As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, Sika commits itself to genuinely added sustainable value along the entire value chain. We report our impacts on an annual basis, according to the Global Reporting Initiative, and have aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). As such, we are now working to fully integrate these 17 goals, by using them to help define our strategy, and incorporating them into our product creation process.
Furthermore, Sika is an active member of the World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), and the Construction Products Association (CPA), with regular attendance of the CPA Sustainability Policy Group. Sika is also working with several trade associations to develop sustainable working groups in various areas of the construction industry.
Through its products, systems, and solutions, Sika strives to create long-term benefits and added value for all its stakeholders, and to significantly reduce resource consumption and the impacts associated with production processes.
Plastic Packaging
Sika UK understand the unintended consequences that can occur from the use of plastic packaging and as such are actively working to reduce the amount of single use plastic packaging in our supply chain. However, plastic is versatile, hygienic, lightweight, flexible and highly durable. Therefore, in certain circumstances plastic packaging remains the most effective packaging option for some of our products, in terms of function and carbon footprint when compared to other packaging material types. As such, in alignment to UN SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption, when these situations occur, Sika is committed to using plastic types that are easily recyclable and/or have recycled content whenever feasible.
Strategic Packaging Team
Sika’s Strategic Packaging Team, who are looking at the future of packaging for the next decade across the whole of Sika UK, are researching and evaluating novel sustainable packaging solutions. In addition to this we have several satellite Packaging Working Groups that are focused on individual projects aimed at decreasing packaging quantity and where plastic packaging is still deemed necessary, increasing the recycled content.
Waste Hierarchy as Applied to Packaging
The waste hierarchy (eliminate, reduce, re-use, recycle) is a founding principle for Sika’s Strategic Packaging Team who are actively investigating opportunities for naked products where little to no packaging is needed. Wherever possible Sika will work to eliminate packaging. When elimination is not possible Sika will focus on packaging volume reduction, the use of alternative materials (including post-consumer recycled content) & options for packaging re-use. Sika will also consider end of life disposal routes including recycling feasibility when choosing packaging materials for our products.
Tom Forsyth - General Manager (SIKA UK Limited)