Indigenous natural stones contribute 304% less carbon than stone sourced from China and less than 50% of those supplied from mainland Europe.
Heriot-Watt University Study (2011)
Measures to Reduce our Carbon Footprint
We recognise the impact that human activity can have on the environment. As a result, we’ve taken steps to significantly reduce our carbon footprint so that we can craft our memorials and offer our memorial services in the most eco-friendly ways possible.
We understand that the changes we all make, no matter how small, all add up to make a big difference. We are committed to doing our part to protect the planet, and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our environmental impact. Our eco-memorials and services not only honour the memory of loved ones but also reflect our dedication to sustainability.
We’re proud to offer eco-friendly options for families who share our commitment to preserving the environment for future generations.
We at Wilson Morgan are proud to present our expanding range of Eco-Friendly memorials.
Our Core Directives
Some of the measures we have in place to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our memorials and memorial services includes:
- Sourcing stone materials from UK quarries
- Using the most sustainable indigenous UK natural stones
- Utilising renewable energy via solar panels at our production facilities
- Employing a water recycling system with over 95% retrieval efficiency
- Recycling in all aspects of stone processing and across the wider business
- Converting our entire fleet of vehicles to electric with onsite charge points
- Upgrading onsite industrial forklifts to electrically powered equivalents
- Installation of LED lighting across all sites
- Transporting via national road haulage as opposed to international sea freight
- Transition to a paperless system where possible
- Selecting quarries that also align with our future mineral reserves investment ethos
- Investment in the safeguarding of future mineral reserves
- Investment in environmental improvements and sustainable development
Installation of solar panels at our manufacturing facility in Wales
Investment in Key Areas to Improve the Environment
In order to combat the danger of climate change and enhance the environment and community we live in we constantly evaluate and seek ways to enhance our business operations.
Besides our own investments, we also proudly source many of our stone materials from forward-thinking and environmentally conscious quarries.
For example, we source our Yorkstone memorial material from a quarry that has recently invested £4m in an energy efficient hybrid engine powered mobile plant.
Our ongoing investments are aimed at the following crucial areas:
- Our ecological footprint
- Occupational health and safety
- Product integrity
- Public engagement
- Fair sourcing policies
A plan view of the solar panel loom at our South Wales manufacturing facility
Our memorial masonry workshop facility generates its own solar energy during daylight hours through our 100kWp PV system.
The energy we self-generate powers everything from industrial machinery and equipment, to lighting, offices, vehicle charging points and all other energy usage requirements across the site.
Our workshop also utilises a purpose designed water-recycling system that circulates and recycles water with over 95% retrieval efficiency – this is particularly beneficial as the recycled water lubricates saw blades and other tooling and machinery that we use during the processing of natural stone.
THE ART OF RECYCLING
Creating the perfect memorial inevitably creates wastage in the form of off-cut stone – however we’ve put our minds together to make use of it all.
Any stone off-cuts are stored for use in alternative products, or if the off-cut is unusable it’s crushed for aggregates.
Some memorial engravings are created using sandblast methods and the grit that’s used is collected and recycled for future sandblasting.
Stone dust is produced during all stages of memorial manufacturing, so this is also collected and used in various mortar mixes.
WASTE NOT WANT NOT
We are always looking for new ways to use off-cuts and excess material from our production process. It’s a great way to exercise our creative minds.
A TIME FOR CHANGE
As we use state-of-the-art precision cutting equipment, some shapes of our waste material are just too good to discard – be a shame not to use them.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Various arms of our company benefit from the excess materials. It enables us to create new products original to the memorial masonry business.
Wooden pallets are recycled at all stages of production and transportation to reduce the demand for new timber, and to lower the impact on landfill and air pollution caused through burning pallets.
Furthermore, our offices exercise all expected recycling duties for general waste and are transitioning to a paperless system where possible.
TRANSPORTATION METHODS
We are in the process of converting our entire fleet to electric vehicles.
Whether transporting memorials or equipment to be used by our other company branches we are looking forward to taking full advantage of developing technologies so we can get around efficiently.
All vehicle travel routes – including our memorial installation fleet – are pre-planned to ensure each journey uses the most efficient route.
Through experienced planning we ensure our memorial installations for the same cemetery, churchyard or local area are grouped and scheduled together to ensure maximum fuel efficiency.
Our vehicles are loaded to ensure full utilisation and reduced fuel consumption, while installed GPS monitoring systems evaluate drive performance and fuel efficiency targets.
All in aid of creating the most environmentally friendly memorials.
