With sustainability at the core of its business values, Xpress Labels is continuously pushing to reduce its environmental impact, whilst ensuring a high-quality product.
Based in Aylesbury, Xpress Labels are a label printing company that has been in operation for over 20 years. Catering to a wide range of industries from food and beverages to industrial products, they have produced over four million square metres of labels since they started.
“The carbon footprint was easy to calculate”
With a series of certifications and accreditations already secured, Xpress Labels are clearly already committed to sustainability, and they registered for the Net Zero Bucks programme to further explore how they could reduce their emissions. Although they had already implemented some green initiatives, the company was eager to learn more about potential improvements.
Following their carbon footprint assessment with a Net Zero Adviser and receiving a detailed Net Zero report, they scheduled a site visit to further assess any areas where sustainability could be further improved.
Phil Metcalfe, Sustainability Manager at Xpress Labels, said: “We had already paid for a consultant to calculate our carbon footprint, but the results were disappointing and void of useful detail, so when Buckinghamshire Business First offered a carbon footprint package as part of the Net Zero Bucks project, we jumped at the chance.
“The carbon footprint was easy to calculate with the support from the Net Zero Bucks team, and reassuringly transparent, and the Climate Essentials software will be a useful tool to provide evidence for our journey towards carbon neutrality. We are very grateful for the support and delighted with the outcome of the Net Zero Bucks scheme.”
Embracing sustainability as part of the culture
During the site visit, it was evident that Xpress Labels had already made significant investments in sustainable infrastructure. All lighting had been upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs, and the company car was electric, with three onsite charging units. The office had modern heating and cooling systems, and insulation had been installed to ensure staff were comfortable, while minimising energy waste.
It’s not just the building that’s transitioning to net zero; sustainability had been embraced across the company’s culture, with many employees choosing to commute via public transport. All offcuts and by-products of the labelling process are split, bailed and recycled where possible: what was once waste is now a commodity (as they are paid for the bailed materials).
It’s not just the big wins they care about. Xpress Labels have installed accessible extension leads at every workstation, allowing employees to easily switch off appliances when not in use.
Plans for solar power
Although Xpress Labels have already made fantastic progress, they are continuing to seek out new ways to lower emissions and intend to conduct a staff survey to find out who has green energy tariffs at home, which will help calculate emissions generated by remote working more accurately.
They are even exploring the installation of a solar array to source electricity sustainably. In addition, the company is working toward achieving ISO 14001 accreditation by 2025, further strengthening their environmental management practices.
Xpress Labels is already a proud holder of the FSC® Chain of Custody Certification, is currently participating in the Zero Labels 2 Landfill and Zero Foil 2 Landfill schemes, and is also a member of CSR Accreditation, having earned a High Silver Award earlier this year. The company is now aiming to achieve the Gold Award in early 2025, with a longer aspiration to attain B Corp certification by 2027.
Proof that businesses can always find new ways to improve
Xpress Labels' strategic approach to sustainability shows how businesses, even those already invested in lowering their carbon footprint, can continually find new ways to improve. Their proactive efforts not only contribute to reducing emissions but also set an example for other companies to follow.
Through their journey with Net Zero Bucks and their ongoing plans for future improvements, Xpress Labels show that sustainability is not just a goal, it’s a continuous and committed journey.
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Buckinghamshire Business First's Net Zero Bucks is funded by the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund, which is managed by Buckinghamshire Council.