Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Clarity -The Soap Co. awarded The Planet Mark
Clarity -The Soap Co., the social enterprise that creates employment for blind and disabled people, has been awarded The Planet Mark for demonstrating its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 5% over the next 12 months.
The Planet Mark is an internationally-recognised and trusted sustainability certification programme recognising commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability. It partners with the iconic Eden Project in Cornwall to put climate change and the environment at the top of the business agenda.
The carbon footprint of Clarity -The Soap Co. was 96.6 tCO2e last year based on the energy, water and waste associated with its business operations across four sites in the UK. Its employees have created a Green Team to find ways to make savings and hit sustainability targets.
The manufacturing process will be streamlined to encourage efficiency and reduced wastage whilst efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle cardboard and other outer packaging will increase.
For new product ranges, recycled and recyclable materials will be used for the packaging to minimise the carbon emissions created. The potential for installation of solar panels on the roof of the factory to allow for the incorporation of renewable energy into the organisation's energy supply - reducing emissions and promoting sustainability - is also being investigated.
The news follows the recent launch of the Clarity range and eco-foaming hand wash that is made with 100% eco certified ingredients and is biodegradable. The foaming technology makes the hand wash up to five times as efficient as liquid alternatives and requires approximately 10% less water, according to studies.
Camilla Marcus-Dew, head of commercial and green team member, says: "We have bold ambitions to not only support our blind and disabled staff but in a way that also promotes the protection of the environment. Our determination to be sustainable is highlighted by our organisation being rewarded The Planet Mark. Now we have been accredited, the hard work begins."
Fellow green team member and company sales administrator, Yemi Onabolu, adds:
"Sustainability is key to everything we do here so I was delighted to be given the chance to work on our nomination for The Planet Mark. We are already planning a number of ways to improve our environmental credentials and I am learning more and more every day."
Steve Malkin, founder of The Planet Mark, recognises Clarity -The Soap Co.'s "outstanding commitment" and says that the organisation is setting the example for others to follow. "We know that sustainability is good for business, but it needs organisations like Clarity -The Soap Co. to show that we can create a safer, cleaner, better world for us, our fellow inhabitants on earth and our future generations," he adds.
Clarity is the UK's oldest social enterprise (founded in 1854) and has produced soap for 80 years. Some 80% of its staff are visually impaired, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged. All the profit goes back into providing jobs and training. Over 10,000 hours of employment are created annually for its staff which has helped dozens transition into full time work elsewhere. The agreement with the Cabinet Office and other government departments has the potential to create hundreds of hours of employment per year for the CLARITY employees.
Image: front left crouching is Steve Malkin, CEO Planet First & founder of The Planet Mark with employees from Clarity-The Soap Co.
T: 0203 078 8950
W: www.clarity.org.uk
10th August 2017