ISO 14001 certificate (no 505964)
|
Midland Lead environmental policy
|
| At Midland Lead, we take pride in our commitment to the environment. Right from the start, we have been very much aware of our environmental presence and associated responsibilities - sustainable production of lead sheet has always been and will remain the norm.
As a lead refinery, Midland Lead needs to operate under an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permit that is regulated by the UK Environment Agency. In short, this regulatory document controls and monitors all aspects of our business that have the potential to affect the environment and is backed-up by regular site inspections and assessments. In order to comply with the requirements of its IPPC permit, Midland Lead also has to demonstrate that it protects the environment by minimising emissions to air, land and water, by reducing its energy use and minimising waste production.
In order to effectively manage the work necessary to comply with the IPPC permit and demonstrate our commitment, Midland Lead decided to establish an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with the requirements of the internationally-recognised standard: BS EN ISO 14001. In June 2006, after an 18-month period of intense consultation, training, implementation and inspection, we were awarded a ‘certificate of registration’ by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to confirm that our EMS complied with the requirements of this standard. We are very proud to be one of the few UK lead sheet producers with an ISO 14001 certification for the entire manufacturing process.
Apart from the environmentally-conscious way in which we run our production facility, there are three more reasons why lead sheet deserves a place in the sustainable building debate:
1. Recyclability:
One of the greenest arguments to use lead sheet, is its recyclability. Lead can be used over and over again. It is easily recovered when a building needs to be demolished and with lead’s high scrap value, it is being recycled and nothing goes to waste. Moreover, at Midland Lead we use only recycled lead to fill our kettles - further reducing the need for primary raw materials.
2. Energy-efficient process:
In addition to lead’s excellent recyclability, the conversion back into new lead sheet involves an energy-efficient process. Due to a low melting point (327°C) and Midland Lead’s effective machine casting process, the manufacturing of lead has significantly less impact on global warming than that of synthetic materials or other metals developed as potential alternatives.
3. Durability:
Another key reason why lead sheet can contribute to sustainable construction is its long service life and durability. In comparison to synthetic and even natural weatherproofing alternatives, lead sheet is one of the most durable building materials and lasts over 100 years! It also requires little, if any, maintenance during its many decades - and even centuries - of service.
|
