CARBON NEUTRAL SINCE 2012
of our electricity comes from renewable sources
Over
of our waste is recycled
of our company vehicles are either electric or hybrid
Carbon Neutral
CARBON NEUTRALITY
Independently assessed as carbon neutral since 2012
Thorlux has been officially recognised as being carbon neutral since 2012, with systems of reduction, measurement, and certified offsetting all in place. This decade-long status has been independently assessed by a third party in accordance with ISO 14064-1, an international standard for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. Meeting this standard provides independent assurance of Thorlux’s longstanding commitment to sustainability across all its operations worldwide.
What does “carbon neutral” mean?
Being carbon neutral means that Thorlux offsets the carbon dioxide emissions it generates (scopes 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) through its business activities.
Scope 1
All direct emissions from the activities of an organisation, including fuel combustion on site, such as in gas boilers and its fleet of delivery and other company-owned vehicles.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. These emissions are caused during the production of the electricity used by the organisation.
Thorlux is a carbon-neutral company through a combination of measures. Company-wide initiatives such as energy use minimisation, self-generation of renewable energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) units, and procurement of renewable energy have reduced Thorlux’s carbon footprint, whilst trees in its award-winning carbon offsetting afforestation project sequester the remaining carbon dioxide produced.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Sustainability at Thorlux
Our commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Sustainability and the environment have been at the core of Thorlux for many years and we have always been committed to doing the right thing for both people and the planet.
We have worked hard to reduce the environmental impact of our manufacturing and selling activities and carefully consider the implications our products have during and at the end of their life. Through our environmental monitoring programme, which is independently certified to the environmental management standard ISO 14001, we continually measure and improve our environmental credentials.
Thorlux has a long-standing commitment to tackling global environmental challenges, principally through its core business of manufacturing energy-efficient lighting equipment. The company has a genuine desire to become a more sustainable business.
Over the last two decades, at Thorlux we have sought to address our carbon impact by working towards carbon neutrality for our manufacturing and distribution operations. It gives me huge pleasure that our hard work and ambitions have paid off in achieving our carbon-neutral status both now and historically.
But our work doesn’t stop here. By assessing our carbon impact across our manufacturing and value chain and setting science-based targets in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, our goal is ultimately to reach zero carbon status well before the UK’s target for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Watch this space.
FW Thorpe Group Chairman
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Lighting Management Systems and Energy Saving
From an environmental point of view, the greatest impact of a luminaire is during its operating phase and, specifically, how much energy it consumes.
Thorlux has made a huge investment in LED technology, including circuit-board design, software development, thermal modelling and optical lens design, ensuring its luminaires provide the greatest lighting performance with the best use of energy and minimal stray emissions. Using the most up-to-date and high-quality LEDs, based on criteria such as colour rendering, luminous flux and thermal stability, guarantees that Thorlux luminaires offer exceptional quality in terms of luminous efficacy and lifetime.
For over 25 years, Thorlux has been developing energy-saving lighting control systems to reduce energy consumption and prolong the lifetime of its luminaires. The award-winning SmartScan lighting management system combines maintained illuminance, daylight dimming and presence detection to maximise energy savings, in some instances by more than 70% compared with traditional technology. Even during short winter days, there can be sufficient daylight for the luminaires to dim, supplying energy savings throughout the year.
To learn more about energy saving, visit Thorlux SmartScan.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Manufacturing Excellence
- Thorlux is proud to manufacture 97% of its luminaires at its facility in Redditch, Worcestershire, UK. This allows complete control over the manufacturing process ensuring that negative environmental impacts are minimised while conserving energy and natural resources.
- A multi-million-pound investment has allowed the business to modernise its manufacturing capability whilst increasing efficiency.
- Several Thorlux employees have passed the green belt Lean Six Sigma training course. Lean Six Sigma is a method that relies on a collaborative team effort to improve performance by systematically removing waste and reducing defects or mistakes.
- Thorlux has a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with WMG Business and is working on a transformational project providing valuable insight into the latest academic thinking around sustainability and climate change, with the strategic aim of embedding the principles of the circular economy in all Thorlux operations.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Waste Management
The manufacturing process is constantly checked to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.
Any waste generated, including end-of-life components, is subject to ethical disposal or recycling.
