In the same time that David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have become household names, public concern about climate change has reached record highs around the world.
The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas and coal for their homes, factories and transport.
When fossil fuels are burned, ‘greenhouse gases’ are released, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). The heat from the sun is trapped by these gases, causing the planet’s temperature to rise.
The world is currently around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in the 19th century, while CO2 levels in the atmosphere have increased by 50 per cent.
At Elliott’s, we have been championing these messages for years, with much of our stock being manufactured in the UK, and our existing eco-friendly food packaging alternatives. We recognise the significance and urgency of what is happening to our planet, and that is why environmental consideration is at the heart of both our strategies and hygiene products.
With further warming, some regions could become uninhabitable, as farmland turns into desert. In other regions, the opposite is happening, with extreme rainfall causing historic levels of flooding, as seen recently in China, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Along with this, our oceans, as well as their habitats, are in danger. Due to warmer oceans caused by climate change, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia has already lost half of its corals since 1995.
Wildfires are growing increasingly common in some areas where long spells of hot, dry weather have become increasingly common.
And as the ground thaws in regions like Siberia, contained greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere, further accelerating climate change.
Scientists believe at least 550 species could be lost this century if action is not taken.
What is being done about the issue?
All eyes of the world were on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow this November. It was the first since the historic Paris Agreement, which was adopted by 196 countries and territories at COP21 in 2015, where a 2020 deadline for several of its components was established.
Evidence demonstrates that the political will to bring about substantial and sustainable change is growing. This includes the United States’ and China’s recent joint agreement on climate co-operation, the U.S. pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 50-52 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and the United Kingdom’s target to reduce emissions by 78 per cent by 2035.
Experts agree that this is feasible, but it will require significant changes on the part of governments, businesses, and individuals.
The Earth is on track to warm by three to four degrees Celsius by 2100, with potentially severe consequences such as rising sea levels and the uninhabitability of large areas of the planet. As a result, it’s evident that what occurs in COP26 has global implications.
So, what can you do?
We know that due to climate change outcomes, many companies are and will be in the future, greatly affected in many different ways. Yet, many do not know what they can do to help fight it.
Here are three actions that all companies can put in place to do their part in the fight against global warming:
- Choose the right products
There are huge benefits to shopping responsibly. These advantages benefit not only the environment, but also the individuals who manufacture these items. Natural resources are being depleted as a result of a lack of sufficient sustainable production and consumption habits. A decline of the planet’s scarce natural resources not only impacts our generation, but also jeopardises the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
You’re making a conscious decision to lower your ecological footprint by choosing sustainable goods. You’re also supporting businesses that value environmental protection by switching to eco-friendly brands.
At Elliott’s, we have a wide range of products that will reduce your business’ carbon footprint.
We would first like to introduce you to the Evans E-Dose Super Concentrate Chemicals.
Ordering a concentrated chemical not only saves money, but it is also more efficient and has a lower carbon footprint than buying ready-to-use chemicals. Because of the higher cost of use, and weight (due to the lack of water in a concentrated product), the vehicle transporting it (whether from the factory to Elliott’s, or from Elliott’s to the customer) is more cost effective. This is because transporting lighter products is more fuel efficient as it leaves space for other concentrates.
For example, if a 1 litre concentrate provides 100 ready-to-use trigger bottles, think of how much space is saved on the vehicle than transporting 100 individual trigger bottles.
Our Green Sack Co bin liners are made from 100 percent recycled farm plastics waste, which helps to conserve resources and reduce landfill. The used bale wrap enables superior performance, giving them up to 10 times the tear resistanceof other leading refuse sacks.
We also stock recycled everyday products such as hand towels, paper products, toilet rolls, and centre feed rolls. Some of our paper products are even dissolvable, reducing maintenance work, offering excellent performance during use, and leaving absolutely no waste! (Please note that these products are not held as stock but can be ordered on enquiry).
It is also worth noting that all Evans chemicals with a green tick have a low environmental impact. The criteria chosen are utilised to establish a holistic life cycle view of the processes and products, as well as to comply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Finally, our Envirowipe cleaning cloths are fully compostable, can absorb up to 10 times their own weight, and are machine washable several times.
2. Reuse what you can
Another more obvious option to reduce your carbon footprint is to reuse products where it is hygienic to do so.
Better quality equipment is harder-wearing and built to last, so you can use it several times without having to invest in more.
The Vikan hygiene sweeping brushes, squeegees, and shovels are perfect for this, as they last six times longer than many standard items. As a result of using items with longer lifespans, five fewer items end up in landfill per item bought, giving you assurance that your choices are contributing towards making a difference.
It’s important to mention that 
by reusing certain products, you don’t have to compromise on hygiene or quality.
All Vikan microfibre products are designed to withstand heavy use and come with a ‘500x wash-and-use’ guarantee on most of their fabrics. Along with these, we also stock Vikan launderable mop heads, which provide the best lifespan.
3. Retailer
More than 50 per cent of consumers aged 16 to 34 would choose to buy with a business that has consistently worked to be environmentally friendly than as opposed to one that has not. According to research by retail technology expert Conversity, this shows a shift in consumer consciousness toward more responsible shopping. As a result, you, as a business owner, have a chance to grow your environmental efforts in order to match this need.
At Elliott’s, much of our stock is also manufactured here in the UK, meaning many of our products have a significantly lower carbon footprint than those mass produced in countries abroad such as China and India.
Unlike many other suppliers, we also have our own fleet of vehicles and plan sensible delivery routes, rather than working on timed delivery slots that waste fuel, however we still ensure that we deliver conveniently.
If you would like to find out more about any of the products mentioned in this blog, or about the services we offer, then call our friendly team on 01482 327580 or email enquiries@elliotthygiene.com.
