Environmental Responsibility

Environmental reporting

Our key environmental parameters are presented here and in our annual report. Where relevant, we apply the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Since 2008 we have also participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project, an international, not-for-profit organisation which provides a global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information.

We continue to refine our environmental reporting with the intention to continuously monitor and improve our sustainability and impact on the environment. 

Operational eco-efficiency

We regularly assess the environmental impact of our business to ensure that we take advantage of opportunities to improve our performance and efficiency and to help manage finite resources. All facilities exclusively occupied by BTG with more than 20 employees are committed to implementing two eco-efficiency projects per year.

We recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and metal at each of our sites and encourage the use of local materials, suppliers and contractors wherever possible and cost effective. We measure waste produced from all of our production sites.

We operate an international supply chain for the manufacture of our products and where possible we transport in bulk using the most efficient transportation in order to save money and reduce our carbon emissions.

We monitor electricity and gas consumption at manufacturing sites and offices which employ more than 20 people, and we try to reduce our carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency wherever possible.

Environmental impact data

Notes

1. GHG protocol used for data. Scope 3 emissions have not been calculated.
2. Covers 100% of BTG controlled operations, third-party manufacturing has not been included in either the carbon dioxide generated or the intensity figures.
3. Data from operational sites with more than 20 employees based on energy bills.
4. Emissions from field based and smaller offices estimated based on average US consumption – as this is where majority are based, 3% of data is estimated.
5. Conversion factors used: Defra/DECC 2015 and government websites.
6. Waste from our manufacturing and research sites in Australia, USA and UK.
7. Water consumption measured at our production sites in Australia, USA and UK.
8. Employee number includes all employees, plus contractors and temporary workers directly supervised by BTG employees.

Environment health and safety management system

Our intent is to comply with all requirements of local legislation and to provide a minimum standard by which all sites will operate in the absence of local legislation. To do this, we have developed 20 Environment Health and Safety (EHS) standards that we monitor and manage on a continual basis using our EHS management system. The full list of EHS management standards are:

• Responsibilities and Organisation
• Assessment and Control
• Emergency Preparedness
• Pressure Systems
• Electrical Systems
• Permit to Work
• Work Equipment
• Waste Management and Transport of Chemicals
• Hazardous Substance Exposure Monitoring & Control
• Competency, Information & Training
• Contractors & Supplier Management
• EHS Checking & Monitoring
• Noise Exposure Monitoring & Control
• Ergonomics
• Plant & Process Safety
• Emissions to Air, Water & Ground
• Storage & Handling Hazardous Substances
• Contamination of Land & Groundwater
• Raw Material & Energy Conservation
• Animal Welfare

Sites are audited on an annual basis by the corporate EHS/Risk team until a number of conditions are met to satisfy each standard. When the standards are achieved the site is audited every three years unless significant adverse data is reported, in which case the site is re-audited as soon as possible. Each audit is accompanied by an improvement plan which the site must implement before the next audit. Sites report their EHS results to the Leadership Team on a monthly basis.