Environmental
Stewardship of the environment is a responsibility that Brintons takes very seriously and not an empty promise made to pacify the community and to impress our customers. It is a fundamental conviction which impacts upon our daily working lives and influences all our decision making.
No material can be purchased, no process introduced nor product launched without first carrying out a full appraisal of all its environmental implications. To this end, we have had, for many years, a clear and meaningful Environmental Policy governing the way we manage our business.
Our philosophy is clear; to produce carpets from renewable resources, with extended lifecycles, manufactured in plants continually striving to reduce their environmental footprint, by environmentally aware employees in sustainable communities.
Materials are purchased only from reliable and recognised suppliers who have been vetted to ensure that the products which they sell, the way in which they are produced, and the way in which they are disposed of, conform to our own very strict guidelines.
Wool is by far the largest component of our carpet and is naturally environmentally friendly, being entirely renewable and “fuelled by grass” in some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.
Manufacturing processes are continually developed and re-engineered to reduce and control energy and water usage, emissions, waste and impact on the local community.
Waste is an unavoidable part of the manufacturing and distribution process, but we make every effort to find ways of re-cycling. These outlets are many and varied but include re-cycled yarns, carpet underlay and agricultural soil improvement.
Carpet bought from Brintons is also friendly to the people who use it. Indoor Air Quality is protected through very low emissions of VOCs, even when new. The carpets meet the stringent standards of the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Plus programme and enable Brintons products to contribute to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an assessment system of the U.S. Green Building Council. Our carpets, far from polluting the air, actually remove some contaminants and improve the living environment.
In use, our carpets also have a positive impact. They are engineered for long life, reducing the extraction of raw materials and reducing disposal. Brintons wool-rich carpets stay cleaner longer and reduce the usage of water and chemicals during a lifetime of cleaning.
Finally, when the carpet has come to the end of its useful life, it has a high biodegradable content and has less impact on landfill. However, we engage with a number of research institutions to continuously find improved, viable and positive, methods of end-of-life disposal.
Brintons are commited to improving the welfare of our employees and the communities in which we operate. Sustainability is as much about the people as it is about protecting the environment. We have been in business for over 200 years and truly understand the meaning of sustainability. We have sustained our business through constant reinvention and improvement and that is the approach we take with our products and processes. Our long-term future strategy will ensure we continue to support our employees and communities for another 200 years and beyond. Brintons are committed to a better environment for all stakeholders; especially the sheep!
