Environmental Policy

We are part of Seafood Holdings Limited (trading as Direct Seafoods), an environmentally conscious company.

We recognise our responsibility, and wholeheartedly respect the environment. We strive to achieve environmental best practice throughout our business, which is why we’re setting out our environmental policy here.

It is our policy to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment by pursuing good business practices and meeting our legal obligations.

We ensure we reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.

We do not:

  • Discharge to water any animal waste or fat
  • Bulk store harmful substances
  • Distribute toxic or very toxic goods
  • Incinerate waste
  • Discharge manufacturing by-products to the atmosphere
  • Distribute or use GM organisms or biological processes
  • Use anything capable of emitting radiation into the environment

We do:

  • Care about you and our environment
  • Promise never to purchase fish from endangered species
  • Apply the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling to the management of our products and packaging
  • Recycle waste wherever possible
  • Use only licensed rendering companies for safe disposal of animal waste
  • Use only licensed waste disposal companies for safe disposal of cardboard, paper and disposable packaging
  • Incorporate in our environmental practices the best available technology that is economically achievable
  • Use external and internal email delivery and reduce printing of paper materials to reduce paper usage
  • Comply with the Packaging Waste Regulations 1997
  • Comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990
  • Integrate environmental concerns in our day-to-day decision-making
  • Actively seek to make improvements in our environmental control
  • Actively pursue waste reduction

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 has introduced measures and to ensure that recycling is given priority.

Water quality

We operate good water control and continually invest to improve environmental water quality in line with regulatory requirements.

Sub meters are in place at water outlets to ensure effective water usage.

Water drains are fitted with traps to catch debris before it is allowed to enter the drains and water system.

Waste

We accept that we have a duty of care as producers of waste. We ensure that those acting on our behalf for waste disposal are competent to do so.  We ensure they discharge their own duties correctly and are able to prove this by appropriate documentation and checks.

Packaging

Our fish boxes are solid board and are an environmentally friendly product. They are produced from approximately 92% recycled paper, both for its grey middle and lining papers. They can be recycled after use. Where Kraft papers are used, they are sourced from managed and sustainable forests.

Recycling

We actively encourage promotion of recovery and recycling of all materials. Efficient use of packaging materials is practised. We have adopted a policy to ensure that we recycle waste wherever possible. We recycle polystyrene, cardboard, plastics, and paper where possible across all our depots, ensuring minimal waste.

As a responsible and caring company, Direct Seafoods will work within the Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. We choose waste management practices that limit possible risks. We work to ensure immediate and future environmental pollution are negligible.

Hazardous (special) company generated waste

We acknowledge our responsibility as a waste producer, in particular with regard to the ‘Duty of Care’ outlined in the Environmental Protection Act.

Our waste disposal, waste management and the protection of the environment will be regularly scrutinised by the Health & Safety Committee to ensure that all controlled wastes are handled in a careful and environmentally appropriate manner.

Conservation of resources

Energy policy

We are committed to minimising the effect upon the environment without compromising the high standards of the manufacturing process we have established over the years, as well as the general on-site facilities.

We will endeavour to specify and incorporate energy efficient facilities in new buildings, new developments and any major refurbishments.

We will promote energy conservation among our workforce via communication, information and training.

Compliance with statutory regulations and minimisation of pollution

Transport

All our vehicles meet the current standard for exhaust emissions and use lead-free fuels.

Emissions to atmosphere

Whether or not processes attract any statutory requirement for control of emissions to the atmosphere, all efforts are made to reduce such emissions to as low a level as is reasonably practicable by the application of techniques to eliminate or by engineering control at source.

CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons

We have recently eliminated the use of CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons where suitable substitutes are available.

Refrigeration equipment containing CFCs

We have recently completed a scheduled phase-out of refrigerant liquids in common use that are considered to be ozone-depleting substances. These have been replaced with refrigerant not containing CFCs.

Chemicals/hazardous substances

Chemicals and potentially hazardous substances are used within certain areas across depots for certain cleaning operations.

The methods of use, storage and disposal of these substances are in accordance with the HSC approved code of practice (COSSH).

We will continually strive to reduce any waste we may produce from our site in all activities and we will endeavour to make the best use of waste that is produced. The company waste management system will be used to achieve this, and will ensure the efficient control of waste.