An industry pioneer in the global manufacturing of dental products, Gloucester-based company Prima Dental continues to lead the way for sustainability in the sector at home and abroad in 2024.
In a year that its business achievements have been recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, Prima is projecting an annual reduction of more than 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions thanks to its corporate social responsibility initiatives and ISO environmental and energy management systems, both of which have been certified in the last twelve months.
The company, which manufactures millions of dental burs for practices around the world each year, consistently puts its environmental responsibilities at the forefront of its decision making, continually demonstrating a commitment to integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations.
Utilising green energy only — causing no harm to the natural environment — the company closely monitors energy efficiency across its production facilities through dedicated ‘energy champions’, who continuously evaluate performance, drive improvements and set new benchmarks for sustainability.
It is anticipated that the recent installation of solar panels at its Gloucester facility will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90 tonnes per year — and by 2,270 tonnes over the lifespan of the panels — which is equivalent to 5.7 million miles in an average petrol car.
Prima’s concerted efforts to reduce emissions at its production facilities include installing intelligent lighting, maximum insulation and air source heat pumps, alongside efficiency improvements in its compressed air system, which together have resulted in substantial CO2 savings in excess of 100 tonnes — equivalent to planting 4,760 trees per year.
It also employs meticulous recycling initiatives — reducing its landfill disposal from 70 per cent to zero in 2023 — through eliminating disposable plastics across the business, including the use of 330,000 plastic cups per year; exclusively using recycled paper for its packaging and marketing collateral; and introducing washable cloths and waterless urinals, saving 1,576,800 litres of water annually.
The company has prioritised the
use of local suppliers across its facilities, as well as implementing local sales teams and adjusting UK working hours to accommodate different time zones, in a bid to reduce global travel — mitigating its environmental impact while
fostering strong community relationships at the same time.
Currently exporting to nearly 240 distributor customers in 90 countries around the world, Prima's goal this year is to drive local manufacturing.
Tailored for their respective markets, the firm is set to deliver 75 per cent local production in India and 93 per cent local production in Brazil, reducing shipping and travel and setting a precedent in the industry for responsible manufacturing practices.
