Inspired by, and in response to recent movements to stimulate action, Singer Instruments have updated our Environmental Strategy. This is not a PR stunt to promote Singer Instruments, rather PR efforts to promote environmental and ecological action and to inspire other businesses to do the same.
Many of Singer Instruments’ customers are working on renewable technologies to replace crude oil dependency, so the biggest impact we can make is to continue to produce robotics to help accelerate scientific breakthroughs.
Singer Instruments are partnering with Dr Alessia Buscaino at the University of Kent to develop Scheffersomyces stipitis strains to convert agriculture and forestry waste into bioethanol.
As a byproduct of engineering our products for reliability and longevity, Singer Instruments have a very small (but unquantified) landfill footprint. There are MSM 100s, made 30-something years ago, still in the field, and still working!
Travel to/from our largest markets (Asia / China / North America) has been massively reduced thanks to our satellite offices.
The distances that we ship our demo fleet of instrumentation has reduced now that we have multiple demo fleets stationed in our overseas offices.
Since 1st October 2019 Singer have chosen to use a 100% renewable electricity supplier, Octopus Energy.
Where possible, SI products are supported remotely by internet connection, reducing the carbon footprint of support.
Online demonstrations have reduced the carbon footprint of live product demonstrations to customers, without massively affecting the conversion rates.
(Summer 2019) We are upgrading the factory lighting from fluorescent to LED; 58% more energy efficient and longer lifetimes.
(14/10/2019) Harry sent an email to Ian Liddle-Grainger to appeal to him to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.
Engage with students and local schools to inspire young minds in a scientific direction that could help make a difference.
SI chose to use aluminium as our most common metal of choice. One resource for environmental pros and cons of aluminium can be found here.
Put a banner on the website and local PR to promote environmental understanding
When the new extension was built in 2013, a heat exchange unit was fitted to the air intake. This, in theory, reduces the energy consumption of heating the building in the winter. The new building is also very well insulated. Other than this, I’m not sure that SI have much claim to energy efficiency. Please turn the lights off!
When we do need to fly, our preferred airport is Bristol; they are actively reducing their CO2 emissions and are committed to being carbon neutral by 2015. Our airline of choice is KLM, ranked the Most Sustainable Airline by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Where Singer have room for improvement:
Singer Instruments would be very happy to receive advice or ideas for further improvements through the contact form below. Thanks for reading.
