We are very conscious of our responsibility to minimise the impact that our activities have on the environment, in respect of our manufacturing processes, our purchasing of raw materials and the day to day conduct of our other commercial activities.

All our adhesives, stains and lacquers meet COSHH standards, and we are changing wherever practical to water-based products. Cardboard packaging collected and returned to our factory is repaired and re-used. All off-cuts of cardboard and packaging are collected for recycling. Timber off-cuts and waste are used to heat our factory, via high efficiency wood burning stoves with clean air afterburners.

The environmentally responsible use of timber is a complex issue. Timber is an inherently renewable resource, and if sensibly used results in minimal pollution. Timber production can provide a substantial economic boost in needy areas of the world. As a responsible manufacturer, we have sought to purchase timber only from farmed sources, and ceased using any tropical hardwoods whatsoever in any of our products. However, following discussions with the Worldwide Fund for Nature it is becoming increasingly clear that 'farmed' forests can also be environmentally damaging, because, for example, plantations of a single tree species prevent the normal development of local fauna and flora. And although media attention is focused primarily on the destruction of the rain forests, enormous ecological damage is also being caused by mass felling in temperate forests, in both Canada and Scandinavia. Furthermore, whilst many claims from tropical hardwood producers regarding replanting have been found to be false, some responsibly managed tropical plantations do exist, and should be encouraged. The Forest Stewardship Council has now been established to provide both guidance to producers and independent inspection of forests.

Overall, our policy is guided by two major considerations. Firstly, all our management are acutely aware of the real dangers to our environment caused by our industrial society, and we feel a moral obligation to play whatever small part we can to improve the current situation. Secondly, as society as a whole becomes more environmentally conscious it is obviously commercially prudent for us to ensure that our products are sourced and manufactured in a way that will meet with our customers approval. All our purchasing and operational decisions now take account of both these moral and commercial imperatives, and are under constant ongoing review.

Waste Disposal

Policy statement

Since 1st January 1998 we have been legally accountable for proper disposal of product packaging, as outlined in 'The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations S.I.1997/648', in line with the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste 94/62/EC. We joined the 'Wastepack' compliance scheme, as in our opinion they were the only scheme that were genuinely concerned with recycling, rather than simply charging per tonne of obligation. During 1998/99 our obligation was to recover for disposal 163.2 tonnes, of which 34.6 tonnes must be recycled. Wastepack certified this as completed on our behalf. In addition to this, we have recovered (mainly from installation sites) 152.3 tonnes, of which 55.7 tonnes has been reused within our organisation.

It is our policy to recover and reuse packaging from our installation sites whenever possible. Waste cardboard is recycled through Hollands Recycling (Pensnett) and Guildford Council.

Requirement, ISBN 0-11-752557-X dates from 1991, superseded in 1996 by ISBN 0-11-753210-X. We are accountable under the 1997 Regulations for the disposal of packaging. Documentation supplied by Wastepack, backed up by internal reports of recovery and reuse satisfy this requirement of accountability. Duty of care Waste Transfer Notes are available for collections made by Hollands Recycling, but Guildford Council do not issue them as they provide a free service.

• Waste would be collected by either our distributors or us and returned to the factory for sorting.
• No collection boxes or carriers will be used.
• Reusable cardboard and crates would pass back to the packers for reuse. Pallets would be reused by production or despatch.
• Plastics used (mainly corner protectors and foam edging) are reusable more than once.
• Scrap cardboard and paper is skipped and taken away by Holland Recycling.
• Scrap board and timber is used as fuel for the factory stoves.
• Back door waste is kept to a minimum, but is skipped for general disposal, presumably incineration or landfill.

A Certificate of Registration under Control of Pollution is not necessary, as we are registered through Wastepack with SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency). They audit annually to ensure compliance of Wastepack and their members.

Risk Management

We operate from premises in Guildford, Pensnett and London. Our Head Office in Guildford is linked to the factory at Pensnett by a permanent 'kilostream' link, which carries both telephone and data traffic. Both our central computer system and our pc network are connected across this link - so as far as our computer and telephone systems are concerned, Guildford and Pensnett are part of the same building. Working from split sites ensures services would be maintained in the event of interruption to business at any site. Computer data is backed up daily and copies stored 'off site'. All hardware e.g. computers and communication systems could be readily replaced at short notice. All premises are fitted with intruder and comprehensive fire alarm systems, with insurance cover for business interruption up to £16.5M

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Sven Christiansen plc recognises its responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions and practices that are safe, healthy and comply with all relevant statutory requirements and codes of practice.

Risk assessments are carried out regularly under the requirement of the Health & Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health & Safety at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1994. Wherever possible, dangerous procedures/materials are eliminated from the manufacturing process, if elimination is not possible then appropriate procedures are set up to reduce the risks to a minimum and appropriate personal protective equipment is issued.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) COSHH requires us to ensure that we know the risks involved with the handling of all substances that may be harmful to the health of individuals. Health and Safety Data Sheets are provided to us by all our suppliers, these are reviewed and appropriate action taken to ensure persons are not put at risk. No substances or materials used within the manufacturing processes of our furniture pose any known risks to the users of the furniture.

Environmental Protection Act 1990
Emissions produced by our manufacturing unit are checked regularly and our processes and materials are under constant review to ensure we are minimising our emissions as required by the Environmental Protection Act.