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We Did It!

Following our Green Mark certification to Level 1 in January of this year and our subsequent recent recognition as a B Corp certified company, Futures Supplies are delighted to announce they have now been awarded the prestigious Green Mark Level 2 accreditation.

Green Mark provides an internationally recognised environmental certification for companies to indorse their overall environmental performance. The certification process assesses, audits and certifies a business’ impact on the environment and wider community.

Futures Supplies have been able to demonstrate through this certification process, to our clients, employees and the wider community, that we are conducting business to the highest possible standard.

Purva Shah, Green Mark’s Customer Support Executive commented ‘I would like to say a big congratulations on achieving Green Mark Level 2! You had a fantastic submission and scored almost 100% across the board which is an amazing achievement’.

Congratulations to Andrew Hills our Office and ESG Manager for his commitment and hard work on this project and to all the team at Futures Supplies who continue to work tirelessly on improving our social and environmental credentials to help provide a better and more sustainable future for us all.

You can find out more about the Green Mark Certification here greenmark.co.uk/our-approach/

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What an Achievement!

We have loved celebrating Dave and Ian’s amazing 10 year anniversary at Futures Supplies.

Wow what an achievement hey!

Some say how have we managed to put up with them for so long but we’d definitely say we are lucky to have them.

We are super grateful for all their hard work, loyalty and for being such a big part of our journey.

Here’s to the next 10 years guys, we love you.

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Cheeky Panda Answers Your Questions

Why is bamboo so good for the environment? 
Bamboo absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide, grows without the need for chemicals, and helps prevent soil erosion. Its rapid growth cycle means it can be harvested frequently, helping reducing deforestation without damaging the environment, making it a sustainability super-plant!  

Is bamboo good for people with allergies or sensitive skin?
Bamboo fibres are naturally hypoallergenic and have antimicrobial properties, making them ideal for people with sensitive skin or allergies.  

I read bamboo is a really invasive plant?
Like many other plants, bamboo shouldn’t be planted where it’s not native. That’s why the bamboo grown for the Cheeky Panda is sourced from an FSC Certified Bamboo forest in China where it grows naturally and support the local habitats and eco-systems where the flora and fauna flourish in the surroundings of the bamboo shoots. That way, we get the environmental benefits of bamboo, without taking away or affecting ecosystems in other regions, and there’s no need to clear-cut any land either.   

Is bamboo toilet paper better than recycled?
You probably know where we stand on this (bamboo all the way!). There’s a few reasons for this. Firstly, while recycled tissue might sound eco-friendly, the truth is it’s not always what it seems. Sometimes, less than half of it is actually post-consumer recycled. The rest? Freshly cut trees. Not exactly planet-friendly. An other issue with recycled TP is BPAS, which are forever chemicals that have been shown to mess with fertility, hike up blood pressure, and more. Finally, cleaning up recycled paper to turn it into toilet roll involves a chemical cocktail that might end up in our waterways – not so great for nature and our aquatic pals.  

How is bamboo toilet paper made?
Our journey begins in the lush bamboo forests where this incredible plant thrives. Did you know that Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth? This humble grass is capable of growing up to 91 cm (about 3 feet) in a single day. Unlike trees that take decades to mature, bamboo reaches maturity in just 3-5 years.
This speedy growth cycle means bamboo takes the gold in the renewable resource race, one of the reasons we choose it for our home essentials. Plus, the bamboo we choose comes from FSC certified bamboo forests, so we can be sure that all our bamboo is sustainably harvested, and farmers are treated ethically.

When it comes time for our bamboo to get a haircut, we take great care to protect the forest’s biodiversity. Each bamboo pole is harvested one at a time, rather than clear-cutting large areas, which happens in virgin tree forests. This selective harvesting method ensures that the bamboo forest remains healthy and continues to support the diverse range of flora and fauna that call it home. By avoiding clear-cutting, we help preserve the forest ecosystem, ensuring it can regenerate naturally and continue to thrive. No Bald patches for our forests.

Once harvested, the bamboo poles are taken to a processing facility where they are chipped into smaller pieces. This is the first step in transforming raw bamboo into ready-to-use pulp. The chipping process helps break down the bamboo into a form that can be more easily processed in the pulp mill, where the magic of turning bamboo into paper begins.

