Glencairn Crystal outlines sustainability changes at HQ

Glencairn Crystal has announced the undertaking of an extensive expansion at its factory and offices just outside Glasgow, as the city prepares to host the COP26 climate change summit.

As part of its strategy to become more sustainable, the family-owned company has invested £2 million over the past 12 months into its building infrastructure, factory processes and environmental programme at its East Kilbride site. The strategy includes reusing and reducing rather than just recycling materials, and switching its energy supply to 100 per cent solar energy generated on-site.

The investment includes the installation of a solar PV and energy storage system, which has allowed Glencairn to immediately reduce its gas usage by 30 per cent, with a target to fulfil all its energy needs with solar power within the next decade.

With the installation of this system, it has also installed an electric air conditioning system. All company cars are also now fully electric or hybrid, with electric vehicle charging points installed in the car park.

Paul Davidson, manging director at Glencairn Crystal, said: "As a socially and environmentally responsible family business we are strongly influenced by the families' children's views on the environment, as they are the future of both our business and our planet. By shaping our policies and practices around what they believe, we are confident of building a far more sustainable future and, although we don't have all the answers yet, we're doing our best to find them."

James Crilly, purchasing director at Glencairn, added: "Here at Glencairn, we have always embraced change and evolution as a business. Our investment in a sustainable Solar PV energy system, alongside a number of key initiatives to encourage the entire company to become more instinctive in their everyday choices, is driving a step-change in the business."

26 October 2021 - Bethany Whymark