Astra Signs sustainability and recycling policies

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Astra Signs sustainability and recycling policies
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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Starting out on the journey toward sustainability
• Have working practices in place and are in the
  process of formalising them
• Environmental management manual effective from
  07/02/09
• Working towards
• ISO 14001 - Environmental management standard
• ISO 9001 - Quality management systems
• BS 8901 - Sustainable event management

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Environmental management manual
• Periodic reviews will set sustainable
  environmental improvement project activities that
  can be monitored and measured including
• Waste minimisation
• Pollution prevention
• Energy and water efficiency
• Working with customers and suppliers on a range
  of environmental initiatives i.e. re-use or
  recycling used products, packaging, other
  materials

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Environmental management manual
• Investigating alternative materials or packaging
  that will reduce waste but will not compromise
  costs, reliability or quality
• This also includes investigating ways that our
  company can refine or redesign its operations or
  products to reduce energy use, solid waste,
  hazardous material use and other natural
  resources.
• Everyone must be aware that our commitment to the
  environment applies to all

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Reducing energy consumption
• Communicating with employees regarding energy
  efficiency measures such as shutting down
  equipment when not in use

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Recycling
• October 2008 December 2008
• Total weight 841 kg/week
• Weight recycled 492.87 kg/week
• 58.6 recycled (increase of 14 points since
  2006)
• Waste management procedure since 23rd February
  2008

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Recycling
• Contracts with a number of operators to collect
  and recycle where appropriate
• Paper, cardboard, glass, small plastics, small
  metal, textiles, biodegradable kitchen and
  container waste, mixed municipal waste. PVC,
  bubblewrap, vinyl sheet covering, foamex,
  perspex, composite aluminium, resin lined panel,
  fluorescent tubes, neon mercury tubes, sodium
  lamp, wood (soft/hard), plywood, MDF, wooden
  pallets, polycarbonate, Acrylic off cuts, correx
  and dibound, paint/tins, inks flushing fluid and
  solvents

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Recycling
• Fluorescent tubes
• Illuminated signs consist of Fluorescent tubes
  mostly 1.8 meters in length. A suitable sealed
  container is placed within our recycling area and
  used for the collection of used, unbroken
  fittings.
• The container, which is collected when full,
  usually containing 1420 tubes at a cost to Astra
  Signs of 23p/tube
• Glass from the lamps is separated and recycled
  into glass wool used to insulate homes
• Mercury from the lamps is distilled from the
  phosphor powders and re-used in the manufacture
  of dental amalgam
• Phosphor powders are re-used in the manufacture
  of fertilizer for the agriculture industry
• Metal components are forwarded to a specialist
  metal recycling facility for use in manufacturing

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Green products
• En Plus Chalk / Mineral Sheet
• Recyclable and Biodegradable alternative
• Pyramid display substrates
• Fully recyclable
• Polylite Plus Bubble Board
• Fully recyclable
• BIOflex Billboards and banners
• Fully biodegradable in 3-5 years
• 80 non-petroleum based
• Non-toxic formula

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Sustainability at Astra Signs

• Community involvement
• Sharp Digital grow bag project
• Supply large format graphic of the winning design
• Failsworth Youth Football Team (Under 11s)
• Sponsored team kit and training gear.
• St Clares Primary School
• Sponsored team kit and training gear
• Lalley Welcome Centre
• Supplied signage, office equipment, computers and
  printers.
• Versus Cancer
• Astra Signs Limited has sponsored this event
  supplying many graphics and posters over the past
  3 years.