Environmental Policies
Sonifex Statement on the WEEE & RoHS Directives and REACH Regulation
As a company, Sonifex actively embraces its legal and environmental obligations outlined by the WEEE and RoHS directives. We’ve been recycling waste products for many years and see these regulations as a positive and responsible change to protect the environment. Our WEEE Producer Registration Number is WEE/EF0045SY.
Related Links:
Sonifex WEEE Product Statement (PDF)
Sonifex RoHS Product Statement (PDF)
Sonifex REACH Product Statement (PDF)
WEEE Directive
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was agreed on 13 February 2003, along with the related Directive 2002/95/EC on Restrictions of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) aims to minimise the impacts of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment during their life times and when they become waste. It applies to a huge spectrum of products. It encourages and sets criteria for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
All products manufactured by Sonifex Ltd have the WEEE directive label placed on the case. It gives a contact for individuals who are unsure about the correct procedure when the product has reached its “end of use”. Sonifex Ltd will be happy to give you information about local organisations that can reprocess the products, or alternatively all products that have reached “end of use” can be returned to Sonifex and will be reprocessed correctly free of charge.
RoHS Directive
Sonifex Ltd has phased out the use of certain hazardous substances identified in the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. The RoHS directive limits the use of certain hazardous substances currently used in EEE manufacture, including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and halide-containing compounds PBB (polybrominated biphenyl) and PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether). Elimination of these substances will result in more environmentally friendly recycling of electronic equipment. For the products which Sonifex manufacture, the main area where products were affected was in the use of lead for manufacturing and assembling electronics circuit boards.
Sonifex Ltd Recycling and Environmental Policy Statement
Sonifex Ltd has been implementing a successful recycling policy for a number of years, and has seen a positive benefit to recycling with an active company policy on reducing landfill waste. All employees are encouraged to dispose of any waste correctly.
We have created and will develop our existing Environmental Policy by minimising the production of waste through good working practice, economic recycling or reuse where possible.
Specific Aims
- Cultivate a work ethic with a high level of awareness of waste minimisation and recycling.
- Promote economy in the use of paper and other consumables.
- Encourage the purchase of recycled materials and those, which are suitable for disposal by recycling.
- Favour suppliers who also have positive recycling and waste management practices and who operate according to sound environmental principles.
- Minimise waste by encouraging the exchange, and reuse of equipment and materials amongst departments.
- Develop a waste management strategy, which accommodates recycling procedures and initiatives.
- Continue to develop and improve the range and scope of recycling schemes.
- Encourage departments to establish local recycling schemes, which are relevant to their individual activities.
- Energy conservation, by turning off lights when rooms are going to be unoccupied, only turn on machinery and manufacturing equipment over the period when it is required.
- Waste cardboard and paper, cans, bottles and plastic are all collected, sorted and stored prior to being recycled.
- Aluminium and steel waste, from our machining facility, is collected and reprocessed.
- Batteries, circuit boards, electronic components and fluorescent tubes are segregated and sent to official reprocessing sites.
- Toner and inkjet cartridges are re-cycled by a local company who donates to the Cransley Hospice.
- Old computers are sold to employees or given to local charities for re-use and redistribution.
Useful websites for further information
https://www.gov.uk/topic/health-protection/chemical-hazards
https://gokimco.com/hubs/lead-free/index.html
http://www.frcawley.co.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
https://www.recycle-more.co.uk
Conflict Minerals Statement
Conflict minerals relate to the mining of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (referred to as 3TG), from a location described as the ‘Conflict Region’. This is situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its surrounding countries. These minerals are often mined under human rights abuses and can be used to finance armed groups.
Sonifex is commited to promoting ethical business practices and sourcing materials from environmentally and socially responsible suppliers.
In the course of assembling printed circuit boards, Sonifex use components which may contain elements of precious metals we buy from other suppliers.
Sonifex expects all suppliers of components and bare boards to comply with the rules and regulations regarding ‘Conflict Minerals’.
Yours Sincerely
Marcus Brooke
Managing Director
Conflict Minerals Statement (PDF)
