We know our business success is intrinsically linked to sustainability. We set the bar for responsible operations and this has been recognised over the last decade by Governments, the wider industry, customers and media.
Working to global commitments such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, we minimise waste, optimise energy consumption, develop our people and work with our local environments.
Fully ISO 14001:2015 compliant and BITC CORE accredited, Encirc is an attractive sustainable business for stakeholders and customers alike.
Ours is a circular business model, fit for a truly circular economy. We are continually minimising our environmental footprint by investing in more efficient technology. Being 100% recyclable, glass is the most sustainable packaging material. No other packaging offers the same environmental credentials, which is why we always encourage its use and re-use within our markets, and even with our own employees and suppliers. Through communications and education, we aim to inspire more consumers to choose glass, building a legacy of sustainability within the food and beverage sectors.
Our choice of partners is critical to our own credibility. We will only work with organisations who have a positive record of sustainability, or those who are looking to genuinely improve their own environmental credentials. Our vision for market responsibility must be echoed in those around us.
At the same time, we know that there is still much to do at Encirc, in terms of further reducing our impact on the world around us and improving the diversity of our workforce. We will be transparent around our work to improve in these areas. By shining a spotlight on our own issues and by highlighting effective solutions, we can inspire others to do the same.
The people who work at Encirc are our most important asset, and their development is key to our growth as a sustainable business. Our employees benefit from a range of professional development programmes, wider support schemes and ongoing career guidance that help them get the most out of their roles. Find out more about careers at Encirc.
The importance of health and wellbeing cannot be overstated when it comes to building a sustainable workforce. This is why we give our employees everything they need to promote a healthy work/life balance. Our on-site gyms in Derrylin and Elton are free for all. At the same time, all our teams foster a culture to promote positive mental wellbeing for employees, and work closely with specialist industry partners to provide our colleagues with support wherever it’s needed.
Manufacturing is, unfortunately, not a very diverse sector. But Encirc is helping to change that with a range of planned developments over the next few years. We want to make this company a great place to work for everyone, which is why we’re on a journey towards total inclusivity and equality. To start with, we’re focusing on improving gender equality across our business, with the release of our new charter, outlining how we are making things fair for all employees. Find out more about our Women in Manufacturing Charter.
The places Encirc calls home in Northern Ireland, England, and Italy, mean everything to us. These communities support us every day by hosting our facilities and being homes for many of our employees. It’s incredibly important to us that we protect and care for the environments around us, which is why we are always looking to give back where we can. Whether that’s supporting local fundraising efforts, sponsoring sports teams, or making strategic investments, we’re in constant touch with our communities, to see how we can help.
Ethical and positive customer relationships, both internal and external, are fundamental to our future success. We work closely with our customers to give them an offer that meets their often-complex requirements, but also helps make the most of their budget while reducing their carbon footprint. Are you interested in finding out how to become an Encirc customer, contact us today.
To be the best, we have to work with the best. Encirc’s supply partners for equipment, materials and logistics go through a vetting process to ensure that their sustainability standards and responsible ethos is in-line with our own. This means we can benefit from cutting edge technology that allows us to maximise efficiency across our plants, and transportation methods which further reduce the environmental impact of our business.
We work with external wildlife partners to build projects that support the natural flora and fauna around our Encirc plants, conserving and enhancing the various species living on or near our premises. Collaboration with our communities is key to helping achieve our vision, which is why we partner with local schools and organisations to help educate them on how they can curate our surrounding environments. Our progress in this area was recognised in 2019 with Encirc being awarded platinum level in the BITC Biodiversity Charter.
We have re-written the rule book for sustainable transportation. Our railhead in Elton, helps us take thousands of trucks off the road every year, with half of our raw materials coming to our Cheshire site by rail. For overseas customers, we support bulk shipping processes which help them significantly cut both costs and their carbon footprint when bringing in beverages from the new world.
Find out more about bulk shipping.
Once the products are ready, our unique consolidated loading process lets us deliver multiple products direct to retailers. Find out more about our unique 360 offer.
Making glass containers on a global scale relies on large furnaces operating 24/7 at extreme temperatures to melt a mixture of materials. With a focused investment programme, expert suppliers and highly skilled batch and furnace teams, we have been successfully reducing our carbon impact year by year. All our furnaces are now fuelled by natural gas while we continue to develop our carbon-free fuel for our glass future.
We believe in the power of glass. It’s the healthiest and most sustainable packaging choice, able to be recycled over and over again, an infinite number of times. But to get the most out of this wonder material, we need to boost the levels of recycled glass (known as cullet) we use to make our containers. With this in mind we work to drive more sustainable consumer behaviours, minimise impact on water supplies and waste streams and invest in the best technology to make the best-quality containers, making the most of the cullet we have available.