• About Us
  • Our Divisions
  • Investors
  • Media
  • Sustainability
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
In this section
The Environment
You are here: Home > Sustainability > The Environment

The Environment

We recognise the importance of responsible environmental management and the obligation to protect the environment.

In particular we focus on:
  • Property: reducing the use of energy and water consumption
  • Transport: minimising emissions from our transport fleet
  • Waste: seeking opportunities to minimise waste produced in all sections of the business
  • Complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, standards and other relevant codes
  • Providing, where possible, the most efficient solutions for heating and pipeline processes
  • Working with our suppliers towards ensuring effective environmental supply chain management
  • Having technologies in place at Buck and Hickman that monitor the fuel consumption of each commercial vehicle and this will be used to promote more fuel efficient driving
  • Remote monitoring of electricity, gas and water consumption at all sites above a certain size to focus on usage reductions
  • Installation of intelligent heating systems in new branches wherever possible
  • Planting 300 trees in the National Forest to mark the opening of the 300th PTS branch

This year, following the development of our Environmental Management system, we have achieved ISO14001 accreditation for our Group Head Office in May 2009. Buck and Hickman part of the Specialist Division has held ISO14001 accreditation for several years.

During 2008/09 in excess of 350 sites have been engaged in our recycling programme. Waste cardboard and plastic is backhauled to the distribution centres where it is bailed and then sent to the recycling mills. During the last 12 months we have recycled 279 tons of cardboard and 59 tons of plastic. As a consequence the number of bin collections has been substantially reduced. Our largest waste collector, who services 347 sites, has collected 1.7 tons less per site per annum during 2008/09 compared to 2007/08.

We had no prosecutions relating to environmental matters during the year. This reflects in part the fact that as a distributor our activities generally have a lower impact on the environment but also our proactive approach when planning and developing new branches.

CO2 Direct Emissions(1)   Absolute tons 2008/09
Business operations Fossil fuel use on site (2) 16,135
Owned transport Fuel used by vehicles 21,178
CO2 Indirect Emissions(1)   Absolute tons 2008/09
Electricity Yearly consumption of directly purchased electricity in KWh 11,102
Employee travel Recorded miles of third party provided transport (air and rail) as well as self-recorded miles (road) 3,224
Total Emissions   51,639

(1) The Carbon Trust, carbon footprint calculator was used to convert usage into CO2 emissions. Emissions disclosed cover circa 90% of the sites of the Group.

(2) To convert gas figures an average calorific value of 36.4 was used.


Supplied Water Use   Absolute tons 2008/09
Supplied water Actual or estimated volume of water used 24,873
Hazardous Waste   Absolute tons 2008/09
Recycled/treated Actual or estimated weight of waste generated 3
Non hazardous Waste   Absolute tons 2008/09
Recycled Actual or estimated weight of waste generated 909
Landfill Actual or estimated weight of waste generated 3,972
Total   29,757

Because of the increase in volume of data gathered, the opening of 30 sites and the acquisition of Birchwood, comparison of this year’s results with those from 2008 do not provide a useful indication of performance or trends. We will continue to develop our data systems in order to present a basis for year-on-year comparison in future reports.


We recognise that waste and emission output are our most significant environmental impact and are able to report the following:

PTS part of the Domestic Division exhibits renewable energy products at Green Energy Rooms in Nottingham and Newcastle as well as a Renewables branch in Aylesford. The Green Energy showrooms offer advice to make an informed choice about being socially responsible and cutting household bills when considering heating and plumbing options. Currently PTS and F & P offer a range of energy efficient products and emergent renewable technologies.

Renewable energy solutions are considered and installed at new branches subject to landlords’ consent and favourable physical conditions of the building. In addition, we are now monitoring ‘intelligent lighting’ systems in branches. Intelligent lighting turns warehouse lights off automatically in areas which are not used for a period of time.

The FTSE Group confirmed that The BSS Group plc had been independently assessed according to the FTSE4GOOD criteria, and continues to satisfy the requirements to be a constituent of the FTSE4GOOD index series. Created by the global index company FTSE Group, the FTSE4GOOD is an equity index series that is designed to facilitate investment in companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. Companies in the FTSE4GOOD index series have met stringent social, ethical and environmental criteria, and are positioned to capitalise on the benefits of responsible business practice.