CARBON NEUTRALITY

Climate Action is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and at Exceptio we are passionate to ensure we look after the world we live in. Since our inception, sustainability has been at the core of every choice we make.

We operate at the highest standard of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, with forward-thinking and green environmental working practices being central to our operating systems.

For example, what started out as a few simple changes (e.g. switching to LED bulbs and recycling as much waste as possible) has now grown into a policy pledge, to which we are fully committed.

Compostable Bags

Our compostable bags are made from potato starch and are 100% biodegradable, organically breakdown within 2 months. They conform to EN13432 and AS 4736/5810 - protecting not only your socks but the planet too.

Climate Awareness

Exceptio work alongside Carma Earth to produce their ‘warming stripe’ socks; with their ethos demonstrating that environmental stewardship and raising climate awareness goes hand in hand to create positive footprints on the plant.

Electric Charging points

Our corporate fleet comprises 75% hybrid and fully electric vehicles, and we provide electric vehicle charge points on-site for both staff and visitors to use.

Compression

Cardboard and plastics are compressed into dense bales that are sent directly for recycling. This landfill alternative allows us to meet our sustainability goals by optmising waste handling and streamlining daily operations.

Solar Panels in the UK and Portugal

On average, more than 20% of our energy demands in both our UK and Portuguese factories is supplemented by solar panels, and, to reduce energy consumption further, our knitting machines are the latest state-of-the-art Green certified models, allowing more accurate production producing less waste.

Rainwater Harvesting

Our mission to reduce environmental damage and preserve resources ensures the conservation of water is at the forefront of everything we do, and in the UK we have installed a sustainable water management system allowing us to harvest and recycle rainwater, which is used for flushing toilets, irrigation and outdoor cleaning.

Exceptio Sustainable, Ethical and Environmental Policy Pledge

  • Protecting the environment by striving to prevent and minimise our contribution to pollution of land, air, and water
  • Seeking to keep wastage to a minimum and maximising the efficient use of materials and resources
  • Managing and disposing of all waste in a responsible manner
  • Regularly communicating our environmental performance to our employees and providing training so that we all work in accordance with this policy statement and within an environmentally aware culture
  • Developing our management processes to ensure that environmental factors are considered during planning and implementation
  • Monitoring and continuously improving our environmental performance

The Directors will ensure that the Company reduces the environmental impact on the planet by:

Reducing transportation wherever possible, utilising public transport and facilities as Microsoft Teams

By investing in electric vehicles and ensuring regular servicing/ monitoring other vehicles/machinery with regards to emission levels/fuel/energy consumption etc

Ensuring that all lights and equipment is switched off when not required

Ensuring that water is used efficiently

Recycling all waste (shredding all business documentation)

Sourcing recycled materials wherever possible

In line with minimising our operational impact on the environment we, in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, are constantly reviewing energy usage, procurement, transport, water use and other business practices.

We aim to achieve zero waste production methods and use recycled or repurposed materials wherever possible, and everything we make is to the highest quality, which provides our customers with premium products that can be used time and time again reducing landfill.

The effectiveness of our Policy Pledge will be monitored and reviewed at least annually by our Directors, to ensure our continuing compliance with any relevant legislation and to meet new business requirements, and to allow the identification of areas in need of improvement.

What is Carbon Neutrality?

Carbon neutrality means not adding new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere, and where emissions continue, they must be offset by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

Net Zero Commitment

Everyone at Exceptio wants to do the right thing by the environment. We are committed to supporting the UK government’s ambition of being Net Zero by 2050 and aim to minimise our impact on the planet by working to science-based targets.

Our immediate goal is to become Carbon Neutral on scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2025.

And whilst our focus remains on the reduction of absolute emissions in line with the UN’s Paris Agreement goals, we have decided in the interim that offsetting our current emissions (using high quality and verified voluntary offset credits) is an acceptable interim.

The Exceptio Sustainable, Ethical and Environmental Policy Pledge is an ongoing mission. Our steps towards achieving carbon neutrality (conforming to PAS 2060/ISO 14068-1) are evident across all of our choices, and wherever possible the reduction of our carbon footprint and environmental impact is key. Every decision made aims to reduce our carbon footprint and help to create a more eco-friendly workplace. For example over the last 5 years we have installed solar panels on our factory roofs, upgraded our corporate fleet to 50% electric, and installed electric charging points for our staff and customers.

We see our Pledge as both organic, evolving through greater understanding gained over time, and progressive as we work to science-based targets. And during this process we aim to align ourselves with others that comply with our own sustainability values.

Being ethical and sustainable requires constant review, reflection and reinvestment and we will continue to make changes to ensure we’re building a better future for all.