Businesses are now having to factor sustainability into every aspect of their operations, not only to make their contribution to helping the climate crisis but to protect their reputation and industry standing. This means that partnering with spring suppliers who prioritise environmental responsibility is more important than ever.
Here at Airedale Springs, we factor sustainability into everything we do, from the materials we use to the energy sources that power our processes. We’ve created this blog to guide you through choosing a sustainable spring supplier so that your supplier is not only reliable but also aligned with your sustainability goals.
Why Sustainability Matters for Your Spring Supply
If you’re a business looking to show your commitment to sustainability in each stage of your supply chain, then you need to ensure that any supplier or stockist you work with shares these same environmental values. This is essential in giving your stakeholders transparency, resulting in their trust and potential long-term business. This can also help your business achieve recognition and ensures that you are abiding by any necessary environmental regulation.
Investing in a sustainable supplier is a way to futureproof your operations. As aspects of climate change worsen across the globe, businesses will be held accountable for their contribution to this problem, so a sustainable supply chain is integral to the livelihood of your organisation. Moreover, a supplier who focuses on being eco-conscious can help you reduce waste, lower your carbon footprint, and reinforce your company’s sustainable values.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sustainable Spring Supplier
When evaluating potential spring suppliers, several factors can help you gauge their commitment to sustainability. Here’s what you should look for:
- Energy Efficiency: A sustainable spring supplier will utilise energy-efficient technologies like solar power, LED lighting, and energy storage systems. For instance, our facility is powered by over 432 solar panels and uses energy-saving systems like battery storage and an energy-efficient compressed air system, helping to reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
- Use of Recyclable Materials: Ensure that your supplier uses recyclable materials. This is a simple yet effective way to boost your sustainability as a business, as the more recyclable materials you use within your application, the more eco-friendly this is. The metals we use for our springs are 100% recyclable, and even our cardboard packaging comes from 90% recycled materials.
- Sustainability Awards and Certifications: Look for evidence that the supplier has been recognised for their sustainable efforts. Awards like ours, such as the Sustainable Business of the Year from the Keighley & Airedale Awards, show that the industry is acknowledging our commitment to sustainability. Awards indicate that a company is dedicated to continually improving its environmental impact.
- Waste Reduction: Sustainable spring manufacturers aim to minimise operations throughout every stage of the creation process. This can include reducing material waste, implementing waste separation, and finding ways to reuse or recycle byproducts.
Other Factors to Consider
Whilst sustainability is a core factor, the decision of choosing a spring supplier should be well-rounded and informed by other important characteristics. After all, even if the supplier implements sustainable processes, if their item quality is poor, this could result in the springs needing frequent replacement, contributing to more waste and more costs. We ensure that our spring quality is consistent by using the latest production techniques and advanced machinery. We also cater to precise requirements so that your springs work as well as they can for your chosen application.
Experience and expertise are also something to consider. A supplier with a proven track record can bring invaluable expertise to your project, ensuring you get the right spring for your application. With over 80 years of experience, we’ve helped countless clients with customised solutions, making us a trusted choice for businesses in many different sectors. You’ll also want to choose a supplier that employs great customer service. This assists with troubleshooting after purchasing and ensures that you are entirely satisfied with the end result.
Why Choose Airedale Springs as Your Sustainable Spring Manufacturer
Choosing Airedale Springs as your spring supplier means partnering with a company that has sustainability at its core. We have made significant investments in energy-efficient practices, which has even earned us a Net-Zero Co2 rating for our building. The solar panels on our facility provide over 80% of our annual energy needs. Even when we use energy, we take extra care to monitor our electrical consumption so that we only use what’s absolutely necessary. We’ve even introduced electric vehicle charging points for our team who drive to work in a hybrid or electric car.
We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far towards sustainability, and we’re looking to improve this further by becoming a net energy exporter by 2026. By choosing Airedale Springs as your sustainable spring supplier, you’re not only getting access to high-quality products, but you’re supporting a business that values environmental responsibility. To learn more about why sustainability matters, or to get started on your spring solution journey, please contact us.