Straight Products Awarded Carbon Reduction Label

TIDMSTT

Straight PLC

14 June 2011

 
 Date:              14 June 2011 
 On behalf of:      Straight plc ("Straight" the "Company" or 
                     "the Group") 
 Embargoed until:   0700hrs 
 

Straight plc

Straight Earns Right to Carry Carbon Reduction Label

-- Straight plc demonstrates its commitment to reducing its environmental impacts by undergoing a Carbon Trust carbon footprint assessment and labelling its products with the Carbon Reduction Label

Straight plc, the environmental products and services group, has earned the right to display the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label on all of its polypropylene recycling containers. The Straight Kitchen Caddy range, Kerbside Caddy, Kerbside Box ranges, Wheeled Bin Inner Caddy range and Ecosort office recycling container range have all had their carbon footprints assessed by the Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company and they all now carry the Carbon Reduction Label.

The Carbon Reduction Label is displayed by products that have undergone an assessment of their total greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of the product's lifecycle, including production, transportation, preparation, use and disposal. Furthermore, those manufacturers that carry the Carbon Reduction Label have made a commitment to actively reduce the carbon footprint of their products over time. Gaining the Carbon Reduction Label is a rigorous process by which a calculation of the actual carbon footprint of each product in the range is calculated and considered with every stage of the product's lifespan.

Straight's products were assessed in line with the PAS 2050 standard, which was developed by the Carbon Trust in partnership with Defra. Both Straight plc's virgin and recycled plastic products were tested in order to clearly demonstrate the immediate reduction in emissions offered by the use of recycled materials and the commitment being made to a long term reduction in emissions. It is a key demonstration of Straight plc's environmental credentials since taking over its manufacturing supply chain just under a year ago. Straight plc has committed to submit further product carbon footprints for certification.

Jonathan Straight, Chief Executive of Straight plc, said:

"Through achieving the Carbon Reduction Label we have now set the bar and have clearly demonstrated our commitment to a long term reduction in emissions. The fact that tens of household name brands, such as Walkers, Dyson and Kingsmill, and thousands of products now carry the Carbon Reduction Label is testament to the growing movement for brands to clearly communicate their commitment to reduce the impacts of goods and services. We are very proud to be amongst the fast-growing group of brands which have gained this certification.

"It is very important that buyers appreciate the true impact of the products they are procuring. We would hope that such issues are taken into account as part of professional procurement exercises going forward."

Harry Morrison, Director, Certification, the Carbon Trust, said:

"We congratulate Straight on calculating the carbon impact of these products across their lifecycle and achieving certification. Straight can now communicate the carbon footprint of its products in a simple, robust and engaging way using the Carbon Reduction Label. The Carbon Reduction Label further highlights Straight's ongoing commitment to reduce the carbon emissions of its products."

For further information: please contact:

 
 Straight plc 
 Jonathan Straight, Chief Executive    07977 002 366 
 
 Redleaf Communications 
 Jenny Bahr/Rebecca Sanders-Hewett     0207 566 6700 
 

Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company

Sara Downey at [e-mail] 0207 592 1200

Notes to Editors

About Straight plc

-- Straight plc is the UK's leading supplier of specialist kerbside recycling containers as well as being a key supplier of a broad range of waste and recycling container solutions. Founded in 1993 by the current Chief Executive, Jonathan Straight, the business has since supplied more than 25 million kerbside boxes, baskets and caddies to local authorities across the UK, securing its position as the industry leader.

-- The business operates through two divisions. The core Trade Business supplying products in bulk to local authorities, utilities, the waste industry, retailers and other businesses and the Retail Business supplying a range of proprietary environmentally friendly consumer products directly to the public, often in partnership with a local authority or a utility.

-- In 2010 two acquisitions changed the business model, which previously relied on outsourced manufacture. In March 2010 Straight acquired the business and assets of the UK business of Helesi plc giving it a proprietary position in the wheeled bin market. This was followed in August 2010 by the acquisition of Powell Plastics, a key supplier of injection moulded products to the group. The Powell factory, in Hull, has since been developed to include a blow moulding capability.

-- In February 2009, Straight added to its portfolio with the acquisition of Harcostar Garden Products, a long established premium brand consisting of water butts, compost bins, watering cans and accessories. This gained new distribution channels for the business in the UK and in Europe.

-- In 2005, Straight acquired Blackwall Limited, the UK's largest supplier of home composters and water butts. Through the Blackwall brand, Straight has delivered more than 3.5 million compost bins and water butts.

-- Almost two thirds of the products the Group supplies are now produced in Straight's own factory.

-- Straight plc has established diverse overseas sales channels for its products, some of which are manufactured locally to their markets in North America and in Australia. Other markets are serviced from UK production.

Further information about the company and its products can be found at: www.straight.co.uk

The Carbon Reduction Label

-- Since 2007, the Carbon Trust has worked with numerous brands and individual product lines to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of everyday household items, as well as business facing brands. Many of these brands including Kingsmill bread, Tate & Lyle sugar, Quaker Oats, Dyson, Cemex, Morphy Richards and dozens of Tesco own label products now carry the Carbon Reduction Label on their packaging to show consumers they are committed to reducing their impact on the environment.

-- The Carbon Trust designed the Carbon Reduction Label to help companies communicate the impact of their product carbon footprinting work to consumers. Companies that display the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label (on pack, online or elsewhere) are making a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of their product or service.

-- The carbon footprint of a product or service is the total carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted during its life, from production to final disposal.

-- The Carbon Reduction Label currently appears on products worth GBP3.2 billion in annual sales

The Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company

-- The Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company provides independent verification of the carbon footprints of products and services against PAS 2050, the global standard for product carbon footprinting, the Carbon Trust's Footprint ExpertTM and the Code of Good Practice.

-- The Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ISO 14065:2007 to provide greenhouse gas verification.

-- The Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company was created with the sole purpose of providing independent and objective certification of product carbon footprint measurements. With this single-minded focus, the team have become experts in product carbon footprints certification worldwide.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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