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Download our full Sustainability Report for 2021

It has been a year of great challenges and also considerable success for Mansfield Pollard, but 2020, more than any other, was a powerful reminder to us all that we are part of one global community.  It is this realisation that continues to drive our sustainability journey and fuels our passion to really make a difference from a local, regional, national and even global perspective.

In 2020, our historic business was purchased by new owners who recognised the need to build a sustainable business that renews rather than depletes resources, that balances the will for growth with the need to conserve, and that provides stability whilst adjusting rapidly to changing market conditions.

Our sustainability activities aim to support the communities in which we operate, while ensuring that our customers receive the best quality products and services.  We believe that acting responsibly with regard to sustainability strengthens our company, encourages growth and is the base for Mansfield Pollard remaining a successful business for generations to come

One of the most encouraging things about sustainability is that we can all individually make a difference and small changes at home and at work add up to a significant impact especially when multiplied by whole sectors and industries.  In partnership with Carbon Footprint Ltd, we have the guidance, resources and tools available to build our sustainability framework and the 2020 sustainability report charts our progress to date. The framework is composed of four simple steps:

STEP 1 – MEASUREMENT:

A carbon footprint is measure in units of carbon dioxide equivalents (Co2e) and is made up of two parts, direct and indirect.  Our 2020 sustainability journey focuses solely on direct emissions as these are under the direct control of Mansfield Pollard.  In total, our carbon footprint for the year to August 2020 amounted to 473.48 tonnes of CO2e.

STEP 2 – AIMS:

As a business we have pledged to reduce our carbon footprint in the short, medium and long term.  As the business grows, it is our intention to intensify the reduction targets based on simple metrics using the base year GHG inventory as a benchmark.  In 2021 we aim to decrease our GHG emissions per £million of turnover by a minimum of 10%.

STEP 3 – REDUCING:

The scope of our operations gives us the opportunity to make substantial positive changes to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Over the next year we will be taking steps to reduce our environmental impact by a combination of examining, auditing, analysing , educating and changing the way we work.

STEP 4 – OFFSETTING:

On the 24th February 2021, Mansfield Pollard officially became a Carbon Negative business by offsetting significantly more CO2e than we currently emit with 1000 tonnes of CO2e offsetting our emissions of 473 tonnes CO2e.

We chose to become part of the solution to climate change not only locally but also in developing countries and as a business we decided to support projects that help de-carbonise electricity grids, improve energy efficiency, reduce deforestation and promote reforestation.

Our chosen carbon offsetting projects include tree planting in the UK and protecting the Amazon in addition to supplying fuel efficient cookstoves for North Darfur Women and are a reflection on the company’s dedication to helping local communities, advancing gender equality and promoting economic development opportunities.

Scheme 1: UK Regional Tree Planting Programme & Protecting the Amazon:

Using local tree planting specialists to ensure that the correct species of native broad-leaved trees are planted in the Yorkshire Region, Mansfield Pollard intend to organise tree planting events with local schools to educate, engage and inspire the next generation about the importance of the environment and conservation.

Scheme 2: Reducing Deforestation in Brazil

The Portel-Pará Reducing Deforestation Projects manages the local land in the form of a “private conservation reserve”, developing and implementing a management plan involviong local settlers living within the project boundaries, who will receive adequate resources, training in forest management and monitoring techniques.  Forest regeneration is a medium-term goal, which will increase the sequestered carbon, improve forest connectivity and the recovery of the local ecosystem.

Scheme 3: Fuel Efficient Cookstoves for North Darfur Women

Replacing three stone fires with one EzyStove® represents a huge 40% in wood savings. The stove also reduces smoke particles that are harmful to the eyes and lungs by 70% as well as promotes other socio- economic benefits.  The revenues generated by the sale of the carbon offsets contribute towards the assembly of the stoves, training for women, monitoring and project management alleviating poverty, advancing gender inequality and improving health.

Our journey has begun:

Although we are at the beginning of our sustainability journey, over the next twelve months and beyond, we intend to progress our carbon footprinting to increase the scope and encompass our supply chain, products and eventually individual employees. We aim to truly champion global, national, regional and local issues, firmly embed sustainability in our core values and act as an inspiration for the way in which we may all contribute in the future.