Sustainability

As part of our commitment to environmental well-being and a circular economy here at Portland Traffic, we have actively reduced plastic packaging by 90%. We are also constantly developing and looking at different ways we can reduce our waste and carbon footprint, to minimise our environmental impact and benefit everyone. You already know what we do, but this is what we stand for.

Below are some of the ways we have worked, and continue to work, to achieve this:

Circular Economy

Here at Portland Traffic we are committed to creating a Circular Economy. We actively want to tackle and help with global challenges such as climate change, waste, recycling and pollution, and will be putting all our efforts into getting this right within our organisation.

The FW Thorpe Group of companies has been officially recognised as being carbon neutral.

Being carbon neutral means that FW Thorpe PLC offsets the carbon dioxide emissions it generates by its business activities. To view the full report, please click the button below.

"FW Thorpe PLC has a long-standing commitment to tackling global environmental challenges, principally through its core business of manufacturing energy efficient lighting equipment. The company has a genuine desire to become a more sustainable business. It gives me huge pleasure that our hard work and ambitions have paid off in achieving our carbon neutral status."

Mike Allcock, FW Thorpe Group Chairman

Two men in a field using a spade to dig a hole and plant a tree sapling.

View report

Carbon Offsetting

Current statistics

2023, 179,412 trees planted since 2009. Sequestering over 44,385 tonnes of CO2e over a period of 100 years.

The site has a net capacity of 36,413 tonnes of CO2e for offsetting of Thorlux (and FW Thorpe Plc) FW Thorpe Plc emissions.

Packaging and materials.

We have spent considerable time auditing our supply chain and all our resources and materials used in our manufacturing processes, to find ways to be reduce our environmental impact and become more sustainable. Here are some of the changes and improvements made as a result:

The paper bubble wrap (aka: globular embossed paper) we now use is 100% recycled and is 100% recyclable, with biodegradable materials. This replaces plastic bubble wrap and significantly reduces plastic waste.
As for our aluminium materials, our LM6 castings are 100% recycled. All BS1490 LM6 is produced using recycled scrap aluminium and when the casting eventually becomes redundant, it can be melted down to be recycled again endlessly, showcasing a circular economy.
For our tubes, The main body of the tube is 100% recycled board; only the outer liner is virgin paper (approximately 85% recycled to 15% virgin). The finished tube is 100% recyclable.
For our plastic end caps, the percentage of regrind is approximately 33% and these products are readily recycled.
For our alloys, at least 70% of the aluminium produced is from recycled billet.
We use simple-fixture construction which is dry-jointed.
For our packaging, with the exception of the various Kraft papers and semi-chemical fluting, all papers used are 100% recycled fibre. The Kraft grades contain approximately 30% recycled fibre.

Before shot of Portland Traffic’s packaging before it was made more sustainable.

After shot of Portland Traffic’s new sustainable packaging containing approximately 30% recycled fibre.

Processes and operations.

We are actively streamlining our processes, materials and operations to be more sustainable, with the holistic purpose of contributing to a circular economy. Below are some of the key features of this effort:

As part of our sustainable strategy, we have installed solar panels with Ineco Energy to power our site with clean, renewable energy. We are passionate about considering the environment at every stage of our work and playing our part in the fight against climate change. Harnessing the power of the sun through this clean energy solution contributes to our sustainability goals, ensuring our manufacturing processes are as efficient and eco-friendly as possible. The solar PV system from Ineco Energy includes a monitoring portal, giving compete visibility of site consumption and site production. The extract in the gallery below shows that on this day 90% of our energy was delivered by the solar panels. The figures also show the carbon emissions we have saved in just over ten weeks.
We are also consciously designing new products that can be fitted to existing products to extend life and purpose. Examples include the Portland Traffic illuminated Zebra post shafts, which will fit over existing non-illuminated Zebra crossing posts, extending life and practical use.
We use only suppliers local to us in Walsall and the West Midlands when supply is required, such as Eutectic Wolverhampton for castings, and Portland Alloys Walsall for extrusions. Production is all local and everything is locally sourced, with the majority of our processing being on site in our 15,000 sq. ft factory in Walsall.
All our products, packaging and parts are easy to recycle.
Our general waste gets sorted and sifted a further time by picking lines to extract further recyclables.
We have a helpful Travel Plan document which offers explanations and details for employees for alternate healthy choices of travel (cycling/walking and the mental and physical health benefits). It also highlights car sharing environmental benefits, along with bus routes and train stations for our factory.