Why sustainability is so important in lock making

Sustainability is a buzzword that is used often but means very little for many. As a consumer, responsibly-sourced products are desirable, but what makes them this way often remains a mystery. 

Implementing sustainable practices is becoming increasingly important as the climate continues to change. The energy we use is directly impacting the environment and potentially speeding up the rate of global warming. For the lock making industry, being mindful of these emissions and doing what we can to reduce or offset our energy use is a great way to do our part for the environment. 

The manufacturing and construction industry was estimated to contribute 11% of carbon emissions in 2025 (GOV.UK, 2026), so it’s important to us that we implement responsible practices and offset our emissions where possible.

Here at Squire, we are committed to manufacturing our products as responsibly as possible. In this blog, we’re delighted to share our latest results.

The climate is changing

According to the United Nations, fossil fuels account for nearly 68% of global greenhouse gas emissions (United Nations, 2022), which is the largest contributor for climate change. For many companies, moving to electricity can be a great way to lower emissions, however, in manufacturing, this can be much trickier. Instead, carbon offsetting provides companies with a way to balance out greenhouse gases released by funding environmental projects across the globe.

At Squire, we have partnered with Beyondly, an environmental consultancy, who provide us with a dedicated account manager to oversee our carbon offsetting. Beyondly provides us with regular reports detailing where emissions are generated at our site, which we can then use to reduce emissions moving forward. 

Since working with Beyondly, we have been able to offset a total of 1848 tonnes of CO2e between 2020 and 2025, with 2025 contributing to 229 tonnes of the total figure. 

We have countered our emissions through a range of verified, worthy schemes, including:

·       REDD+ Protecting the Amazon 

·       Providing clean cookstoves in Kenya

·       Renewable energy, delivering wind generation in India

·       Energising India using solar energy projects

These schemes are an exciting and fulfilling way for us to aid in the conservation of the planet. Through these schemes, we have been able to offset all of our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, as well as selected Scope 3 emissions. 

Solar is taking over

Solar electricity is becoming a go-to for cost-saving and efficiency. With nearly 820m² of solar panels at our site in Wolverhampton, we are able to convert sunlight into clean electricity, with the added benefit of being able to sell out excess energy back to the grid. We closely monitor the performance of these solar PV units to ensure we maximise efficiency and generate enough power for production.

We first installed solar panels in October 2018, but in 2025 alone, 35% of total electricity used came from our PV installation. Of this energy, we used 60% of what was generated and 40% was exported back to the grid network.  

Mindful water usage

As the environment gets hotter, it is increasingly important to conserve water. As of early August 2026, 71.3% of the UK is officially in a drought (BBC, 2026), highlighting the need to reduce water consumption. 

One of our key objectives as part of our ISO 14001 compliance is to reduce water usage. In 2018, our total water usage was 2464m³, however this reduced to 737m³ in 2025. The initiative has been led by our QHSE Manager Andrew Rawings, through which we have been able to lower our water consumption by 65-70% per year.

Plastic leads to pollution

Plastic is well-known as a key contributor to pollution, most notably due to its impact on ocean life. Like many, we are committed to reducing plastic and ensuring recyclability by changing our packaging. By moving away from using plastic bags and cable ties to introducing cardboard alternatives and increasing our use of boxes, we have been able to import 75% less plastic in 2025 than we did in 2024. 

Compliance is key

Compliance to key environmental standards is the only way a company can truly demonstrate its commitments. One of the most notable standards that centres around environmental management is ISO 14001. The standard has been recently updated in 2026 to account for climate change, lifecycle thinking, leadership and supply chain, but was introduced in 1996.

Squire first achieved registration to ISO 14001 in 2010 and has remained compliant with the standard every year since. We are audited annually by a UKAS-accredited third-party auditor to ensure ongoing compliance and receive a full recertification audit every three years. 

These are only a handful of ways we are adopting responsible practices across our manufacturing and operations. To find out more about our sustainability journey, you can read about it here.