Environment & Sustainability

Mission Statement

VMI has taken great strides to reduce its impact on the environment and continues to do so, going forward, wherever and whenever possible.

VMI wins award to achieve net-zero by 2030

VMI is the proud recipient of a Better Futures+ Green Innovation Voucher, awarded by West London Business, to help VMI to become a net zero, fully sustainable business by 2030.

VMI was chosen as just one of twelve companies in West London for this process, which involves being coached by Imperial College’s Leonardo Centre, as well as receiving individual coaching/consultancy.
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VMI Wins Environmental Award in 2016

Ealing Council praised VMI’s environmental efforts by awarding VMI with an environmental award in October 2016 to recognise its effort in saving energy in a novel IT initiative.  The project managed to consolidate the functions of 4 separate computer servers into one new more efficient server saving both power and also power required to cool the server toom power too.  This award was part of an Ealing Council initiative to reduce power consumption in the West London area.

VMI only uses energy from a certified ‘green deal’ which is 100% renewable.

VMI is now a recognised Albert Supplier

The Albert association is the industry authority on environmental sustainability for film + TV and recognises VMI’s activities for greater sustainability and has classed VMI as a recognised Albert Supplier. Albert Website

VMI is a Green Pledge Contributer

An independent group of rental companies created an action group, chaired by Jason Henwood, to ensure sharing best-practice to promote sustainable business techniques and share good business practice and VMI continue to support this initiative, which we call the Green Pledge. 

By signing this declaration, we endeavour to work alongside Albert to direct our industry into more sustainable practices, including taking trains instead of planes, using sustainable paper, reducing wasteful packaging, minimising the use of single use plastics etc.  Click on the logo for full details of our respective commitments.

Recycled Paper only

VMI only uses recycled paper and recycles all paper waste that it produces.  VMI has separate bins for paper and also recycles plastic and textiles in the W3 office.  Presently, there is no bio recycling facility at Victoria Industrial Estate.

No More Plastic to seal cables

In 2019, VMI committed to cease stocking single use plastic to seal cables and filters.

Instead, VMI began using paper adhesive labels to seal cables with, so that we would have a visible indication of whether cables required testing or not.  We were keen to ensure that these were printed on recycled paper for minimum environmental impact.

Link to see VMI supplier of paper labels and label specs

Biodegradable plastic to seal filters

Just with the cable initiative, VMI found a supplier to manufacture Oxo-biodegradable plastic to sheath our filters into.

Whilst a recycle logo can reassure people, what is lesser known however is that even recycled material put into landfill will degrade, however in the absence of oxygen, the bi-product is methane, rather than carbon dioxide, which is 21x worse as a greenhouse gas…  As a result, we print onto the plastic sheathing that these should be disposed of with the compost waste, so that they can bio-degrade with the lease impact on our environment.

Biodegrading test

On the left is an experiment started in October 2019 of leaving two samples of bio-degradable plastic and regular PVC in the Managing Director’s garden over the winter and summer of 2019/2020.

Throughout the first winter, there was little change between the two but as the conditions warmed up in spring and summer (central image), the bio-degradable plastic shows signs of deteriorating rapidly. However by February 2021 (right), some 16 months after being in the open air, the bio degradable plastic tubing is severely damaged and extremely thin, whilst the original PVC version is still very strong.

Conclusion: the Oxo-degradable plastic tubing used by VMI to sheath filters, breaks down adequately if disposed of responsibly

Barry Bassett, Managing Director, VMI

A second experiment started in late 2020, saw both samples planted in a compost heat and it is expected that in the earth, surrounded by water and bacteria, that degradation will take place more rapidly still.   

Link of FAQ of VMI supplier of biodegradable plastic layflat tubing and specs

Batteries when they are retired from service are sent back to the Manufacturer (Anton Bauer/Hawkswood) for recycling.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and other harmful waste are strictly taken to Council recycling points for correct recycling.

Our building in W3, was purpose built in 2012 and designed with efficiency and reducing VMI’s impact on the Environment as a focus.

The entire building is installed with cool LED lights throughout, which offer a better quality of light, less tiring to staff, as well as reducing electricity and cooling.

