Environment & Sustainability 

Mission statement

Dodson & Horrell Ltd recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment, including sustainable sourcing for raw materials, beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods. We will encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to do the same.

Responsibility

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for ensuring that the Environment and Sustainability Policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.

Policy aims

We endeavour to:

• Comply with and, where possible, exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Continually improve and monitor environmental performance including use of Environmental Objectives and Targets.
• Continually improve and reduce environmental impacts including those recorded in Environmental Aspects Register.
• Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions
•  Increase employee awareness and training from induction onwards.

Sustainability, Surplus and Waste

Use of sustainably sourced raw materials:

• No ingredients are grown specifically for use in D&H feed, nutritious by-products from human food manufacture are used which would not otherwise be consumed and would, therefore, add to industry waste:
• Equine diets benefit from by-products such as nutritionally improved straw, oatfeed, wheatfeed
• Pet diets are enriched by meals which are by-products of the processing of meat for human food
• Suppliers for ingredients containing palm oil are asked to provide confirmation of sustainability of the palm oil used.
• Segregation at source to facilitate the following waste hierarchy:
• Minimisation of waste produced by efficient processing
• Rework where it is suitable to do so nutritionally and hygienically
• Sending out as surplus for appropriate species when suitable to do so nutritionally and hygienically e.g. cattle, pigs, sheep (low mineral content) for feed surplus and pets for pet surplus
  
• Recycling of packaging materials such as cardboard, shrink wrap and tote bags
• Sending feed and pet feeds with nutrition or hygiene issues for biofuel
• Sent out as general waste to zero to landfill

Paper

• We will minimise the use of paper in the office.
• We will reduce packaging as much as possible.
• We will reuse and recycle all paper where possible.

Energy and water

• We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.
• Lights and electrical equipment will be switched off when not in use.
• Heating, or air conditioning, will be adjusted with energy consumption in mind.
• The energy consumption and efficiency of new products will be taken into account when purchasing.

Office supplies

• We will evaluate if the need can be met in another way.
• We will evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.
• We will evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.
• We will favour more environmentally friendly and efficient products where possible.
• We will reuse and recycle everything we are able to.

Transportation

• We will promote efficiency for haulage in the loads and backloads carried, in the routes used and in the amount of fuel used.
• We will ensure that vehicles are regularly maintained and reviewed for environmental aspects
• We will favour ‘greener’ fuels
• We will promote efficiency for the routes and fuel used for making commercial visits.
• We will promote the use of travel alternatives such as e-mail or video/phone conferencing.
• We will endeavour to accommodate the needs of those using public transport or bicycles.

Maintenance and cleaning

• Cleaning materials used will be as environmentally friendly as possible.
• Materials used in office refurbishment will be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Culture

• We will involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.
• We will review this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
• We will provide staff with relevant environmental training.
• We will work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.
• We will use local labour and raw materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.