Sustainability

Here at MDL

We are committed to promoting a culture of involved responsibility regarding the environmental impacts of our business. We encourage our employees and stakeholders to create better habits and consider the impact of the decisions they make in the workplace. In order to drive and maintain this culture, we have created a sustainability team that has two main focuses:

1. Reviewing efficiencies relating to our environmental impact.  Activities here might range from large projects such as LED lighting and reduction of plastics used in packaging, to encouraging less waste in canteens and at print points. All with a view to reducing aggregate impact on the environment.
2. Negating the impact we inevitably have as a business by actively pursuing projects that encourage a more sustainable future. These include recycling projects, partnerships with local sustainability efforts and navigating our staff towards a less 'throw away' culture.

Our Sustainability journey so far

Paper & Packaging

• MDL has reduced the amount of plastic used in packaging materials with our void fill being made from 100% recycled plastic and we continue to trial alternatives to our residual packaging materials.
• Our cardboard boxes and wraps are made of 100% recycled material, are 100% recyclable, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited.
• Our boxes are not single use and are regularly re-used by Returns for returns.
• MDL has reduced paper consumption in its operations by 27% since 2020.

Energy

• MDL's warehouse uses 100% renewable electricity, and as part of Macmillan Publishers global operations, has been carbon neutral since 2017 (Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions).
• We continue to invest in our warehouse, both in terms of building and equipment to ensure we are as energy efficient as possible, including moving to a fully electric truck fleet.
• MDL's warehouse has LED lighting fitted throughout to significantly reduce energy use, with a further reduction of 6.7% in electricity consumption achieved in 2023 from 2022.
• In April 2024, our warehouse installed 856 solar panels resulting in 7.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions being saved in just one month - enough to power an average house for 293 days.

Waste & Recycling

• MDL is partnered with local recycling businesses and we currently recycle 97% of our waste materials (wood, cardboard, paper, metal, food and plastics) with the remaining 3% being incinerated for power.
• A bespoke recycling centre in our warehouse enables correct segregation and sortation of waste in line with local government workplace recycling regulations, April 2024.

Deliveries

• MDL's principal parcel carrier, DPD, is an industry leader in environmental policy and carbon reduction. See https://green.dpd.co.uk
• DPD now has over 3,600 all-electric vehicles delivering 'green' throughout the UK.
• In 2024, DPD delivered 109,529 parcels to Macmillan customers on all-electric vehicles, which is a saving of 30,230kg of CO_2.  This represents 27.56% of total parcels delivered.  We expect this number to continue to increase.

Green credentials

• MDL has an internal sustainability committee which is tasked with future initiatives on environmental and sustainability issues.
• MDL is a member of the BIC Green Supply Chain Committee, which is part of the international Green Book Supply Chain Alliance.  They continue to focus on developing and promoting industry standards and best practice in order to help organisations become more sustainable.