Reducing Emissions one Step at a Time

Staircase manufacturing may not be a massive industry, or produce a vast amount of emissions overall, but it is the responsibility of every company to do everything they can to contribute towards the planet’s overall net zero goals. Spiral UK is one of the country’s leading manufacturers of spiral staircases and our small factory is always busy with production in a variety of materials.

Whilst achieving zero emissions is not something that can be done overnight, every step that we can take to contribute towards this goal matters, and even the smallest changes can have a big impact in the long term. We have been working on ways to reduce emissions during production, so you can be assured that your bespoke staircase is being created with due consideration to the environment.

What is net zero?

Emissions refers to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being released into the atmosphere – and the amount being removed. net zero means that these amounts are equal, therefore negating the effects on the environment. Removing emissions entirely is doable, but in the first instance the aim is to reduce them as much as possible and to keep working at this reduction until the goal of net zero is achieved.

How can we reach net zero?

  • Reduce emissions: Cutting down on the amount of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas that are burned for energy and transportation is a massive part of the solution. Implementing alternative, renewable fuel sources and cutting down on non-vital processes that produce emissions are the main ways of achieving this.
  • Remove emissions: Using technologies to remove or absorb any emissions that can’t easily be reduced. For example, planting trees to absorb CO2 or recycling gases produced in manufacturing as an alternative energy source.
  • Use renewable energy: Using energy from natural sources that won’t run out, like wind and solar power, are effective ways of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and therefore cutting down on harmful emissions.
  • Switch to electric vehicles: Using low-carbon travel options is a simple change that can make a big difference to the overall emissions and fossil fuel consumption of a company.

Why is Net Zero Important?

Net zero is important because GHGs like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane trap extra energy in the Earth’s atmosphere, which increases global temperatures. The goal of net zero is to limit global warming to 1.5ºC, as agreed in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. This is the maximum increase that is considered to be manageable before we face extreme consequences which may no longer be reversible.

The UK government has a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The UK’s Net Zero Strategy outlines how the country will achieve this. 

What Changes Have we Made?

Spiral UK has been looking over its manufacturing processes to identify ways to reduce emissions across the business. One of the changes we have implemented recently is the purchase of a new rolling machine. This upgraded machine reduces the amount of waste material produced by the production of spiral staircases, therefore using less steel overall and minimising energy to run the machinery. Another simple improvement has been the   introduction of electric vehicles, including work vans and forklifts, which can be charged at our factory in Helston which has recently had an upgraded solar power system installed by GreenGenUK, including 96x JA Solar 410W Solar Panels.

Solar Powered Stairs

Our first solar panel installation was completed in 2014 in a South-easterly array to make the most of the morning rays, and has averaged more than 28,000kWh of annual generation for the last decade. GreenGenUK recommended that the new installation should be placed on the westerly facing roof to maximise daylight exposure, which means that the solar panels now generate energy throughout the day and have an estimated total generation of 33534.72kW units per year. They tailored the installation to our onsite requirements to make sure that the system is as efficient as possible, which means a significant improvement to Spiral UK’s sustainability and another meaningful step towards our net zero goals.

If you’d like to know more about our manufacturing process including fabrication, machinery and quality standards, you can read all about it here.