Managing our resources responsibly
We recognise our responsibility to steward the planet’s resources with care and consideration. We’re committed to improving our efficiency and reducing our environmental impact to maintain a secure, reliable, and sustainable business for good.
We are working to ensure all aspects of responsible resource management are embedded throughout our product lifecycles and integrated into our business operations. Our immediate focus is to deliver Energy Action Plans to reduce the energy intensity of our operations and to improve awareness across the organisation to maximise opportunities to improve efficiency and eliminate energy leakage.
Sustainability in action
Through collaboration with our supply chain, we have applied a new and innovative methodology which will enable around 90% of the dismantled submarine structure and components to be reused or recycled – leading the way for the UK, providing a proven approach for recycling the current UK decommissioned fleet of submarines.
Read about how we are innovating to deliver high levels of recycling for submarine dismantling.
We have invested in a solar power system, consisting of a 150-kilowatt hybrid inverter and 198 x 550-watt solar panels, at one of our largest operational hubs in South Africa. Since its installation, it has generated 100,489 kWh of electricity, reducing our CO₂ emissions by 109.73 tonnes. The system not only reduces our reliance on the grid during the day but also integrates battery storage to ensure power availability at night and during power outages, effectively reducing the need for diesel-powered generators.
Learn more about how solar power has transformed our Middleburg facility.
Our waste recycling processes at our Devonport facility were highly commended in the MOD’s Sanctuary Awards 2021 under the ‘Net Zero Carbon and Resource Efficiency’ category. The project was recognised for addressing the issue of waste created by a mechanical cleaning process known as ‘shot blasting’. The waste is transported to specially equipped sites so it can be repurposed for re-use in various applications such as the manufacture of asphalt and industrial flooring. In addition, the vehicles transporting the cleaning material, and the waste only travel when they are loaded, avoiding unnecessary milage and reducing fuel consumption.
