Reducing

our impact
with every
step
Taking Responsibility
As a global leader in the manufacture and supply
of bituminous waterproofing and roofing materials,
IKOs commitment to minimising environmental impact
through continued improvement is vital.

Every single one of us at IKO is responsible for the effects our business has
on our planet. From planning and paperwork, to our manufacturing
processes and materials, distribution and use, we consider both the negative
and positive environmental impacts throughout the product lifecycle.

These include our energy balance or carbon footprint, resource

consumption, pollution control and improvements to our surrounding habitat.
This guide will demonstrate how we strive to practice what we preach.

Exceeding environmental requirements at Chesterfield

 Our Manufacturing
Reducing our carbon footprint is extremely important to us
at IKO, and we strive to be as energy efficient as possible.
Take our new manufacturing and distribution facility in
Chesterfield for example. Built on recycled building
materials hardcore and designed in accordance with
BREEAM, it has subsequently received a Good rating.
Extremely energy efficient AC unit that functions through
heat pumps
Gas oil fired space heaters, which used 50kw per hour,
replaced with low energy infra-red heaters that use
6kw per hour
Natural gas used for process and space heating
Computerised process controls closely monitor and control
energy use
Low energy lighting throughout
Heating energy minimised by 180mm of insulation and
high-speed automatic warehouse doors
Plans to collect heat from upper manufacturing areas and
re-distribute through warehouse and offices
To minimise the consumption of virgin raw materials, resources
and landfill space, we reuse materials, internally recycle process
wastes, reduce packaging, segregate waste for external recycling
streams and use closed circuit and consumption control systems.
Waste recycling streams
Paper and card is compacted, baled and returned. Trimmings
from polyester and glass fibre felt substrates are separated, baled
and returned, while waste oil is collected and hard/soft plastic
packaging is separated and collected.
Pollution control
We fully comply with all environmental legislation and in most
cases exercise controls far greater than required. Our products
are also relatively inert and not water-soluble. Atmospheric
emissions are filtered and scrubbed, discharging air 160 times
cleaner than required, and all tanks are bunded in case of the
accidental release of oil.
Transport and distribution
After buildings, transport represents the UKs greatest use of fossil
fuels. We minimise our raw material and product miles, sourcing
bitumen locally to save on road and sea transport. Regional
warehousing gives a potential 20% saving on product miles and
we also employ a multi-drop delivery policy.

Internal recycling
All trimmings and tailings from our DPC line are remixed and
re-extruded, all mastic asphalt returned to site is reprocessed or
sent for use in road products or as hardcore, and excess surfacing
sand/mineral granules are recovered, separated in a sieving
process and reused.
All old pallets are returned to our suppliers and a closed circuit
cooling system minimises process water consumption. Water is
drained and refilled only twice a year.

Minimal packaging
We use a single paper wrap for retail and merely tape rolls in
two places for many of our trade products. In addition, our
Reducing waste using on site technology
PemaTEC hot melt system uses the smallest amount of packaging
of any quality hot melt system available today.
 Our Products
The very nature of what we do is providing high
performance, insulated waterproofing systems which
increase the thermal efficiency and overall lifespan of
buildings. Our products enable designers of new and
refurbished buildings to greatly increase environmental
performance, reduce carbon emissions and minimise the
use of resources when rebuilding.
With a long life that can be as much as 60+ years, the majority
of our waterproofing systems achieve an A rating or better in
the BRE Green Guide to Specification. Furthermore, much of
our carefully selected range of insulation materials offer both
minimal Ozone Depletion Potential and minimal Global
Warming Potential.
Green roof systems
Weve developed innovative products that partially or fully cover
roofs with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium planted over
a waterproofing membrane. Green roofs offer numerous
environmental benefits:
Improved aesthetic appearance
Improved acoustic and thermal performance
Better ambient air quality
Increased life expectancy of waterproofing
Additional habitat for plants, insects and birds

Recycled raw materials in products:

Old tyres PermaTEC & Permatrack PSB
Green roofs deliver instant environmental benefits Carpet tiles Hyload DPC, Hyload
Housebuilder & Protection
Board
Cushion floors Hyload DPC, Hyload
Housebuilder & Protection
Board
Glass bottles All glass based products,
Glasphalt & roofing shingles
Plastic bottles All higher performance felts
Cardboard packaging All traditional and shed felts
Creating innovative living spaces on roofs
Spectraplan TPE membrane Spectraplan TPE (100% recyclable)

IKO has invested in its own recycling plant for bituminous

waste materials, and we are recycling our shingle cut-outs and
waste production into GBSM (Granulated Bitumen Shingle
Material). Anywhere between 2% and 20% GBSM is used in
our hot mix asphalt, saving up to 20% virgin bitumen and
adding strength to the product. We have been manufacturing
GBSM since 1997, and hope to supply around 3000 tons to
our customers this year.
 Our Positive Impacts
By always thinking ahead, weve already changed a lot
for the better. Thats why strategic and product planning
play such an integral part in achieving our future
environmental goals. As well as consolidating our regional
UK offices to provide centralised support, our older sites
have been vacated and, with zero pollution confirmed,
restored either to residential or light industrial use.
Donating roofing materials to the heart of local communities
Working in partnership with the Antarctic Heritage Trust
In addition, our brand-new, energy efficient, zero pollution
facility has been constructed on a brown-field site, and is
landscaped with wild plant cover and deciduous wood where
it faces a residential area. Set 4m below banking to reflect
any stray noise, a stepped roof and false windows give the
impression of a modern office building, and weve even
replaced the reversing alarm on our forklift trucks with a
natural duck sound.
Here are examples of our environmental office culture:
All literature, product information, safety data and other
resources available online in place of printing
Video conferencing between various sites and
paperless processes
Minimal printing/photocopying encouraged
A staff-initiated recycling scheme for paper, cans, cardboard
and magazines
Used IT equipment donated to local charities
And our positive impacts dont stop there. Here are two
restoration projects were currently involved in:
Fix That Hut campaign
Launched in 2006 to celebrate Ruberoids centenary year, our
Fix That Hut campaign seeks out needy projects such as
village halls, scout huts and other buildings that are at the heart
of local communities and provides materials free of charge to
help with refurbishment.
Scotts Hut project
During their ill-fated 1910 expedition to the South Pole,
Captain Scotts team sought refuge in a hut constructed from
Ruberoid building materials. Almost a century later, its structure
and contents are still well-preserved due to the freezing
conditions and durability of our materials. Over the next few
years, we will help the Antarctic Heritage Trust restore this
remarkable building.
 IKO Group Ltd
Appley Lane North, Appley Bridge Wigan, Lancashire, WN6 9AB
Tel: 01257 256 096 Email: marketing@ikogroup.co.uk Website: www.ikogroup.co.uk