We have a commitment to protecting the environment. Wherever possible we actively work to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact. We are committed to sustainable and ethical sourcing of all our ingredients and packaging.
1. Sustainable Energy
Our Head Office, production facility and warehouse are all powered by green energy. Simple System is situated on Symonds Farm in Suffolk. Symonds Farm is powered by an anaerobic digestor (AD plant) which produces renewable heat and power.
Any waste feed we have is processed by the AD plant, contributing to our zero-waste strategy.
2. Delivery Vans
Our fleet of delivery vans make feed deliveries across the country daily. Routes are optimised to reduce food miles and we are taking steps towards our vehicles becoming carbon neutral. We are part of an initiative that plant trees to offset the carbon emissions produced by our delivery vans.
Through photosynthesis trees absorb carbon dioxide from the environment and produce oxygen. By planting trees, we are also helping to provide wildlife habitats and support biodiversity.
3. Parcel Deliveries
We use DPD as our courier for parcel deliveries. DPD have a commitment to make every parcel they deliver carbon neutral. They do this by measuring their CO2 emissions, by striving to reduce them, and by offsetting the remaining emissions. DPDgroup targets a reduction of road transport CO2 emissions of 10% per parcel by 2020, compared to the levels of 2013.
Our parcels are sent out in 100% recyclable brown cardboard boxes.
4. Packaging
We have reduced the amount of plastic used in our manufacturing process by 20%.
We continue to look at new packaging options for our feeds but recyclable plastic is currently still the most suitable option with the lowest carbon footprint. As we do not use mould inhibitors or preservatives, paper bags would not provide adequate protection. Biodegradable maize starch based plastic packaging would begin to biodegrade sooner than the shelf life of our feeds. We continue to investigate more sustainable packaging options.
Our new design bags are 100% fully recyclable.
5. Organic
By developing a range of organic feeds, we are promoting lower levels of pesticides, no manufactured herbicides or artificial fertilisers and more environmentally sustainable management of the land and natural environment.
Fewer Pesticides Almost 300 pesticides can be routinely used in non-organic farming and are often present in non-organic feed. Organic farming standards, on the other hand, don’t allow any synthetic pesticides and absolutely no herbicides such as Glyphosate. Organic farmers are permitted to use just 15 pesticides, derived from natural ingredients including citronella and clove oil, but only under very restricted circumstances.
No artificial chemical fertilisers Artificial chemical fertilisers are prohibited – instead organic farmers develop a healthy, fertile soil by growing and rotating a mixture of crops, adding organic matter such as compost or manure and using clover to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere.
No Genetically Modified (GM) ingredients or preservatives GM ingredients are banned under organic standards.
Better for wildlife Organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies – there is up to 50% more wildlife on organic farms.
Better for the planet Organic means working with nature, not against it. No system of farming does more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, or protect natural resources like fresh water and healthy soils.