Temple Bookbinders Limited
Environment and Sustainability Policy

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint, by continually working to improve our environmental performance ensuring all materials used in the hand book binding processes are not wasted; working in a sustainable way.

Temple Bookbinders Limited believes that all businesses are responsible for achieving good environmental practice and operating their business in a sustainable way. All employees work to this policy, with new team members having this explained to them during their induction.

Temple Bookbinders Limited use Grundon Waste Management who is certified under Government legislation to deal with all recyclable waste. All employees understand and practice this using the coded bins to collect paper, card, plastic and board.

Paper and board is purchased from FSC accredited suppliers.

Our policy is to:

Ensure we all work to reduce wastage. Minimise our waste; then reduce wastage, reuse or recycle as much as possible.

Reducing waste enables cost improvements and reduces the business’ carbon footprint. Materials are ordered as required reducing stock levels. Employees cut those materials economically whilst ensuring quality, thus preventing wastage.

Minimise energy and water usage. In order to conserve supplies and minimise our consumption of natural resources, especially where they are non-renewable.

Operate and maintain company vehicles with due regard to environmental issues as far as reasonably practical and encourage the use of alternative means of transport, park and ride, car sharing, bicycle shelter and locked areas.

To continually monitor and reduce the impact of our hand book bindery on the environment and our local community i.e. be a good ‘neighbour’. Support the local community, parish council and groups.

Ensure that as far as possible we purchase materials and services from other businesses who do the least damage to the environment and encourage others to do the same.

Prior to purchasing materials or products, assess the environmental impact in advance and consider alternative ways of working.

For any issues relating to our Environmental and Sustainability Policy for our business please contact:

Ian Barnes – Managing Director
Temple Bookbinders Limited
Paternoster farm
107 Cassington Road
Yarnton
Oxford
OX5 1QB
01865 451940
enquiries@templebookbinders.co.uk

Energy

We all understand that inefficiencies in the use of energy impacts on the environment. At the time of refurbishing our building in 2017, we took the opportunity of investing in the then most energy efficient and cost-effective systems to light, heat and keep clean our book bindery. Low- energy LED lighting ensures light levels to work by but also saves on energy. Areas are closed down and turned off when not in use. We operate Monday – Friday 08 00 – 16 30 ensuring our light levels impact as little as possible on our ‘neighbours’. Security lighting and alarm systems are all that operate over-night.

Air heat, exchange pump is used for hot water supply and under floor heating, reducing our impact and carbon production. Under floor heating also helps our staff maintain and comfort level whilst at work and reduces the swings of temperature, maintaining a constant heat level (books like humans prefer a comfortable, constant, consistent temperature, not too hot and not too cold).

All equipment used in gold tooling and IT systems are turned off when not in use and overnight.

All team members are responsible for monitoring our energy usage and work in the most energy efficient way.

Water

We closely monitor our water usage. When water taps are used, for hand washing, all staff ensure they are fully closed to prevent water loss. Clean running water is a precious resource. Hand bookbinding processes do not in themselves necessitate water usage.

Raw materials however can be reliant on water so we do ensure our raw materials, e.g. paper, board, leather (using vegetable tanning processes) suppliers all conform to ecological and sustainable guidelines. All our products are sourced from companies within the UK, and where possible are sourced locally, thus ensuring as little as possible has global travel involvement.

Following individual product CoSHH guidelines, no book binding products are released into water courses or sewers.

Raw Materials

Leather used is sourced from suppliers where animals have been reared for their meat. These animals are sustainably reared on land that is not from areas of de-forestation. No child labour is used within the supply chain.

Tanning agents; are all vegetable agents used by our supplier, they are grown and processed in areas that are not adversely affected by either de-forestation or habitat destruction. They do not use heavy metals compounds, such as chrome or titanium.

Disposal of animal glue, PVA and board cutter / book press lubricants

All adhesives are reversible and water based. Any liquid waste is disposed of in the waste drum provided. Following CoSHH guidelines for each product used.

These substances are never recycled through the bindery.

Health and Safety.

Temple Bookbinders Limited encourages all team members to be responsible for themselves and for their environment, inside and outside the premises at 107 Cassington Road.

We are all responsible for our actions and their impact on our environment at work and at home. We all make a difference to our workplace, our community and promote environmental friendliness thereby ensuring a sustainable future.

Any breach is considered gross misconduct resulting in disciplinary action.

All team members are encouraged to suggest new ways of working to improve and promote environmental, ecological and sustainable book binding processes.

Policy re-written 31/03/17.

Ian John Barnes

Temple Bookbinders limited.