How can IT managers support sustainability?
The environment is everyone’s responsibility, so how can IT managers make sure they have an impact on their organisation’s sustainability?
What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In 2015, all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals which were aimed at making the world “more prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and resilient.’’ These goals focus on a number of different areas from Poverty to Circular Economy.
Brother is focussing on 9 of these goals which are most relevant to our business ensuring we are contributing to a more sustainable society.
Watch our video to discover how Brother will achieve these SDGs.
Learn more about how our UK office is meeting these SDG goals.
SDG 3 - Good health & wellbeing
We carry out numerous wellbeing activities for our staff across Europe including the creation of a wildflower meadow quiet space for employees at our factory in Wales. As well as supporting our colleagues’ mental health, the meadow encourages diversity of plants and wildlife in the local area.
At our UK office, we offer a range of mental health initiatives including Action for Happiness calendars, webinars and a Simply Health scheme for staff.
SDG 4 - Quality education
We are collaborating with colleges and universities across Europe to educate and inspire. In our Belgium office, we sponsor the Agoria Solar Team, a team of 27 students in sustainable engineering at KU Leuven University. They build a new solar car every two years and compete in a world championship race driving 3011km across Australia on solar energy. In 2019, they were crowned world champion!
At Brother UK, we work with numerous schools to help promote our best practice approach to manufacturing as well as the importance of recycling and biodiversity.
As part of the drive towards affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for all, each of our European factories use 100% renewable electricity.
At Brother we are “At your side” when it comes to helping young people across Europe develop skills and find employment.
Our UK office invests in new apprentices aged 16-24 and also develops existing employees to create talent for the future and to support succession planning for the organisation. Brother also contributes towards "pay it forward" programmes as apprentice ambassadors.
SDG 9 - Industry, innovation & infrastructure
We are continuously investigating new technologies to improve our remanufacturing system. Engineers at our recycling factories work hand in hand with our designers to ensure our toners are created with remanufacturing and recycling in mind. Any toners we cannot directly remanufacture are recycled & the materials re-used.
Across Europe, we give back to our local communities that have welcomed us.
Our ocean waste clean-up activities have raised awareness about plastic pollution and encouraged our staff to reduce plastic use in their personal and professional lives as well as to become more involved in cleaning their local area.
We also raise money annually for cancer research charities such as our participation in Relay for Life fundraising events.
SDG 12 - Responsible consumption & production
As we take more steps to embrace the principles of a circular economy, we are determined to create less waste and instead reuse what we have.
We remanufacture returned printer cartridges at our European factories with 95% of the parts created from empty toner cartridges that have been returned by our customers. Any toners which cannot be remanufactured are recycled into ribbon cassettes for our fax machines or used to make recycled toners ensuring zero waste to landfill.
Brother is committed to climate action. We have set ambitious targets to reduce our emissions in line with the COP 21 Paris Agreement and aim to be carbon zero by 2050.
By 2030 we plan to reduce Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (power related) emissions by 65% compared to a 2015 baseline. The good news is that we are well on the way: We have already reduced our Scope 1 & 2 emissions by over 30% since 2015.
SDG 15 - Life on land
Biodiversity is greatly important to Brother. We carry out a number of projects around Europe such as tree planting and habitat management with our volunteering staff.
Brother also partners with the charity Cool Earth who work with local communities in the Peruvian and Papua New Guinea rainforests to prevent deforestation, protect wildlife and improve the livelihoods of those who live there. Every time a customer returns a toner or ink cartridge they are contributing towards the protection of rainforests as well as supporting the local communities.
By using Brother products, you can help to protect our planet. That’s because, at Brother, we’re working towards a circular economy; where we maintain, repair and finally recycle our products, rather than just replacing them. Through the Circular Economy, Brother is looking to create more durable, long lasting products which can help you on your sustainability journey. From toner recycling to repairing machines, we are working hard to reduce our impact on the environment.
The environment is everyone’s responsibility, so how can IT managers make sure they have an impact on their organisation’s sustainability?
As well as within Europe, we are striving to ensure Brother is sustainable globally, including our supply chain. As part of this Brother has committed to the UN Global Compact and has been independently assessed by EcoVadis.
Discover our global CSR