We use sea freight for all shipments from China to the UK because it has the lowest carbon footprint, thanks to large cargo capacity, slow steaming, cleaner fuels, and emission controls.
In contrast, recycled tissue, despite being converted in the UK, often travels around the world as there isn’t enough recycled pulp available locally. UK converters frequently source recycled materials internationally before final converting and packaging. For example, recycled pulp might come from the USA, be pulped in China, and then shipped to UK converters for final processing. Our supply chain is straightforward and efficient, saving airmiles and going directly from forest to you.

We also ensure that our products and processes comply with environmental regulations and standards. This includes monitoring our use of chemicals, managing waste responsibly, and ensuring that our packaging is recyclable. 
Our converting factory uses renewable solar energy, with at least 95% of processing water recycled and reused. Environmental education is prioritised, and we’re proud to boast that our factory multiple environmental awards. 
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Small Steps Have a Big Impact!

At Futures Supplies we recognise that our business activities have an unavoidable impact on the environment. Our approach is therefor to support the environment by continually striving to make it part of our ethos to reduce the creation of waste through recycling.

This approach is applied throughout our organisation and through third parties involved in, or with our business, in such a way to facilitate the protection of the environment. We are committed wherever possible and practicable to sustainable practices, encouraging similar standards from all customers, suppliers, and contractors on environmental matters.

As part of this commitment to reduce, reuse, and recycle, we strategically segregate all our scrap plastic film waste such as stretch pallet wrap, pallet covers and plastic packaging.

This plastic waste is collected on pallets by our supply partners and reprocessed into recycled pellet ready to be re blown into new films for reuse in the recycled range of refuse sacks we sell thereby closing the recycling loop.

We have also successfully implemented measures to reduce and recycling all of our paper, card and plastics. Our printer cartridges are recycled and postage stamps are recycled through the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Regularly independently audited and recognised with numerous green accolades, we currently recycle over 75% of our waste, proving small steps can have a big impact!

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Help Us Make the World a Better Place for People With Sight Loss

Futures Supplies are delighted to be supporting the Royal National Institute of Blind People through its regular donations of used postage stamps.

The RNIB are committed to their fundraising appeals to raise awareness of sight loss, demonstrating the positive impact of donations and by highlighting where more support is needed.

The generosity of any donations helps enable the RNIB to continue to support those with sight loss and break down barriers for the increasing number of people with sight loss now and in years to come.

We believe that small actions can make a big difference so help us make the world a better place for people with sight loss by visiting the RNIB website to see how you can help too.

https://www.rnib.org.uk/

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Sustainability or Greenwashing?

Always keen to keep up with regulatory changes, our Managing Director Marc Kemp and Office Manager Andy Hills, recently attended an event hosted by the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with their Patrons Borenius and Metsä Group.

Held at the Leonardo Royal London St Pauls, the event consisted of two keynote speeches, as well as a panel discussion moderated by Lord Justice Snowden.

Sustainability and associated topics are top-trending subjects, on all platforms, across all organisations. However, what does sustainability really mean? What is required, legally or ethically, how is it achieved and how do you sort out the “buzz” from the reality?

Aksu Tuominen from Borenius gave an insight into the Green Claims Directive, the Proposal for Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste, and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

The second keynote speech was provided by Maija Pohjakallio and Kalle Ikonen from Futures Supplies’ partner Metsä Group. They focused on the practical experiences against the background of recent regulations, also shedding light on current EU deforestation regulation and nature restoration laws.

The insightful speeches lead to an interesting and insightful panel discussion on how the topics affect the ongoing concerns of businesses with panellists were Kalle Ikonen and Maija Pohjakallio from Metsä Group, Casper Herler from Borenius, and Andrew Griffiths from Planet Mark.

You can find out more about out sustainability initiatives on our website at www.futures-supplies.co.uk

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Launching the UK’s First Biological Soluble Paper Cleaning Sachets

Futures Supplies, in partnership with BioHygiene, are delighted to launch THE cleaning sachet to help businesses of all sizes create safe, clean, healthy spaces and reduce their environmental impact.

BioHygiene’s market-leading cleaning products harness the power of microbes, enzymes and natural plant derivatives that work deep into surfaces to quickly break down and remove dirt, grime and grease.

