Environment

Sustainability is the core of our corporate culture and this philosophy is apparent in our products, processes and business practices.

Mission

someday, the only companies which will exist will be those that give back as much as they take, generate as much as they consume, and sink as much as they emit.

today, Rare Basic is working hard to eliminate products that end up in landfill waste, help to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and make better products using fewer natural resources.

path to zero is the framework which governs Rare Basic’s efforts to become a truly sustainable company; it is both a process for change and a vision for the future.

Path to zero: the process

build awareness and understanding of both the global environmental crisis as well as the local impact of our own activities.

We invest in staying current on global research and constantly assess the impact of our activities and products on the environment.

Set goal and take action.

Action is the antidote to apathy. We set specific goals then rely on the commitment and passion of our staff, suppliers and customers to continually reduce the impact of our activities on the planet.

Rare Basic understands that if we’re going to supply a more environmentally ? friendly product, we need them to be manufactured in a more environmentally responsible way.

This is why Rare Basic and IDW have worked together investing time and resources into the varying options of recycling mannequins and sourcing greener forms of packaging.

In addition to working in recycled material we continually look to improve the life cycle of our product and search for ways to reduce our environmental footprint.

This is why we make a better mannequin.

Mannequins are collected in bulk with a minimum
of 250 or 5 tonnes being recycled at any one time.

Mixing in the fountain blender Laboratories facilities
for determining melt flow and colour matches.

Mannequins are collated ready
to start the re-cycling process.

Polystirol material is fed manually into the granulator ready to be made into compound.
The granulator compounds bulk amounts ready for re-use.

Melt flow tests are conducted
to ensure the consistency
and mix of material.

Carbon footprint

The carbon footprint of a full truck
= 9.5 tonnes of CO2

A full truck of adult mannequins (holding around 260) produces a carbon footprint individually
=36.54 kilos of CO2

Path to zero: eco packaging alternatives offered
recyclable, renewable, biodegradable

  • Oxo-Biodegradable bubble wrap
    The most eco-friendly bubble wrap in the UK. It is environmentally friendly and due to the fast built in degrading process is safe to be deposited in landfill.
  • Bio-degradable loose fill
    We offer the world’s most environmental alternative to polystyrene. The natural packaging material is 100% biodegradable and fully compostable. Manufactured from annually renewable resources and 5 times more anti-static than polystyrene chips.
  • The loose fill is made of starch and cereal appearing as a solid, cylindrical shaped foam. Disintegrates in water and even edible.
  • The free flowing loose fill compress to form an impenetrable mould around the mannequin to prevent it migrating to the bottom of the box.
  • The surrounding chips provide high level shock and impact protection preventing breakages.
  • Due to its composition it doesn’t spring out of the box making unpacking quick and tidy.

Carbon facts

The UK retail industry was responsible for 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2006.

Packaging

  • Currently 1 mannequin box = £7.85
  • Path to zero packaging = £15.00

Percentage level of recycling that can be achieved = 100%

Transportation

A modern fleet of 40 tonne arctic Lorries with particle filters are used to transport the mannequins the 2100km from Lithuania to London.

Where possible deliveries in Europe are made directly from the factory reducing the carbon footprint.