The floors of the warehouse are installed with Ecotiles, which are made from recycled tetrapack containers.

By reducing transit charges to clients for non timed deliveries, increases the number of drops per van trip and thus reduces trips saving fuel and emissions and this led to a measurable saving in fuel useage over the past 2 years, since inception.

VMI has also discarded the use of water coolers, which increase fuel use (for deliveries), plastic production (for the bottles) and electricity consumption (for keeping the water cool). Instead, it has installed water fountains that supply ground-cooled water straight out of the water main for staff and clients to drink.

VMI has also eradicated towel waste, having installed Dyson Blade hand driers in both toilets.

VMI also encourages its staff to use public transport and sponsors staff to buy bicycles.  At VMI today, at least 3 members of staff ride to work by bicycle as does Barry Bassett, VMI’s Managing Director.

VMEDIA uses electric car for deliveries

VMI’s media rental arm, VMEDIA, offers a unique delivery service using an Eco-friendly electric powered BMW. As a low-carbon service, the vehicle incurs no congestion charge and this saving is passed on to customers by offering a complementary free local and national delivery service * or with a subsidised fixed deliver/collection service, which is equivalent to the cost of a bike courier.

Full details here.

VMI Environmental policy statement

VMI also takes its environmental impact very seriously. The Board of Directors determines the overall environmental policy for VMI paying due regard to the protection of the environment, the effective and efficient use of energy and raw materials, and the minimisation of waste.

The aim of the policy is not simply legislative compliance, we wish to enhance our corporate social responsibility by supporting the development of best practice and innovative solutions to deliver sustainable growth whilst continually improving environmental standards.

VMI commits to:

• The education and training of employees in environmental issues and the environmental effects of their activities.
• To continually improve on environmental performance and review this annually.
• VMI only uses recycled paper and recycles all paper and cardboard waste that it produces. Faxes are now received and filed electronically avoiding unnecessary printing them – likewise with electronic mail.
• Promoting the use of sustainable transport amongst its staff. Included in this is the provision for home-working which reduces commuting journeys which is supported by at least 3 members of staff on a regular basis including VMI’s Managing Director.
• VMI also encourages its staff to use bicycles to commute and supports the bicycle to work scheme.- at least 3 members of the team frequently ride to work.
• VMI promotes the merits of tape-less technology to avoid stock waste.
• The minimising of unnecessary journeys of delivery vehicles through efficient planning and scheduling and have reduced transit charges to clients for non-timed deliveries to encourage enable multiple drops to be possible on round trips.
• VMI also promote to West-End clients a subsidised delivery service providing they book their deliveries and collections in advance, thus enabling VMI to efficiently schedule multiple trips to W1 and avoid unnecessary duplicitous journeys.
• Where possible, VMI try to sub-hire equipment from local companies to VMI to minimise on road delivery miles.
• Minimising on wasteful packaging, such as the unnecessary bagging of cables, which though they improve presentation, they actually serve no practical purpose.
• VMI is also discarding the use of water coolers, which increase fuel use (for deliveries), plastic production (for the bottles) and electricity consumption (for keeping the water cool). Instead, it is installing water fountains that supply ground-cooled water straight out of the water main for staff and clients to drink.
• Efficient use of water and energy by installing water meters to monitor and regulate water usage and avoid costly air-conditioning in the offices where possible.
• The use of biodegradable chemicals where possible.
• Minimising use of solvents and lead-based paints,
• In building projects, VMI require that builders only use timber from sustainable (managed) forests.
• Minimising noise disturbance to neighbours.
• The phasing out of CFCs and ozone-depleting substances. VMI use very few chemicals but are sensitive to the environmental damage of using them and so restrict their use. VMI no longer buys canned air but instead uses a compressor to deliver pressurised air to the work benches.
• Ideally, VMI would choose to work with clients and suppliers to achieve the common aim.

The Board accepts responsibility for the overall effectiveness of the environmental policy and recognises the essential role that employees at all levels need to play in the development of environmental awareness and efficiency.

Updated October 2020