Good, green things about us!

1. we really do care about where our building materials come from – we have sourced all of the materials for the restoration of Ty-Mawr from as locally as we possibly can – Welsh slate (yes the imported ones are much cheaper but can’t be part of a sustainable future???), the same applies to stone roof tiles and the stone and timber for our own building work. They do cost more but like so many we believe that the cost of cheap, imported products to the environment is so much greater.

2. we are off oil and now run the heating system for the house, offices and training centre from a biomass log boiler (sourcing wood from our own woods/yard) and by reclaiming heat from the manufacturing process (saving at least 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum).

3. we recycle just about everything and we have a green purchasing policy so always look at the environmental implications of the products we use from the coffee we drink, to the paper we use, to the cleaning products we use; we were one of the early achievers of the Green Dragon award showing our commitment to the environment throughout the business.

4. we received a biodiversity award in 2007 for the work that we have done to the surrounding land (in which the main business is located) – we have reinstated the old pond and kitchen garden, replanted old orchards (and planted a new orchard of 47 trees – all local varieties), reinstated hedges, stone walls and ditches and planted 100s of indigenous oak, cherry, ash, rowan and chestnut trees. For the millennium, we sent our top 2000 clients an oak or cherry tree to plant (and get various updates about their progress!).

5. we use a green electricity supplier – ecotricity.

6. we have installed solar thermal (for our hot water) and rainwater harvesting as well as a fairly sophisticated system on the manufacturing yard to capture and reuse rain-water (we have lots here in Wales!) as well as using water from our own well for plasters, mortars and paints.

7. we employ all local people (18) and use local hauliers, caterers, gardeners, contractors, trainers - in fact, we spend the majority of our gross income within a 40 mile radius contributing to creating sustainable communities.

8. we use Welsh raw materials where we can for the products we make and sell (e.g. in our wool insulation, sands, recycled glass for our plasters and mortars etc) or British products (e.g. lime, hemp) where they are available. We do import products where they are not made here e.g. wood wool boards, recycled foamed glass (looking at producing here) and the plant-and mineral based paints (again we do not have a facility making paints that are this pure within the UK, Germany definitely have a lead in natural paint manufacture – the quality and eoc-credentials of these products are second to none). We are acutely aware of maximising the potential on any delivery to reduce road miles where at all possible.

9. in 2007, we invested in a 10,000sqft warehouse to enable us to bring in full artic loads of products thus reducing the road miles of our products, reducing their environmental footprint. We use and like the national pallet carriers who use regional hubs thus making the most of every journey between the hubs, creating a highly efficient network of 'shared' deliveries.

10. we insist on knowing exactly what our products contain (full declaration of all ingredients and where they are sourced) – I think we have all learnt a lesson with the Chineese sofas – there are cheaper natural materials available now but do you know where they are from or exactly what is in them? It is worth asking!

11. we continually work to improve the green credentials of our products e.g.looking for alternatives to sands (deplete a natural resource) and as a result have developed exciting products like the glaster  product range, the limecrete floor and the hemp lime plaster - we will continue to innovate for the benefit of the environment. 

12. we are part of the Welsh Assembly's Workforce Development Programme investing at least £10,000 in training our staff over two years, this shows our commitment to looking after and developing our small team giving them job satisafaction and ensuring that our clients get the best possible advice, product and service.

13. our Ethical award helps to show that we are a socially and environmentally responsible business and we thank all of our clients and supporters for recognising this about us over the years and supporting us through purchasing product. We hope that you can see that every penny spent with Ty-Mawr goes in a wholesome direction (well mostly but even the wine and food for our Christmas party is organic!).

14. we are a family run and focussed business, our children after all have to be one of the main motivators for taking better care of the planet on a daily basis.

 

"We must be the change we want to see" (Gandhi), at Ty-Mawr we are certainly trying to work and live by the principles that we think will create a better future and hopefully providing advice and products to our clients that will help them to be the change they wish to see in the world too! That feels good and worthwhile every single day!