Our ESG Journey
Better for your office + our world
We are committed to delivering exceptional workplace solutions in a way that just makes the world better. To support this commitment, we have implemented comprehensive policies on product stewardship, environmental sustainability, Anti-modern slavery safety. These policies reflect our values and help us ensure that we are always exceeding our clients’ expectations while doing our part to make a positive impact on the world. Our aim is to be totally carbon neutral by 2035. At this stage we’re on track to achieving our goal.
In This Section
Product Stewardship
At AWM, we work with our manufacturing partners and suppliers to ensure that our products are manufactured in a socially and environmentally responsible way, and we go beyond the sale and warranty period to support sustainable practices.
Through our Product Stewardship agreement, which is agreed upon prior to purchasing, we commit to accepting returned products at our Fairfield, NSW facility, with the goal of reusing or recycling as much of the material as possible. We provide an annual sustainability report to our clients to show how we are maximising the sustainability of our products.
The conditions include:
• That the customer returns the products to our Fairfield factory at the client’s expense.
• That the products are in their original state not changed or re-finished and resulting from normal wear and tear.
• A specified minimum quantity of items.
• A specified maximum age of the product(s).
It is important to note that toughened glass cannot be recycled in local council facilities.
However, through our stewardship agreement, we accept toughened glass returns and
recycle them accordingly at our premises.
Anti-Modern Slavery
We have implemented an employment and procurement strategy that prioritises human rights, identifies and assesses the risks associated with modern slavery in our supply chain. Our aim is to never associate with a supplier who does not respect human rights.
We also educate our workers about the realities of modern slavery so that they can identify and speak up should they suspect modern slavery occuring within our supply chain.
The objectives of our Modern Anti-Slavery Policy is to –
- Implementing an employment and procurement strategy which protects human rights
- Identifying our suppliers and supply chain
- Identifying the risks associated with modern slavery in our supply chain
- Putting controls in place to ensure when we engage new suppliers, they have addressed modern slavery
- Educating our workers about Modern Slavery
- Engaging with our suppliers and encouraging then to address modern slavery in their workforce and their supply chains to protect human rights.
This policy is outlined during inductions and will be reviewed at our annual management review meeting.
Safety Policy
Safety is the top concern on any worksite. This is no different at AWM, whether it is on our factory floor or one of our offices. We are committed to the health and safety of all our team members, visitors, and clients.
To protect the people in our workplace we –
- Comply with all statutory requirements, codes, standards, and guidelines
- Establish objectives and target with the aim of eliminating work related incidents
- Conduct a risk assessment on all activities
- Define roles and responsibilities for workplace health and safety
Our strategies to create a safe work environment include –
- Providing ongoing education and training for all employees
- Consulting with our workers and other parties to improve decision making in areas that may affect safety
- Investigating incidents and lessons learnt within our organisation
- Educate our team members and visitors on this policy and any updates
- Effectively manage injury management and rehabilitation to all employees
Environmental Policy
At AWM, we wholeheartedly believe it’s our responsibility to leave this planet in a better condition for generations to come, which is why we aim to recycle as much material during production as possible. 100% of the timber, melamine, particle board, steel, aluminium, cardboard, and Echopanel® offcuts used in our workplace solutions are sent back to the supplier to reuse for new products, contributing to a circular economy.
To consistently deliver and expand on our promise to be at the forefront of sustainable workplace solutions, we have fully integrated an environmental management system within our process. We are committed to the following in our sustainability journey –
Compliance
Complying with all statutory requirements, codes, standards,
and guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
Objectives + Targets
Establishing objectives and targets to eliminate work-related
environmental incidents and conduct risk assessments on all
activities.
Roles + Responsibilities
Defining clear roles and responsibilities for environmental
management to ensure a sustainable workplace.
Safety + Sustainability
Committing to safety and sustainability is an ongoing priority, and we continuously improve our processes to meet and exceed industry standards.
Our Strategies
To achieve these, our strategies include:
- Prioritising environmental principles and ensure they are
included in all our planning activities to protect the environment
and prevent pollution. - Providing appropriate technology, management practices, and
resources to support our commitment to sustainability and continuously improve our processes. - Providing ongoing education and training for all our employees to promote environmental awareness and responsible practices.
- Consulting with our workers and other parties to improve
decision-making in areas that may affect the environment,
considering all stakeholders’ perspectives. - Committing to our core value of Continuous Improvement,
including investigating incidents and learning from past experiences to prevent future occurrences. - Sourcing and supplying innovative products, and our “just in time” production philosophy ensures efficient and sustainable use of resources.
- Aim to do everything right the first time, every time, to minimise waste and prevent unnecessary harm to the environment.
- Providing excellent service and maintaining a robust
management system to increase customer confidence in our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. - Investigating incidents and lessons learnt within our organisation.
- Educate our team members and visitors on this policy and any updates
- Effectively manage injury management and rehabilitation to all employees
Our Factory
Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility
In 2022 we built a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Fairfield East, New South Wales to increase our capacity, efficiency, and sustainability.
Throughout the project, we have been mindful of the environmental impact of building a facility of this scale. As a result, we have put a great deal of thought and planning into ensuring that AWM leads the way in sustainability in Australian manufacturing.
Here is a quick overview of the building’s design and construction, as well as just some of the sustainability measures we have in store for the future:
All major construction materials and components were sourced locally, including the steel, glass, concrete, plasterboard, aluminium, and all doors
Where possible, we recycled and re-used all ducting, pipework, and wiring from our old factory
The 490 concrete panels were caste in-house. These 175mm solid wall panels offer thermal ratings for winter and summer
Where possible, we recycled and re-used all ducting, pipework, and wiring from our old factory
A 280,000 litre water tank to supply everything except drinking water
Heat from our air compressors will keep the factory warm during winter
Solar panels currently supply 30% of the factory’s power
The main factory does not need lights on sunny days thanks to skylights peppered across the roof
Our plan is to expand the solar panels into a 400kW system, considerably reducing our base load power and to share our excess power on the weekends to offset our other buildings across the country
We are currently changing our forklifts to be electric-powered
