LIFE
We make five ‘life’ commitments:
Protecting life and the natural resources that make up ‘life’ in its widest sense is central to a sustainable future. We constantly review our processes and practices to ensure that we are having the least impact possible on the environment around us.
We keep our use of virgin materials to a minimum
Our products use no natural timber and minimal raw materials, and we aim to keep it that way. We believe that a sustainable future involves leaving the natural world intact as much as possible.
We maximise the use of recycled material in product manufacture
Every decking board is produced using recycled minerals, and our sub-frame system and materials are made entirely from recycled or recyclable plastic and aluminium.
We aim to recycle all waste from our business activities that can be recycled.
Both in the factory and in our offices and showrooms, we have an effective recycling programme to contribute to the circular economy, including a scheme to encourage re-use of product samples rather than disposal.
We care for the natural environment in which we operate.
Our factory is set in a beautiful natural environment, sustaining diverse flora and fauna. We maintain the environment carefully for the wild creatures that visit and have plans to establish active beekeeping.
We hold ourselves accountable for environmental protection.
We’re certified to ISO 14001, and we aim to go above and beyond in fulfilling the requirements that the standard sets out.
Alongside our five key commitments there are other things we do to protect ‘life’ for future generations
We support home working for relevant roles, reducing CO2 miles
We aim to maximise recycling of pallets in our operations
We utilise renewable energy as part of our manufacturing processes
We use recyclable packaging for despatching our products
We encourage use of recycled materials in our literature
We have reduced solvent waste in our manufacturing processes
Living
We make five ‘living’ commitments:
We know that a sustainable future must include every person and family enjoying a fair standard of living. We think that all organisations should consider for the lives of those that make up their teams. Without that reasonable baseline, the world will not be in balance.
We pay all staff at or above the Real Living Wage
Millboard is committed to our employees and their families and voluntarily pays above the Real Living Wage. This is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, and is not to be confused with the lower National Minimum Wage set by the UK government.
We promote a fair work/life balance for all our staff
We fully recognise the demands of daily life outside of work for all our valued staff members. We readily accommodate work-from-home and flexible working arrangements wherever possible, and we ensure that working hours are not excessive.
We protect the safety of all staff while at work
We're accredited to ISO 45001, but we take our duty of care beyond those basic requirements. We always consider the needs of staff in the workplace and ensure that their work can be carried out safely and without undue strain.
We provide enhanced support for those having a family
We believe that parenting is a wonderful thing and is clearly intrinsic to sustainability. We do all that we can to support those having children by providing over and above the statutory level of maternity pay.
We actively support charitable causes to support those less fortunate
Each year, we donate hundreds of thousands to charity to support clear cases of need. Typically, we donate 1% of turnover, and in recent years have supported over 30 charities across multiple areas.
Alongside our five key commitments there are other things we do to protect standards of ‘living’
We ensure that the work environment is fair and free from discrimination or bullying
We provide our staff with first-rate refreshment and welfare facilities
We give practical support to charitable activities such as food boxes for those less fortunate
We support our staff with independent, confidential services aimed at helping them with everyday life
The mental health of our staff is as important to us as their physical health
Our dedication to the safety of our team is second to none
Livelihood
We make five livelihood commitments:
The final component of a truly sustainable outlook is the need for individuals and organisations to make ends meet – to earn what’s needed to pay the bills and plan for the future. And that requires everyone to play fair and adhere to a certain standard of operation.
We pay our suppliers on time, according to terms.
We value our suppliers and know that every business can only survive if it has a dependable flow of monies in. We pay all our suppliers on time, according to terms agreed, with the vast majority being within 30 days.
We’re committed to paying our fair share of tax
As a substantial business, we recognise our responsibility to contribute to society by paying our taxes on time and in full, which we always do.
We conduct business in an ethical and transparent manner
We fully support the government’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption initiatives and apply these standards in our business. We expect all transactions to stand the light of day and be conducted in a manner that abides by the rules of good business.
We ensure that no aspects of our business are enabled by slave labour
We believe that all forms of modern slavery are utterly unacceptable, and we take active measures to ensure that no aspects of our supply chain are facilitated by modern slavery.
We are a committed participant of the UN Global Compact
Having signed up to the Ten Principles of the UNGC, we uphold the highest standards in relation to Human Rights, Labour, and Anti-Corruption.
Millboard Products
Sustainability through innovation:
We are constantly striving to make our business, manufacturing processes and product offering more sustainable - this means we're always finding new ways of doing things.
Recycled fillers
Over a third of the raw materials used for making the structural core of Millboard is recycled. These materials have been diverted from waste streams and reprocessed to create premium ingredients for our boards. This helps to sustain the earths limited resources and prevents waste.
Fully recyclable packaging
Millboard sample and product packaging is 100% recyclable. Our brochures and printed marketing materials use paper from FSC certified forests, using the FSC check mark tree logo to confirm this wherever possible.
BRE Global Verified EPD
In 2023 we committed to obtaining Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for our products, and in 2024 the first ones were created by BRE. With the insight from those EPDs we are in the process of conducting full product Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to understand the true impact of our products and from this, identify the best way in which they can be improved without compromising on the trademark beauty and quality of our products. For more information contact sustainability@millboard.co.uk
Achilles 'Carbon Reduce' Certified
The Millboard Company Limited meets the requirements of the Achilles Carbon Reduce Certification, having measured its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with ISO 14064 Part 1 2006. Millboard has committed to managing and reducing its emissions where possible, with respect to its operational activities across the UK.
We're powered by SSE Green Electricity
Millboard is an SSE Green Electricity Certified company. This is a result of our commitment to purchasing electricity generated by wind and hydro assets matched annually to Renewal Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) enabling zero emission reporting. This certification relates to our manufacturing function only.
Millboard products and sustainability
Millboard is in the process of obtaining Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its core products.
Millboard products are reusable and built to last for a very long time
Made in the UK - reducing the amount of distance they need to travel to your project
Pursuing a sustainable path
Our sustainability roadmap represents Millboard's commitment to a greener future, driven by our core values of reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability across all operations. This roadmap details our journey toward achieving key sustainability milestones, focusing on reducing carbon emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering circularity in materials.