What is Our Commitment to Sustainability?

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From the wind farms and solar farms that generate clean energy to the growth of e-mobility across the UK. Sustainability is a central theme here at HELUKABEL. As specialists in electrical connection technology, we can influence where we’re Channeling Power.

Why Sustainability Matters to HELUKABEL

We are a family-run business committed to safeguarding the next generation. We see new initiatives and opportunities arise across the globe and take it upon ourselves to make an impact across various verticals. From the office to the home and to the industries that build our world.

But it’s not just about HELUKABEL UK. It’s about the HELUKABEL Group spread across 69 sites around the world. To us, sustainability also means social responsibility and supporting positive decision-making. For example, in the UK, we are part of the cycle-to-work initiative which helps our staff purchase a bike. Many other subsidiaries share this initiative, too.

How Sustainability Meets the Needs of the Environment

Our environment is impacted by the way we live, move, and work. Here is a list of the biggest problems our environment faces today, according to Earth.org:

• Fossil Fuels
• Food Waste
• Plastic Pollution
• Deforestation
• Air Pollution
• Agriculture
• Water Insecurity
• Fast Fashion
• Overfishing
• Cobalt Mining

By adopting sustainable practices, we’re minimising environmental impact. Being sustainable, alone, doesn’t meet the needs of the environment; that takes regenerative practices. But, sustainability affords us time to create a safe place for our children and innovate for regeneration.

From our roots in HELUKABEL Germany through to the branches across the globe, we promote more sustainable practices. For example, our cycle-to-work initiative, using electric vehicles, recycling materials, and supporting local.

Which Sustainability Certification is Best?

Since 2019, EcoVadis has evaluated HELUKABEL every year. They’re one of the leading global organisations providing companies with sustainability-based ratings. Each year, our company’s overall rating has only ever improved. Now, in 2024, we’re rated “committed” by EcoVadis.

While EcoVadis is one of the leading providers, there’s no “best” certification on a global level. Here in the UK, there are many other certification boards including Planet Mark, Green Mark, and the British Assessment Bureau (BAB). But, it all depends on what businesses and practices are being evaluated.

HELUKABEL even has a secondary accreditation. Our Environmental Management System is certified according to DIN EN ISO 14001 (shared by the BAB).

HELUKABEL Sustainability Priorities

Our priorities are built around supporting the wider goal. We want to safeguard the next generation. This means adopting, implementing, and promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

• Enhance internal processes
• Adopt lean manufacturing
• Reduce waste
• Recycle where possible
• Encourage leaving fuel cars at home
• Work with future generations
• Minimise heat, light, and air pollution
• Optimise product haulage
• Reduce water usage
• Promote higher quality products to customers
• Supply to solar and wind farms
• Utilise renewable energy

Which Sustainability Initiatives Does HELUKABEL Follow?

Material Maximisation - We optimise the cutting and use of materials. This allows us to use materials sparingly without sacrificing the HELUKABEL performance quality.

Material Recycling - From valuable raw materials like copper to the synthetic materials used for insulation and sheathing. Where possible, we cycle these materials back in.

Closed-Loop Systems - We use specialised coolant and heating systems that reduce the rate of water and energy we use in the manufacturing process.

Heat Redirection - During the colder months, we redirect heat produced from machinery like compressors and extruders back into heating the factory.

Solar Power - The majority of the renewable energy used in our production, logistics, and offices is cleanly produced using our own photovoltaic system.

Low Footprint - Our offices are built with the environment in mind. Our Hemmingen HQ, for example, was built in 2021 and meets the highest standard for energy efficiency.

Modern Equipment - Our Windsbach plant is one of the most advanced of its kind. It uses modern drive technology, electric forklifts, and regularly updated machinery.

Drum Recycling - Select HELUKABEL locations offer the drum recycling scheme. Our renewable timber drums are collected for free and reused until end-of-life.

Cycle to Work - We support our staff making positive steps to safeguard the next generation, too. So, we help finance the purchase of bicycles.

To read more about HELUKABEL’s commitment to our people and our future, read our “ Quality, Environmental, and Energy Policy ”.

When is Sustainability Day?

Sustainability Day is every day. We should all adopt environmentally friendly practices and renewable energies each day. That said, in the UK, there is no specific “Sustainability Day”. Instead, we have days throughout the year dedicated to small changes. Here is a list of 2024 environmental awareness dates:

• 8th January - Houseplant Week
• 11th March - The Big Plastic Count Week
• 18th March - Global Recycling Day
• 22nd April - Earth Day
• 24th April - Stop Food Waste Day
• 20th May - World Bee Day
• 5th June - World Environment Day
• 26th July - Love Parks Week
• 8th August - Cycle to Work Day
• 1st September - Secondhand September
• 2nd September - Zero Waste Week