Tower is working on achieving net zero by 2030, and has partnered with Cardiff Business School on their ‘KTP’ project, which will look at the impact of the global network, the impact of new hubs on our carbon footprint and what Tower can do to optimise the network and improve efficiency and sustainability.

Since 2003, we have partnered with Custom Solar for the installation of an 80 kWp solar panel system. With this installation, we anticipate generating approximately 75,000 kWh of electricity annually over the next 25 years at our headquarters in Theale, UK.Tower Cold Chain’s HQ in the UK. Our UK site uses only renewable energy for all usage not covered by these solar panels. A similar plan will be put in place for Tower’s Center of  Excellence in the US.

We carefully manage the return and re-positioning of all of our units, be that pallet shippers or small boxes. Each Tower hub has a set inventory level (or trigger level) for each unit type, these are calculated by using a combination of previous usage and forthcoming customer demand, with a buffer built in. These inventory levels are then maintained by ensuring inbound and outbound lanes are balanced whenever possible, and where not possible, we rely on our robust re-positioning and network management function.
In addition, for our small boxes, we provide a CLICK & COLLECT service which allows the customer to simply scan the barcode on top of the container when they have finished with the unit. This scan will trigger a next day collection of the unit(s) with those units then being placed back into the Tower network for re-use.

We recognise the growing importance of corporate responsibility and sustainability in today’s global business environment. As part of our ongoing commitment to improvement and In line with its sustainability objectives, Tower has recently established an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Committee. This dedicated committee is actively working on both local and global sustainability goals, aiming to transform the organization into a more sustainable entity.

Based on our core values, and as a leader in temperature-controlled pharmaceutical packaging, Tower Cold Chain recognise the importance of the environment, and of social and economic factors, in delivering our long-term success.

We have the strong conviction that by manufacturing and providing our customers with robust, reliable, and reusable temperature-controlled packaging we can significantly contribute to a safer and better environment.

Our CSR strategy revolves around six major axes: product circularity, diversity equality and inclusion, carbon-offsetting, sustainable energy, support of local communities, and sustainable procurement. In every aspect of our business, we are committed to empowering our employees, promoting the best health and safety practices, protecting the environment and maintaining exemplary ethical standards.

As a company we aim to develop products and people, work practices and values that create a better environment for all.

We aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 to support our customer’s sustainability strategies and are taking steps in respect of human rights, corruption, data protection and general environmental issues.

Our commitment to sustainability is inherent in all that we do and aims to support our customers’ ambitious sustainability goals. As such, we are dedicated to the sustainable development of products and technology that reduces the impact of logistics activities.

For more information about our journey toward sustainability and milestones since 2020 please visit: https://www.towercoldchain.com/pharmaceuticals-supply-chain/sustainability-journey/

Our commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in the following certifications:

Silver EcoVadis Award:

We are honored to have achieved the Silver EcoVadis award, a testament to our dedication to sustainable business practices. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates companies based on environmental, social, and ethical performance. This recognition underscores our commitment to operating responsibly and contributing to a more sustainable future.

ISO 14001 Certifications:

We are pleased to inform you that we hold ISO 14001 certification, an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems.

These certifications reflects our commitment to establishing, implementing, and continually improving effective environmental management and quality practices. It demonstrates our proactive approach to minimizing environmental impact and complying with relevant regulations.

In addition to these certifications, we uphold a comprehensive Environmental Policy that serves as our guiding framework for sustainable operations. Our policy outlines our commitment to:

• Reducing environmental impact across our operations.
• Complying with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Continually improving our environmental performance.
• Fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among our team members.
• Engaging with stakeholders to promote sustainability and transparency.

Tower integrates supplier diversity by assessing small and diverse suppliers within our selection process, ensuring they have opportunities to compete. Additionally, our sustainable procurement policy focuses on selecting environmentally  friendly suppliers and improving supply chain sustainability, such as adopting smart tooling that reduces energy use by ~20% per mold.

Tower stands apart by designing fully reusable packaging that reduces waste and maximizes efficiency across the supply chain. Unlike single-use or limited-use packaging, our containers are built for durability and can be reused for 5-10+ years. This significantly lowers environmental impact and cuts costs while ensuring sustainability without sacrificing performance or safety. Every Tower containers are deliberately designed to be reusable from the outset.

Product Circularity – Tower’s primary objective in adopting this strategy is to minimise any negative environmental impact through reduced consumption of raw materials and reduced waste. Our key focus when developing new products are product circularity and weight reduction (while maximising payloads); Waste Management – For materials that cannot be directly reused, such as blue plastic parts, polyurethane, and PCMs (phase-change materials). Tower ensure they are handled responsibly by waste management experts. Depending on their properties, plastic parts are recycled into pellets, while polyurethane is utilised as fuel energy in cement kilns belonging to third parties.  Energy Efficiency – We understand that improving energy efficiency is not only fundamental in maintaining competitive operative cost. It is a collective responsibility for all businesses to ensure that global resources are managed well and GHG emissions are reduced to a minimum. Company offices have LED lighting in all new sites with office lighting connected to timers. Whilst warehouse lighting is on manual controls, staff across all sites are trained in energy efficiency practices. Air-conditioning equipment and gas boilers are serviced regularly to ensure that optimal energy consumption is established across all operations.

It is a collective responsibility for all businesses to ensure that global resources are managed well and GHG emissions are reduced to a minimum. Investing in solar energy allows us to reduce dependency on traditional energy sources and embrace renewable alternatives, while setting an example for other businesses. Scope 1 and scope 2 emissions were calculated for the UK headquarters to establish a baseline emissions calculation for ongoing reporting. GHG emissions were calculated from recorded consumption of purchased electricity and gas, using the UK Government emission factors 2023 (V1.1). As an example: Tower does not own any vehicles or assets powered by fossil fuels (i.e. there were no stationary or transport related emissions).  Our journey to a zero-carbon future  comes with a commitment to our customers by offering solutions that reduce GHG emissions in their supply chains.