Sustainability and Recycling

At K. Lacey Cables, sustainability is an important part of our operations. We understand the long-term impact that our industry can have on the environment, and we are committed to taking action now to reduce waste.

What is End of Life Recycling?

End-of-life recycling refers to the process of responsibly handling materials and products once they’ve reached the end of their usable life span. In the cable industry, this involves separating reusable materials (copper or aluminium conductors) from the other materials so they can be recycled and repurposed instead of ending up in the landfill.

Why You Should Recycle Wires and Cables

Many people don’t realise that you can recycle your cables and wires, and it’s actually essential for environmental and economic reasons. Wire and cable recycling can help conserve valuable resources, reduce pollution from mining, and minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfills. Economically, recycling wires and cables can provide a source of income for scrap metal buyers, reduce waste disposal costs for businesses, and even help preserve and create jobs in the recycling industry.

Our Sustainability Aims

At K. Lacey, we make CSR (corporate social responsibility) and sustainability a priority. We therefore take ownership by driving change and making responsible choices throughout our operations.

What we’ve done so far:

Energy efficiency: We have invested in LED lighting across our business and installed energy-efficient heating systems to reduce energy consumption.
Smart energy: We have installed SMART meters across our site to monitor and reduce energy use through data-driven decisions.
Sustainable packaging: We have completed a full review of our packaging materials and replaced them with recyclable options wherever possible in order to minimise waste.
Eco-transport: We have now adopted the government-backed ‘Bike2Work’ scheme to encourage greener commuting methods throughout the business.
Low-energy operations: We’ve switched to low-energy heat tooling systems to reduce power usage.

What we plan to do next:

Renewable energy: We plan to conduct a study for the installation of solar panels to generate clean electricity for our operations.
Consumption tracking: We plan to measure our energy consumption (Kw/hrs) and water consumption (litres) to set measurable improvement targets.
Product reviews: We aim to carry out a review of each product and component to consider alternative materials wherever possible.
Waste management: We will undertake a full audit of our waste and recycling streams to identify further opportunities.

Packaging Recycling

We’re proud to say that most of our packaging materials are fully recyclable. These include:

Paper filler and recyclable bubble wrap that we use to protect the goods during shipping
Cardboard boxes for standard product shipping
Cardboard pallet boxes for larger shipments
Recyclable polythene bags for kitting
Recyclable pallet and hand wraps to secure cable drums

We are also improving how waste is managed as the warehouse team now separates recyclable pallet wrap from general waste, and we are exploring the switch to paper tape, eco-friendly pallet strapping, and using cardboard reinforcement instead of plastic.

Why choose K. Lacey?

When you choose K. Lacey, you’re choosing a company that makes sustainability and ethical responsibility part of its everyday operations. We’re committed to reducing our environmental impact and are continuously working to improve how we package, source, and deliver our products.

Ongoing investment - Developing capabilities - Extensive knowledge to provide bespoke solutions - Multiple Tooling capabilities

Customer service is our priority - Scheduled deliveries - Working to a 90% OTD KPI - Right first time mentality

Extensive knowledge of cables across various sectors including Aerospace, Lighting, Oil & gas, Automotive & Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is your packaging recyclable?

Yes. We use recyclable paper filler, bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, pallet boxes, polythene bags, and pallet wrap. We are also exploring eco-friendly pallet strapping and paper-based tapes.

How do you support your employees’ well-being?

We offer the Bike2Work scheme, a health and wellbeing cashback plan, counselling services, mental health training, company social events, and fair employment practices.

Are your polythene bags really recyclable?

Yes. The polythene bags we use for kitting and assemblies are 100% recyclable.

How do you decide on new sustainability measures?

We review our operations regularly, gather feedback from staff, and assess the latest eco-friendly materials and methods to ensure any changes are both effective and practical.