Step 1: Product Development

When it comes to running a sustainable business there are a lot of things to consider. The creation of products that reduce injury and improve hygiene is, in itself, a valuable contribution to communities. But Altro recognizes that the environmental profile of our products is what most people are interested in.

The majority of Altro products use PVC, a material not always regarded in a positive light. However, when it’s manufactured responsibly, PVC

• uses 50% less petroleum than other plastics, keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum
• 57% of PVC is derived from salt, a natural and abundant material; unlike other plastics that are 100% derived from oil and hydrocarbons

We’re conscious of the impact our activities have on the environment and we’re constantly assessing the impact of our products. We always develop new products with sustainability in mind but never compromise on value or performance. Balancing social responsibility with the needs of our customers is a challenge Altro is prepared to meet head on:

• all our safety flooring products from the end caps to the core and wrap are packaged using 100% recyclable packaging
• they can be recycled in the same way as cardboard
• water consumption in manufacturing has now been reduced to less than 1% of the amount used 10 years ago
• Altro Easyclean Technology™ not only improves the cleanability of Altro safety flooring, but also requires less water and fewer cleaning chemicals throughout the lifetime of a product, effectively lowering its carbon footprint

BRE Global Green Guide Ratings

The British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, BREEAM is the most widely used environmental assessment scheme for buildings. Any building assessed under BREEAM can achieve six possible ratings of; Outstanding, Excellent, Very Good, Good and Pass.  One of the commitments of the UK government’s Strategy for Sustainable Construction is that all new and refurbished buildings procured by central government should achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM.

There are many facets that make up an overall BREEAM assessment one of which is the Materials section. BRE Global’s environmental rating of construction products provides guidance for architects and specifiers which allows them to select products with low environmental impact. BRE Global Green Guide ratings are based on a cradle to grave life cycle assessment of a product based on a 60 year life span of a building. Generic ratings of hundreds of construction products have been published in the Green Guide to Specification. Ratings vary from A+ to E with A+ being the most desirable with the least environmental impact.  In a comparison with competing materials, the Green Guide to Specification provides architects and specifiers with independent, reliable, easy to understand information about the environmental impact of products.

Using products with the best environmental ratings of A+ or A will have a positive effect on an overall BREEAM rating for a building or project.

Table of Generic Ratings for Altro products

See www.thegreenguide.org.uk for further information.