Business technology solutions provider, Brother has achieved carbon neutral status for its recycling and environment technology centre in North Wales as the business commits to reaching net-zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.
The site at Ruabon, which recycles used toner cartridges returned by Brother customers from across Europe, uses 100 per cent green-certified electricity to power the plant and a fleet of electric vehicles. Globally, Brother recycles more than 2.6 million toner cartridges every year.
The centre was certified by The Carbon Trust, which includes a calculation on the site’s scope 1 and 2 emissions determined by direct and indirect emissions from energy sources and emissions associated with vehicle use.
Brother has offset the remaining 173 tonnes of CO2e (FY2020) produced annually through the purchase of carbon credits to support the development of renewable energy projects in Kenya, Ghana, Indonesia and India. These projects include supplying clean energy for people with no access to electricity, providing 820,000 insulated fuel efficient stoves to help feed families and reduce deforestation, and making affordable water filters to increase access to safe water.
Additionally, the business also makes a donation to the rainforest charity, CoolEarth, for every cartridge it receives, which are 100 per cent reused or recycled.
The move comes as Brother Group announces its ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions – reducing Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions along a 1.5C trajectory – across its global operations by 2050. In addition, the group has revised its 2030 target to reduce its 2015 levels of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 65 per cent.
Sam Johnson, sustainability and organisational development manager at Brother UK, said: “As a business we are focused on creating a greener environment, from supporting our partners and customers in delivering more sustainable products and solutions to continually reducing our own carbon footprint.
“We’re proud to now be delivering a complete recycling process at our centre in Ruabon, that is certified carbon neutral and is presenting Brother users with the opportunity to join a circular economy.
“We are serious about our commitment to creating a positive impact and sustainable future for our communities, and this certification is a key step on that journey.”
Brother achieved its target of being 100 per cent zero waste to landfill across its UK operations in 2019, and runs a free recycling scheme to recondition and reuse toner cartridges.
The business is also the recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, having won the award twice for outstanding achievements in sustainable development. The award is the highest accolade in the country for business excellence.
