Corporate social responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays a key function in our Industry, it is a decisional factor for our clientele, and we are proud, at UCT (Asia), to be able to use this as a competitive advantage.
Indeed, we have always been dedicated, since our inception, to source and produce ethically and with integrity, and are proud to be Sedex SMETA audited and certified.
We have a compliance department, which systematically conducts audits on our supply Chain, and guarantee all aspects of sustainability and corporate social responsibility are checked, noted, and respected.
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the center of all what we do.
We ensure sustainable procurement through a balance of economic, social and environmental consideration in our processes.
This achieves our commitment to produce economically, ethically and efficiently, by taking into account Ethics, Environmental Management, and socio-economic benefits.
How we apply Sustainability
UCT (Asia) recognizes that businesses can have a negative impact on the environment. We are committed, and enjoy finding ways in which we can reduce the impact of products and services we propose.
So together with our employees, partners and factories we defined our Environment and Sustainability Policy.
Discover in our Policy how we implement these principles in a practical way:
- Applied in our offices on consumption of resources, purchase of equipment, travels and meetings, Working Practices and Advice to Clients
- Applied in our business in term of legal and supplier compliance, waste management, energy, recycle and use of Recycled Materials, delivery methods, product selection
- Discover sustainable alternatives to plastic
UCT (ASIA's) dedication to Eco-Friendliness
Some of the ways we adhere to our core principles
Hemp
Hemp production is one of the oldest and most eco-friendly when it comes to fabrics. The fast growing hemp plant is naturally pest resistant and can grow without the assistance of fertilizers and pesticides. In other words, it is a 100% organic crop and with significantly less chemicals, which makes it perfect for people who are chemical sensitive. The fiber is completely biodegradable (100% Recyclable) and holds its shape as good as polyester, but also has breathability.
Wheat Straw
Wheat-straw is one of the latest eco friendly materials, mainly harvested as an agricultural waste product that remains after grain or juice is extracted from the crops. However it contains a substance known as Lignin, which when combined with sugar, can be turned into a bio-plastic.
When wheat straw is used to make bio-plastic, it becomes compostable and can decompose in a home or commercial site. Wheat Straw plastic leaves behind no toxic material, is completely BPA free and has FDA approval. Production of bio plastic consumes less energy and gives off less CO2 emissions than the production of synthetic plastics, which is derived from petroleum.
Corn PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is made by fermenting the sugars in corn starch or sugarcane in a solution of hot water and sulfur dioxide. As a natural plastic substitute, it is a biodegradable, ecofriendly and renewably-sourced alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Everything from plastic packaging for food take-out to medical products can now be made from PLA, which helps drastically reduce the carbon footprint of these industries.
Organic cotton
Organic cotton is equal to cotton in every way and is generally defined as being grown organically from non-genetically modified plants, and without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.
To make sure that our cotton is indeed organic, UCT (Asia) go through extensive supply chain audits and verifications as only certified cotton can be marketed. Organic Cotton only makes up 1-2% of global cotton production but has been on the rise in recent years.
Coffee husk
As one of the largest commodities in the world, Coffee is another excellent source of eco-friendly material. Coffee husks (or chaff) is the dried skin of the coffee bean. During the roasting process, the husk falls off and is mostly discarded as waste. Coffee husks are high in lignin and are being used as reinforcing filler for thermoplastic composites such as polypropylene or ABS. It has also been shown to be an effective detox agent.
Bamboo Plastic Composite
Bamboo is known as one of the fastest growing plants (grass) in the world and it can replenish itself within a year minimal water requirements and without need of fertilizers to boost its growth. Since bamboo is naturally pest-resistant there is no need for pesticides. Bamboo plastic composite (or BPC) is essentially made by combining bamboo fibers with a matrix substance that will engulf the fibers and hold them in place. A 100% natural and biodegradable material, it is the ideal plastic replacement for your merchandise.
Cork
As one of the most durable organic materials Cork has great adhesive properties, making it easy to use in combination with different materials. Cork is made from the bark of the self-regenerating cork oak tree. It is considered among the most durable organic materials with the property of stabilizing the air temperature and humidity around it. It is a very flexible material and be treated in a simple natural way. In general the cork industry is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly. Cork is 100% natural and biodegradable.
RPET
Recycled PET is commonly known as rPET and is the most widely recycled plastic worldwide. The majority of all solid waste in the world is made up of PET Plastic. We re-use this material to to create new merchandise and craft something new from the old. PET is the most common type of plastic used widely for packaging, disposable bottles/containers across all industry verticals.
The use of rPET plastic is on the rise as a result of its low carbon footprint, recyclability, and strong environmental credentials.
Recycled fabrics
Recycled fabrics are made from waste fabrics (any textiles). The collected textile solid wastes are reprocessed in to fibre and then back to fabrics for further re-production of bags, garments or linen. Most of the manufacturers work with two streams : pre-consumer waste (scrap from production) and post-consumer waste (used textiles collected). The color segregation occurs during the process to avoid as much as possible the re-dyeing of the fabric.
Glass
Thanks to UCT (Asia)'s Glass Blowing manufacturing capabilities, we can provide our clients with the very best glass has to offer.
Glass does not contain any harmful chemicals and is 100% recyclable, it also has an unlimited lifespan and can be continuously recycled. The glass is crushed, then blended, and then melted with sand, limestone, and other raw materials, including more glass. The end result are new bottles, jars and glasses to promote your brand.
Paper Products
Once the paper is collected, transported and sorted, it is processed into a pulp and screened and cleaned. This pulp is then used in the production of new paper products. Everything from Straws to Pens and more, we have a wide range of available paper products.
The same items you already know and love, made with sustainability in mind. Why not get your project underway and contact us today, we are proud to be able to offer the most sustainable options in the procurement sector.