The new generation Biotechnology and Ecotechnology targets dirt, grime, grease and odours for a superior cleaning performance. Water-soluble paper sachets & recyclable packaging eliminates plastic waste and low-hazardous formulas protect staff from injury and ill-health.

Kinder ingredients protect our aquatic ecosystem and biodiversity. Smart dosing reduces storage and costs to streamline operations and sustainable, renewable raw materials reduce CO2 by up to 80%.

Try them now www.futures-supplies.co.uk/product.asp?p_part_code=007%2E702W

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Saving The Planet Since 2006

Scientific consensus states that carbon emissions must be reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change. Businesses have an important and essential role to play in meeting reduction targets. By reducing CO² emissions and carbon offsetting, businesses like ours are able to play their part in the climate change battle. 

Futures Supplies is delighted to have partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to ensure it continues to maintain its Carbon Neutral for the 16th successive year. This accreditation positions us as an industry leader with one of the strongest and most credible approaches to climate change. 

Since 2006 we have demonstrated our commitment to reducing our CO² emissions in accordance with leading edge quality assurance standards including independent certification to BS EN ISO 14001.

We are proud to be taking a net zero position on emissions by measuring the carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions associated with our business, reducing them at source, and then offsetting any unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits. 

To ‘balance out’ our emissions, we use our carbon credits to support projects throughout the world. We are currently supporting the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™. 

Projects selected within the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™ are based on their direct and indirect impact around the world – not just in offsetting, but also in supporting education, employment and clean water, as well as having net positive impact on the local wildlife and ecology. 

As a result of this reduction process coupled with offsetting the unavoidable emissions associated with our business, our carbon footprint is reduced to net zero.

You can find out more about our Commitment to the environment here https://www.futures-supplies.co.uk/environment.asp

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The Hygiene Bank Charity Evening

Futures Supplies are delighted to be a headline sponsor for the ‘The Hygiene Bank’ Charity evening in partnership with our client, the award winning commercial cleaning and facilities expert, Cleanology.

The Hygiene Bank believe that basic hygiene is not a privilege and their vision is that one day everyone living in the UK will have access to essential hygiene products. With a mission to bring communities, businesses and thought leaders together they hope to tackle hygiene poverty providing access to products and being a voice for change. Futures Supplies are delighted to be part of this exciting event.

You can find out more and how you can help support The Hygiene Bank here https://thehygienebank.com/get-involved/

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15 Years of Carbon Neutral Supplies

Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd has long been at the forefront within the cleaning industry for its environmental credentials and commitment to sustainability and the company is proud to celebrate 15 years of Carbon Neutral status in 2022

Scientific consensus states that carbon emissions must be reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change. Businesses have an important and essential role to play in meeting reduction targets and carbon offsetting enables businesses like Futures Supplies to play a part in the climate change battle.

In partnership with Carbon Neutral Britain, Futures Supplies is delighted to have achieved its Carbon Neutral status for the 15th consecutive year. This accreditation positions the company as an industry leader with one of the strongest and most credible approaches to climate change.

Since 2006 Futures Supplies has demonstrated Its commitment to reducing CO² in accordance with leading edge quality assurance standards. As a result of this reduction process coupled with offsetting the unavoidable emissions associated with their business, Futures Supplies carbon footprint is reduced to net zero.

Marc Kemp, Managing Director says “We are proud to be taking a net zero position on emissions by measuring the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with our business, reducing them at source, and then offsetting any unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits. To ‘balance out’ our emissions, we use our carbon credits to support projects throughout the world. We are currently supporting the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™”.

The South London based business was one of the first in the cleaning industry to gain certification to BS EN ISO 14001 and has won numerous awards for its ‘green’ initiatives including a coveted ‘Green Apple’ award. Its continued commitment to sustainability, confirms it as a pioneering and ground-breaking business.

Award Winning and Carbon Neutral FUTURES SUPPLIES was established in 1995. The company is a family run, independent distributor of washroom, cleaning, janitorial and associated products.

Its ethos is to deliver service, quality, value, reliability, with a commitment to environmental sustainability, using the most up to date technology and innovation. Committed to integrity and transparency in the way the company operates, how the company supply goods and services and in its business partnerships, its aim is to provide an exceptional customer experience.