TK x Sustainability
Embarking on the Path to Authentic Change
Sustainability, a term that carries different meanings for different individuals, boils down to one fundamental principle: the capacity to meet present needs without jeopardising the ability of future generations to meet their own. This guiding principle is at the heart of our journey towards meaningful change.
Lighting
TK UK uses energy efficient LED lighting across the board and all staff are encouraged to only use lighting when needed and turn this off when not in use. Some residual older style lights are still used occasionally, but these are being phased out for more energy efficient LED options.
Reimagining Packaging
When it comes to packaging, we diligently assess our entire approach, striving to minimise its usage across all product categories. However, this endeavor is intricately balanced with considerations for environmental impact and the vital task of ensuring products reach our customers in pristine condition.
Addressing Plastic Usage
The question of our plastic usage is a pertinent one, and we’d like to shed light on our rationale:
– The plastic we employ is primarily sourced from recycled materials, and in all cases, it’s fully recyclable, theoretically offering an infinite recycling potential.
– Weight considerations also play a significant role in our decision-making. Shifting to paper or cardboard packaging would substantially increase shipping weights, thereby elevating our carbon footprint.
– Importantly, plastic manufacturing is less resource-intensive compared to paper, with paper production typically consuming more water.
While we’ve postponed the adoption of compostable stick sleeves for our sticks, we’ve done so with a broader perspective. Importing these sleeves from China to Pakistan, where our sticks are manufactured, seemed counterproductive considering the environmental footprint associated with such imports. Instead, we opt for recyclable plastic sleeves, a practical choice. We’ve explored the idea of cotton bags as well, but we remain committed to avoiding resource-intensive solutions that serve only as marketing tools and end up as disposables.
Acknowledging the shortcomings of plastic, we’re keenly exploring alternatives. Any change must be weighed against our carbon footprint, resource utilisation, and recyclability.
Eco-Conscious Shipping
Our shipping strategy is geared toward bulk shipments via sea transport whenever possible. This strategy significantly reduces our environmental impact compared to air transport. While we can’t guarantee exclusively sea-bound shipping due to the dynamic nature of the market, it’s an ongoing commitment to enhance our practices. For suppliers within the EU, road transportation is the mode of choice, further minimising emissions.
Streamlining Suppliers
To reduce our environmental footprint, we’re streamlining the countries from which we source our products. This enables us to consolidate multiple items into a single shipment, which we can then transport by sea or air when necesary.
Navigating the Fabric Challenge
While much attention surrounds textiles produced from recycled PET (water bottles), we acknowledge that this isn’t a flawless solution. Most recycled polyester undergoes mechanical processing, progressively shortening the material’s fibres with each iteration. While recycling PET bottles into polyester is commendable, it’s worth noting that plastic bottles can be perpetually recycled into new bottles without quality loss. The conversion into polyester interrupts this cycle and prevents ʻclosed loop recylingʼ and still generates microplastics when garments are washed.
While we explore the use of recycled polyester in our fabrics, we recognise that more significant strides can be made in other areas of environmental impact.
A Commitment to Real Impact
Our commitment to the future is unwavering, but we aim to make a substantial, tangible environmental impact.
Emphasis on Quality
Quality isn’t just about meeting our exacting standards; it’s about ensuring the longevity of our products. We aspire to create items that can be used for as long as possible, paving the way for textile-to-textile recycling—a true testament to our dedication to sustainability.
Delivery Partners
We use DPD and DHL for the majority of our shipments, each of which has their own sustainability targets.
https://www.dhl.com/globalen/home/about-us/sustainability.html