Our commitment to the environment.
We are committed to minimalising our impact on the environment and putting practices into place to protect the environment in the future. Part of this commitment is to is continually reduce our carbon emissions and further our impact as a ‘net zero’ company. We achieved net zero by carbon offsetting, reducing the company’s impact on the environment.
Deepening our environmental considerations.
In 2024, Hako UK secured the ISO 14001 standard, after achieving ‘Net Zero’ in 2023. The commitment to reducing our impact on the environment has only strengthened and will continue to do so as we strive to do more for the environment.
We are now expanding those considerations, so they become part of every working day, every task we undertake, and every choice made.
Hako Machines has also received a bronze award from EcoVadis for its sustainability rating. The bronze award recognises that Hako is in the top 35% of companies assessed by EcoVadis. To be eligible for a medal, a company must achieve a minimum score of 30 in each of the following four themes: Environment, Ethics, Labour & Human Rights, and Sustainable Procurement.
View the signed pledge here.
Our environmental commitment is led by Adam Bennett, Quality, Environmental and Safety Manager.
Carbon commitment pledge.
The current environmental crisis needs urgent action and Hako Machines Ltd accept that we have their own role to play in reducing global carbon emissions. Hako Machines have employed an Environmental Manager to ensure that the company is doing all that is possible to reduce its impact on the environment.
Hako Machines are committed to reducing their carbon emissions and achieved their target of becoming a net zero company in 2023. Net zero has been achieved partially by carbon offsetting to quickly reduce the company’s impact on the environment, Hako Machines have planted over 30,000 trees in the last two years.
Hako Machines are committed to their Environmental Policy and it has the full support of the Senior Management Team, who along with the Environmental Manager, will review its progress regularly.
Hako Machines recognise that carbon offsetting is a short-term solution and are constantly looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
The Company will continue to take measures to reduce the carbon emissions with the aim to halve the carbon emissions by 2030, we aim to do this by:
- Monitoring emissions so we can see where they have successfully reduced emissions and where we need to put in further actions.
- Investigating renewable energy sources.
- Promoting our Environmental Policy internally so all staff are assisting with our goals.
- Using available technologies to reduce daily emissions.
- Continuing to recycle and re-utilise equipment after first life.
- Ensuring energy efficiency is at the heart of all key projects.
- Upgrading our vehicle fleet embracing the latest technologies.
- Training all drivers so company vehicles are used economically.
- Ensuring that energy efficiency it at the heart of any key project.
Our Machines.
Environmental considerations are deeply rooted into the design philosophy of our Research and Development teams and are integrated as core innovations in our products. The majority of these innovations increase efficiency and comes as standard with our product range.
Whilst our machines are currently manufactured from steel and plastic, the factory is currently reviewing all of its supply chains and there are plans to switch to using recycled plastics in the future to ensure the machines are more environmentally sympathetic.
However, we are able to recycle up to 90% of our machines at end of life, The majority of machines are either put through our refurbishment program or sold as complete units to give them a second or even a third life, expanding their lifespan.
Our Hako AquaControl features can be used to save up to 50% of water and cleaning agent at no extra cost, whilst the Hako PowerFilter (installed on indoor sweepers) enables the clearing up of dirt and debris without swirling up dust. These special dust suppression systems have a filtration efficiency of up to 99.5% – ensuring clean exhaust air without a price premium.
We also encourage the use of less detergents to protect the environment.
Other products which have proven eco-efficiency include our high-performance gel and wet battery systems, modern LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and economical diesel engines which are also compliant with Euro 5 certification. These highly efficient engines provide hassle free compliance for operation of Hako machinery in environmental zones.
We have also introduced our first electric motor powered Citymaster road sweeper. This will no doubt be the first of many electric motor powered vehicles in the future.
Hako’s collection of batteries.
Under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, Hako Machines Ltd produce lead acid and gel batteries. We are pleased to take back waste industrial and automotive batteries supplied to an end user and collect free of charge for treatment and recycling. We are required to do this in any calendar year we place new batteries on the market.
To return batteries, please contact our Customer Support Centre and we will make the necessary arrangements for the return, proper treatment and recycling of the industrial or automotive batteries.
Reduce, Reuse.
A lot of the equipment which goes through our Used Machine Refurbishment Program is powered by traction batteries, which vary in size. The battery is like the engine in your car, and is probably the most expensive part to replace, should it fail. Gel, Dry cell and Lead Acid batteries require strict charging regimes (the latter also require a periodic topping up, through an ‘auto-fill’ system).
Our workshop team is trained to recondition batteries where possible to give them a ‘second-life’ which not only saves the battery from being wasted but also keeps the cost of a used machine reduced whilst still being covered by a Hako guarantee.
