Environment

© BrightHouse Group Plc, 5 Hercules Way, Leavesden Park, Watford WD25 7GS. Registered in England 6250176. BrightHouse reserve the right not to extend credit. Terms and conditions apply.

BrightHouse is an organisation that, in collaboration with its partners and colleagues, positively contributes to environmental sustainability. We actively explore ways to reduce our eco-footprint and in 2008 implemented a number of initiatives designed to limit our impact on the environment. These included an ongoing review of our purchasing policies, as well as finding new opportunities to recycle or re-deploy products and materials. In 2008 we won two awards for our environmental work: Best High Street Recycler at the National Recycling Awards; and a National Green Apple Award for environmental best practice. In 2011 we won a second National Recycling Award with a second Green Apple Award.

Striving for more effective environmental protection practices has contributed to the further enhancement of employee morale, as well as yielding efficiency benefits of some £250,000 per annum for the business.

• We have an appointed utilities broker, who ensures our energy is 100% CHP (combined heat and power) certified
• All confidential waste is shredded and sold onto the toilet paper industry
• Working with a charity we recycle unwanted furniture
• Working with a third party recycling company to ensure we are reducing land fill with every waste stream

Packaging recycling

Whenever possible, the major packaging constituents in our business – cardboard paper, plastics and polystyrene – are taken back to our National Distribution Centre in Manchester. The materials are then compacted and passed to recycling businesses for processing.

During 2012/13, 900 tonnes of mixed waste stream have been recycled.

• We aim to have zero landfill, with our service centres having already achieved this
• Our plastic and cardboard is recycled
• Polystyrene packaging is crushed 40:1 and sent to China for recycled packaging

Product refurbishment

As part of our normal rent-to-own business process, customers have the right to return products to us at any time. Wherever possible, these products are refurbished to a high standard and re-sold as Quality Refurbished items.

Products which are beyond economic repair can be cannibalised for spare parts. Any residue is processed for recycling.

We adopt a similar approach to redundant IT equipment, in order to minimise environmentally unfriendly waste.

Environment-friendly products

The Energy Saving Trust recognises alliances that are energy-efficient. 100% of our laundry products achieved this standard.