Responsibly managing the waste we produce
We work hard to manage the waste we produce in a responsible way. Our approach is based on reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering.
We reduce the amount we create as a by-product of our processes, we reuse where possible, we recycle in an effort to avoid disposal via landfill or incineration and where waste is incinerated, we recapture the energy.
Our ‘No Waste’ factory
We have set a waste management target to reduce incinerated and landfilled waste production per tonne of product by an average of 4% year on year. One of the ways we are getting closer to this is by working towards a circular economy model. In this model, durable goods are designed to be repaired rather than replaced, and biological materials are managed so they can be returned to the biosphere without contamination. It’s estimated that 90% of the raw materials used in manufacturing become waste before the product leaves the factory, and 80% of products made are thrown away within the first six months.
On target¹
- During 2020, the amount of waste sent for incineration and landfill per tonne of product decreased by 14% compared to 2015.
- In total, we diverted 71% of all our waste in 2020.
- The absolute amount of waste diverted from disposal has increased by 20% since 2015.
- Reducing landfill is also a priority and 15 of our sites (36%) are now without landfill waste.
We believe that minimising waste is closely connected to responsible sourcing. By using raw materials in a mindful way and promoting sustainable working practices, we can cut down the amount of waste we produce and improve our environmental footprint.
Progress on waste 2015-2020
 |
Waste by type and disposal method in tonnes | 2015 (restated in 2020) |
2018 (restated) |
20192 (restated in 2020) |
20203 |
| Hazardous waste | 26,232 | 30,917 | 32,100 | 33,312 | |
| Non-hazardous waste | 36,468 | 41,788 | 40,345 | 39,481 |
For more on our latest progress, read our 2020 GRI sustainability report and our 2020 Integrated Annual Report.
- Latest targets progress
- Assured 2019 full year figures
- New 12-month reporting period: Q4 2019 – Q3 2020
Upcycling
As part of our efforts to reduce waste, we have also been exploring upcycling. Also known as creative re-use, upcycling is all about transforming waste materials into new items of better quality. Much more than a passing trend, it’s a vital way for all of us to make better use of the earth’s resources and reduce waste. Find out more about some of our upcycled innovations.