Every machine that leaves the Hako UK workshop is put through vigorous testing to ensure they are 100% calibrated and adjusted, in order to ‘hit the ground running’ when they reach our customers.
To reduce the amount of water used un our Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) testing, our workshop team have started rainwater harvesting. They divert the rainwater from the workshop roof and store it in large containers with a large bore outlet (which allows rapid filling of machines, compared to mains water).
Rainwater Harvesting will save around 400 litres of mains water during each Citymaster PDI, and between 3 and 100+ litres per Industrial Scrubber-drier, depending on the model. The rapid filling will save time and allow us to work more efficiently.
Going forward, we are hoping to increase the water storage in order to feed our pressure washer and washdown system, which is used to clean the machines going through our Used Machine Refurbishment Program, final valeting of new Citymasters and our fleet of Demonstration Citymasters.
All machines which are to be considered for our Used Machines Refurbishment Program are carefully assessed before being categorised as being ‘fit for refurb’.
Occasionally, machines may be rejected, e.g. due to chassis damage, or high working hours. In this case, the machine is inspected for any useable non-consumable parts, which appear to have been recently fitted, also confirmed by the machine’s service/repair history.
Squeegee bars, brush decks, wheels, drive motors, plastic panels etc. which are in good order will be stripped from the machines, and in the case of motors or parts with consumables, they will then be stripped, assessed and consumables replaced. This will help make the refurb process a greener one and save money – keeping the price of our Used Refurbished Machines as low as possible – all backed by a Hako guarantee.
Our working environment.
Driving sustainability: Hako’s commitment to a greener future.
Our Crick HQ has been fitted with solar panels to be more energy efficient, providing around 50% of the Crick electricity consumption.
EV charging points have been installed for company and visiting vehicles.
The opening of our new Wakefield depot and training centre has reduced traveling for repairs and training in the northern part of the country. It is a newer building and therefore will be more efficient to run than the current location.
Hako is working with Baxter Environmental to oversee its waste management, providing waste skips at the Crick HQ. Mixed dry recyclables, electronics, glass and plastic are now split into separate skips to minimise the use of general waste.
Baxter’s also provide a carbon emissions report, so Hako knows how it is performing from an environmental point of view.
Staff are also on board with various recycling bins in the offices and communal areas.
Those who work remotely and travel transporting Hako machines and visiting customers around the UK and beyond have been educated on how to drive more economically.
Hako has invested in electric alternatives to its motoring fleet. As a business, we are continually monitoring technology to ensure that the fleet has as little impact on the environment as possible.
Hako has also reduced the volume of printed materials with all brochures available digitally rather than hard copy format. We have also reviewed all of our internal processes to make as many of these paperless and encourage our customers to use our digital documents and filing process where possible.
Our commitment to the Planet.
Hako works with ForestNation to plant trees in Tanzania that will also help to generate income and better living for the community. We have planted around 31,000 trees over the past two years.
The local villagers actively protect the forest from fires and trim the trees in the event of heavy rainfalls for the next five years. Our Forest is in the Eastern and Western Usambara Mountain Ranges, where heavy deforestation has ruined the livelihoods of many locals. By providing seedlings to families to plant on their farms, once matured, they produce a regular harvest, yielding food and potential income.
By cultivating 100 mature fruit-bearing trees such as peach or avocado in the Hako Machines Ltd Forest, Tanzania growers can earn an income of $173* and yield 10 tons of oxygen per year. Plus, it will offer employment to 200 women year-round and up to 800 women seasonally as well as empowering students who visit the nurseries regularly to learn about horticulture and botany.
With 18 million acres of forest lost each year, the devastation of deforestation can no longer be ignored. ForestNation is a for-profit sustainable business offering products and services that unite environmental, social and commercial goals while empowering individuals and organisations to reforest the planet and reconnect to nature.
As part of the programme, Hako has produced its own planting pot with everything you need to start growing your own tree. If you would like one, please let us know.
For every tree kit given out, we will plant ten trees in the Hako Machines Ltd Forest in a developing region of Tanzania to reforest Mother Earth and help create sustainable livelihoods for people that need it most.
Hako also plants 50 trees for every new member of staff that joins Team Hako and completed their probation period. We also planted 250 trees to offset the carbon created by our 2024 Staff Conference.
For every single tree you plant, we will plant ten!
View our forest on ForestNation: https://forestnation.com/net/forests/hako-machines-ltd/
Our Latest News.
Stay updated with the latest news from Hako, where we share important updates, product innovations, and service improvements. Keep an eye on this section for the most recent developments…
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