Introduction

The Trifast Main Board and Operational Management teams continue to focus on delivering 'Continuous Improvement' in relation to the Group's objectives and 'performance measurables', that is, how we as a business approach CSR – both for individual business teams, locations and for the Group as a whole.

Our key Group topics embrace Health & Safety, energy consumption within our properties, fleet vehicle fuel consumption and emissions, wasteful packaging, personnel travel, flexibility for staff compassionate leave (combined with pastoral care), ethical sourcing and supply chain freight logistics.

As stakeholders are aware an increasing number of multinational customers now include CSR audits when inspecting and validating potential new suppliers; therefore, our responsibility to further develop our own CSR activities is ongoing and extends beyond business ethics, environmental and community to include essential major customer compliance.

At local level, we continue to encourage 'loaning' of staff, or other relevant Company resources to, for example, local charities, youth organisations, and hospices in order to assist and support them with their community activities. We feel that it adds more value, appreciation and satisfaction to all involved to give our time and gifts 'in kind' wherever possible, rather than indulge in 'cheque book charity'.

TR has developed close links with local schools and colleges and actively promotes opportunities for work experience, classroom seminars, pupil and staff visits so as to generally foster a better level of understanding between TR as potential employers and the future providers of possible applicants for employment. This has for the second year running been our main resource for recruiting school leavers into our new Apprenticeship scheme and NVQ Business studies programme at TR Uckfield. As a business, we subscribe to the UK Government initiative that aims to support and encourage businesses to offer apprenticeship schemes, especially at a time when the financial and career prospects for graduates continues to be tough for young people. Whilst TR is proud of its very low staff turnover, there remains the need to ensure that we encourage a steady inflow of 'new blood' into our Company that can be trained at an early age to learn our systems, ethics and business culture.

Business ethics

We expect all of our business activities to be conducted in accordance with high standards of ethical conduct and full compliance with all applicable national and international laws. We, in turn, apply these standards to all dealings with customers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders.

Our Code of Business Ethics and Responsible Behaviour provides a guide to the way we achieve our business goals, helping us to behave in an open and ethical manner. This extends to provisions for 'whistleblowing' whereby employees may report suspected wrongdoings in confidence. Appropriate ethical behaviour is reviewed as part of the Group's performance appraisal process. We have extended this Code to our vendors/suppliers. This requires our key strategic suppliers to work towards achieving, as a minimum, standards covering such issues as the environment, employee Health & Safety and the prohibition of child labour, which through business reviews and on-site visits, encourages compliance and good practice within our supply chain.

We will also do our utmost to contract only with sub-contractors or suppliers who themselves adhere to international human rights and environmental laws and practices. TR commits to monitor the ethical performance of its key suppliers and to taking immediate steps in cases where the ethical performance of its key suppliers comes into question. All key suppliers to the business are required to agree and sign our comprehensive 'Quality and Sustainability Agreement' before entering into a trading relationship with TR. This agreement fully covers the suppliers Business Ethics, Health & Safety and Environmental Management with regard to national and international laws (including labour and ethics) along with submission of their written policy and contact details of the persons responsible within their organisation. We also encourage suppliers to support their local communities and expect evidence of this to be available on request, plus we require all suppliers to sign a separate CSR Statement.

Health & Safety

The Managing Directors/General Managers appointed by the Board have responsibility for the Health & Safety and environmental performance of their operational areas. They are assisted by the Health & Safety Manager. Trifast is committed to meeting all relevant Health & Safety legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice.

The Group Health & Safety Policy places responsibility for the management of health & safety on the individual business unit management who are supported by Health & Safety Advisers where necessary. All business units provide employees with relevant comprehensive Health & Safety training and a written Health & Safety policy.

The Managing Directors/General Managers ensure regular inspections and annual internal audits of Health & Safety performance and also have regular designated Health & Safety training. These audits have been successfully reinforced by the use of the British Safety Council. Our Health & Safety performance and significant risk exposures are reviewed regularly by management and the Board. Resulting from our excellent safety record, we continue to work towards our stated goal of 'a reportable accident free target period of one million working hours'.

Health & Safety is a standard agenda item at all Main Board Meetings.

Environment

Good environmental practice and the impact that our operations have on the environment are of great importance to TR.

The main aim of the Group's Environmental Policy is to comply with all relevant legislation in all areas in which we operate and to adopt responsible environmental practices. We have established a process for monitoring legislation and acting upon it where necessary. Business units are required to comply with Group policy and local statutory regulations and are committed to setting their own environmental targets such as improving energy efficiency, reducing waste and increasing recycling in conjunction with Group objectives.

• In respect of waste management specifically, we use the services of an external professional agency to manage and monitor activities using health check compliance audits and advice on data collection systems. Promoting recycling, we follow the agency's recommendation for appropriate waste disposal.
• Group performance and risk reviews are undertaken via Management Review on a regular basis and reported directly to Jim Barker, Chief Executive who has Main Board responsibility for the Group's Environmental Risk Policy. TR will communicate any significant environmental impact with third parties on request.
• Our Fleet Manager focuses on manufacturers who can supply vehicles with below average carbon emissions.
• Our Logistics Managers continuously review the efficiency of our van delivery routes in conjunction with customers in order to examine opportunities to reduce delivery frequency, and where appropriate, to outsource 'far flung isolated' routes to daily delivery freight specialists. This has resulted in our van fleet being reduced by 25% since March 2009 – this has delivered significantly reduced mileage, costs and carbon emissions.
• The TR Uckfield office and warehouse facility has begun to recoup the capital cost (first of four year target set last year) in energy savings and reduce the actual carbon footprint since the investment in replacement HVAC.
• The utilisation of video conferencing systems around the business continues to assist us to significantly reduce costs and 'lost time' from staff travel needed in a multi-site operation involving 31 business teams located in 16 countries.