As April 22 is Earth Day 2024, it seems like an ideal time to announce that we are partnering with cost, procurement, and carbon solutions company Auditel to assist us in achieving our strategic objective of reaching Net Zero.
Ever since the development of the first Firechief® fire blanket back in 1963, we have been committed to making the world a safer place by making fully tested and accredited fire safety products readily accessible. Firechief®’s British Standards Kitemarked products are distributed by the likes of Screwfix, Toolstation, Amazon, and installed and maintained by over 1,500 fire safety professionals and installers across the UK. From warehouses to high street stores, from corner shops to schools, Firechief® products can be found protecting thousands of locations across the UK.
What makes Firechief® different?
As a third-generation family-run business, we have five core attributes which we believe set us apart. One of these key attributes is sustainability, which encompasses our commitment to creating a better, greener world.
We also believe that fire safety extends to protecting the environment. This includes the way we do business, the chemicals we use and how we serve our customers’ needs ‘As a member of SEDEX we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our impact on the wider world around us.
New and emerging fire risks
The global agenda to cut carbon emissions and drive to net zero by 2050, is forcing society to adopt new technologies at a scale that is currently not sustainable. Swapping fossil carbon fuels for renewable energy sources is dependent on the ability to store energy, which translates into a deep reliance on Lithium-ion batteries.
While Lithium-ion batteries are extremely effective for this application, they can (surprisingly) easily become a significant fire risk. These thermal events are the result of a complex chemical reaction, which doesn’t behave like a traditional fire, so a risk-specific strategy to mitigate the impact is essential. Following extensive R&D and product development over the past 3 years, we now lead the market in offering a unique, multi-pronged approach, with a range of products that support our proprietary ‘Firechief® 8-Step Battery Safety HaloTM.
Net Zero: why now?
Firechief® is rapidly growing and engaging with new brands and organisations that will be distributing our products. Many of these brands expect us to be environmentally and socially responsible.
We already have a number of initiatives in place and as such, believe we have a good starting point for our Net Zero journey. These initiatives include:
- The introduction of PFAS-free fire extinguishers
- Developing a unique, environmentally friendly cardboard fire extinguisher headcap protection packaging solution
- Incentivising customers to buy in bulk to reduce the delivery miles carbon footprint
- The introduction of a paperless office, including electronic invoices and statements and product catalogues being printed on demand
- Having a modular, re-usable exhibition stand designed for our 2024 events
- An employee salary sacrifice scheme to make the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles easier for staff
- Installation of electric vehicle charging points at the office
- Introduction of a Cycle to Work scheme
- The ability for all employees to work from home one day each week
- Giving all staff one day a year to help with a community project or charity. Many of these projects have been environmentally focused.
- Achieving Investors In People Gold status in 2020 and again in 2023
We are very proud to be taking the first steps on our long-term journey to reach net zero. This is a project which will involve everyone in the Firechief® team in some way or other; so, for example, we will be educating all team members and asking them to be mindful of how they travel to work and to off-site meetings. Fortunately, many of us are local to our HQ and can walk or cycle to work and those who do come from further afield are already using electric or hybrid vehicles.