at SMD, and underpins every aspect of our operations – from pioneering subsea technology to rethinking how we use resources.
Our ongoing investment in sustainability is a core example of this in action, reflecting our team’s commitment to doing better and our responsibility to the world around us.
To this end, we have recently implemented some changes at our North Tyneside HQ. We would like to thank the whole team for embracing this shift, with special recognition to Tracey and Fabio for their insight and leadership throughout.
STARTING AT THE TOP
We wanted to start our sustainability efforts with our infrastructure, and we’ve taken big steps to improve ours.
We began by investing over £250k in solar energy to power our head office in Wallsend. We are already seeing incredible results with 70 percent of electricity being supplied by solar, and we hope to see this figure grow over the coming years.
As well as harnessing solar energy, we’ve also invested in site-wide energy upgrades, with almost all lighting now LED. 50 percent of our business benefits from PIR detection systems to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, and we now have an electric car scheme plus 12 EV charging bays to support a cleaner commute.
Our team also takes a sustainability-first approach to refurbishment, and our recently upgraded training rooms are an excellent example of this. From carpets to wall fittings, all new materials have been sourced sustainably, with the full product lifecycle considered. We also took time to ensure that all existing materials found new homes, whether in other areas of our site, in our employees’ homes, or with community groups such as the local Scouts.
CREATING NEW HABITS
As well as our infrastructure, we have been concentrating on everyday sustainable change to embed this value in all staff and make it easier for everyone to get involved.
Examples of this include our cleaning products and single-use materials. We have swapped our old products for enzyme-based ones, reducing chemical usage. We’ve replaced single-use paper towels with linen towel rollers in kitchens and hand dryers in toilets, reducing our reliance on paper-based disposables. All staff now have reusable lunchboxes and mugs, eliminating the need for disposable food containers and paper cups.
In addition, we’ve redesigned our internal and external waste and recycling points to ensure that 100 percent of waste is diverted from landfill. A dedicated “SMD Waste Recycling Plant” is now positioned near our entrance to reduce on-site traffic, and has helped us increase the quantity of materials we recycle by around 400 percent. Clear signage and layouts encourage proper use, while new suppliers like local company, EMR, help us recycle more responsibly.
Recently, we also invested in on-site washing machines, enabling our cleaners to wash and reuse cloths, PPE, and other resources to remove the need for single use materials.
AN SMD SPRING CLEAN
This year, we carried out a full site clearout, removing unused materials, tidying our workspaces, and responsibly recycling or repurposing as much as possible. This wasn’t just about efficiency. It raised £10,000, which we’ve committed to local environmental projects, including support for the Hedgehog Wildlife Trust.
The initiative brought together people from across SMD, who came together to offer support. Materials were delivered to local recycling plants, and any wood unable to be recycled was donated for biofuel.
GETTING ACCREDITED
Our sustainability initiatives have been underpinned by a desire to take accountability and initiate positive action.
That’s why we’ve undertaken a full environmental audit, with Lloyd’s Register examining our water use, waste management, drainage systems, utilities, and energy footprint. This audit is helping us refine our supplier network and daily practices, with real-time tracking enabled by newly installed smart meters.
We’re proud to have obtained our ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, ensuring our environmental and safety standards meet internationally recognised benchmarks.
A GREENER FUTURE
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but this is only the beginning.
Across every initiative, we remain focused on making practical improvements that ensure sustainability is second nature for our team. Because when you look at problems differently, you find better ways of solving them.