- All scrap metal (stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel and copper) is collected and recycled.
- Batteries are taken away and recycled. We work with ECOBAT, a leading company in the closed recycling loop for batteries.
- Using reusable steel kitting boxes – designed and made in-house – to move small components around the factory prevents two-and-a-half tonnes of cardboard waste per year.
Over 88% of the company’s waste is currently recycled, with targets to reduce landfill waste to zero in 2024.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Electricity Consumption
As a part of its carbon reduction initiatives, Thorlux has installed solar photovoltaic (PV) units on the roof of its manufacturing facility.
The original Thorlux solar installation came online in 2019 and supplied around 225,000 kWh of electricity per annum. In 2023, the solar grid was considerably expanded; it now delivers an impressive 1 million kWh per annum, from a total of 3,138 panels.
This electricity helps to power the plant and equipment as well as charge the company’s fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles. On days when demand is lower, any excess energy created will be fed into the national grid.
Over its anticipated 25-year operational lifetime, the solar PV system will avoid the creation of approximately 4,856 tonnes CO₂e through reduced consumption from the National Grid.
The PV grid, coupled with other green electricity supplies, means that the Thorlux factory and offices run on 100% renewable electric sources.
Live
Solar Photovoltaic Data
Green Energy Generated Today
MWh
Green Energy Generated Since Installation
MWh
CO₂e Avoided Since Installation
Tonnes
i1 MWh (megawatt-hour) = 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hour)
Last updated: 19-Sep-2024 08:10:26 (Europe/London)
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Packaging
Thorlux is working to eliminate plastics, increase recycled content and reduce our overall packaging.
All cardboard packaging is made from recycled sources and recycled on-site. Vinyl-based packaging has also been replaced with paper-based tape.
Thorlux has moved to digital installation guides, saving over 1.3 million sheets of paper per year – equivalent to 131 trees. By scanning a QR code on either the packaging or the product users have access to installation information for both the luminaire and the lighting control system.
All printed literature is made of material from well-managed, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests and other controlled sources.
Thorlux has been piloting a cardboard recycling scheme for its luminaire packaging. To date, ten tonnes of cardboard has been returned to Thorlux, which has either been re-used or recycled through our waste management partners.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Vehicles
Thorlux uses its own fleet of lorries and vans ensuring its deliveries are energy-efficient and low-emission. The fleet all use the latest engine technology and are Euro 6 as well as ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) compliant.
In all, 54% of company cars are either hybrid or fully electric vehicles (EVs). Thorlux has a proactive policy in place to increase its use of EVs.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS
Carbon Offsetting
Thorlux operates an ambitious carbon-offsetting scheme to help compensate for the carbon dioxide (CO₂) released because of its manufacturing and selling activities.
Thorlux chose to plant trees because trees and other plants absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis. One tree grown to maturity in open space can absorb approximately one tonne of CO₂ over its lifetime. A forest covering many acres can effectively lock up CO₂, creating a ‘carbon sink.’
Planting at the 215-acre Thorlux woodland site began in 2009 and since then it has become the first site in Wales to be accredited to the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC). WCC is an independent standard devised by a group led by the Forestry Commission to certify woodland creation projects that can measure how much carbon is captured and stored.
Thorlux has now planted an incredible 179,412 trees. The woodland is anticipated to offset more than 44,385 tonnes of CO₂e over the next one hundred years.
Please see the carbon offsetting page project for further information.
The site has a net capacity of 36,413 tonnes of CO₂e for the offsetting of FW Thorpe Plc emissions.
Our plans
Thorlux Lighting is committed to addressing the sustainability challenges of not only today but also tomorrow. Understanding the needs and expectations of both customers and stakeholders is central to ensuring that Thorlux prioritises the most critical issues and operates a responsible and sustainable business.
The goal for Thorlux is to reach zero carbon emissions. To do this, a responsible and credible plan is needed.
Thorlux has now established its baseline carbon emissions and has partnered with an independent third-party specialist to calculate the company’s scope 3 emissions. Targets can now be set to address them. Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions from Thorlux activities, from sources it does not own or control.
The aim is to set ambitious science-based targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and Thorlux ultimately becoming net zero.
Thorlux takes the responsibility of reducing carbon emissions very seriously and is determined to do its part to limit climate change.
