Advanced Acoustics and the Environment

Every member of the Advanced Acoustics team recognises the need to do all we can to care for the environment both on an individual level and a company level. As a company we have been making changes to the way we work and the materials we use to reduce our impact. There are still so many things that can be done and we are working hard to overcome challenges we have set ourselves. However here is the progress we have made so far. The aim of this article is not to blow our own trumpet or to guilt others into doing more. This article is purely here to assure you of the steps we have and are taking to reduce our impact on the environment. Product Materials From the very beginning we have strived to keep product material waste as low as possible. This has a two fold benefit. The obvious benefit is that the less waste we have, the kinder we are to the environment. Secondly, reducing product waste helps to keep the costs as low as possible for the end user. We do this by optimising the yield from raw materials through good production techniques and efficient machinery. Less waste - more yield - lower product costs. Doing this does mean that we have to think more about how to get get the best yield and alter our production methods. We believe that the extra time it takes to do this is well worth the effort. It isn't possible to totally eliminate all waste so any foam waste or off-cuts we do have is sent away to be repurposed into underlay. The fabric we use in our Office Acoustic Panels is 100% post-consumer recycled polyester with EU Ecolabel Certification from Camira Fabrics. The timber sheet that goes into the make up of our acoustic panels are all certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. We also carry a range of Acoustic Felt Panels which are made from at least 65% recycled material and is completely recyclable at end of life. In addition to this we can recycle any acoustic foam products you no longer require. You simply arrange to ship the foam tiles, panels or bass traps you no longer require to us. We will process it and send it away to repurposed for other uses. Packaging Materials The bulk of our products are dispatched in cardboard boxes or corrugated card which are 100% recyclable. At the moment we use polypropylene packing tape but we are in the process of phasing this out and switching over to paper tape once our current stocks have been depleted. We aim to complete the switch over by the end of 2022. Once this has been completed every element of our packaging will be recyclable. A small amount of orders are shipped out in mailing bags. All of the mailing bags we use are made from at least 50% recycled plastic and are themselves 100% recyclable. The rest of our orders are sent out by pallet. We only use recycled pallets. These are either pallets that we receive from suppliers and re-use or used pallets that we buy in. The pallet wrap is also 100% recyclable. All of the cardboard that we receive from suppliers' packaging is completely recycled as is all paper waste and plastic packaging. Any pallets that we can't reuse because they are odd sizes are either sent back to the supplier on return runs for them to re-use or they are broken up and used to repair damaged standard sized pallets. Delivery Agents The three main agents we use to deliver your order to you are DHL, Parcel Force and Palletways. All three companies recognise the need to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. DHL have repeatedly redefined logistics, from introducing the industry’s first green product to becoming the first logistics company to commit to a zero-emissions target.