Does Godfrey Hirst have a Quality Assurance System?
Yes. Godfrey Hirst is accredited with the Quality Standard ISO-9001.

Does Godfrey Hirst have an Environmental Management System (EMS)?

Yes.  Godfrey Hirsts Environmental Management System (EMS) addresses the four EMS sub-columns Waste Minimisation, Energy, Emissions & Material Minimisation, as detailed below.

Godfrey Hirst's EMS is a tool for systematically working with environmental questions within our organisation. Our EMS includes concrete objectives, plans of action and a clear division of responsibility for environmental questions, which are all adopted as management issues.
-  Godfrey Hirst are continually identifying environmental aspects and
   establishing goals.
-  Implementing training and operational controls.
-  Checking, including monitoring and corrective action (if any).
-  Reviewing, including progress reviews and acting on any changes to the

   EMS that may be required.
-  Godfrey Hirsts EMS has improved our performance in environmental

Are any recycled materials used to produce Godfrey Hirst products?
Yes. Wool, nylon, polypropylene and water are all recyclable materials used in the manufacturing process. The use of recycled materials throughout the production process is encouraged as much as possible. These recycled materials do not affect the quality of the finished product. All recycled content of Godfrey Hirst carpets can be substantiated by third party confirmation.

What energy sources are used in manufacturing Godfrey Hirst carpets and have any conservation measures been implemented?
Godfrey Hirst does include energy consumption in their EMS and is monitored and reported monthly.

The major energy saving actions that were undertaken during 2004/2005 are listed as follows:

• Quick colour change (QCC) applicator on the continuous carpet dye line, which reduces waste by eliminating colour changes on production runs.
• Continuation of Citect SCADA implementation through the factory to improve process efficiency.
• Focus on waste minimisation, recycling initiatives and environmental awareness.
• Processing of more coloured yarn which eliminates carpet dyeing and the subsequent drying processes.
• Water reduction initiatives

Godfrey Hirst Greenhouse Challenge progress reports are open to public scrunity at www.greenhouse.gov.au/cgi-bin/challenge/dbsearch.pl

Has Godfrey Hirst implemented any in-plant water efficient or water re-use/recycling measures?
Godfrey Hirst Carpets has been recognised for saving more than 232kL of water per day by recycling water used in the carpet dyeing process. This represents a 32.5 per cent water reduction for its carpet dyeing operations, equating to 85ML of water over the course of the year, or around 85 Olympic sized swimming pools.

Godfrey Hirst won both the ‘Manufacturing” category and the award for “Excellence” at the 2005 savewater!® awards, recognising outstanding achievement in water conservation across Victorian business and community groups.

Does Godfrey Hirst carpet production perform above regulatory standards?
Yes. Our levels of gaseous emissions, liquid effluent and solid waste disposal are better than regulatory standards. Godfrey Hirst environmental policy and environmental management plans focus on achieving as close to zero waste as possible.

Godfrey Hirst has introduced many initiatives to reduce, re-use and recycle to help build their materials efficiency.

Do Godfrey Hirst carpets meet the VOC emissions criteria required by Green Star?
Godfrey Hirst proactively addresses key issues in order to promote a healthy individual environment.

Recent issues such as emission levels in carpets are of particular significance.

Godfrey Hirst carpets have been independently tested for VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and comply with Green Star criteria, thus minimising the impact on indoor air quality. The carpets that have been tested are:

• 100% Wool
• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon
• 85% Wool / 15% Nylon
• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon with polyurethane backing (Healthcare)
• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon with composite backing (Modular)

All carpets achieved emission levels far below the 0.05mg/m²/hr maximum levels that Green Star allow. Emission levels for 4PC (4 Phenylcyclohexane) and formaldehyde were also well under the 0.05mg/m²/hr maximum allowance.

Do Godfrey Hirst carpets meet the VOC emissions criteria required by CRI Green Label and Green Label Plus?

Godfrey Hirst has also independently tested for Green Label Plus compliance. The carpets that have been tested are:

• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon (Dual Bond installation)
• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon Carpet Tile (Direct Stick installation)
• 100% Wool (Carpet only tested)
• Wool Blend (Carpet only tested)
• 100% Solution Dyed Nylon with composite backing (Modular tile only tested)
• Wool Blend with composite backing (Modular tile only tested)

All products achieved emission levels for VOC far below the 0.05mg/m²/hr maximum levels that Green Label Plus allows.

Does Godfrey Hirst have a product stewardship program?
Yes. Godfrey Hirst undertakes to offer a contractual arrangement to commercial customers to take back carpet at the end of its service life for re-use, recycling or reprocessing. This offer will be made on a project-by-project basis. All Godfrey Hirst carpets can be repaired (within reason), reused (if not too contaminated) and are recyclable.

Godfrey Hirst is currently negotiating with a number of companies regarding utilising post consumer carpet.  Although the recycling of carpet is not compulsory in Australia, Godfrey Hirst will assure all end users who participate in their recycling program that no retrieved carpet will go to landfill.

Customers will be charged for the reclamation and recycling costs which will not include profit for Godfrey Hirst.  Godfrey Hirst does not consider recycling overseas as a long-term solution as it is our ultimate goal to recycle carpets in Australia minimizing fuel and energy use and reducing the overall cost.

What types of transport methods are used to transfer materials to the plant, from the plant and to the customer?

Road and sea are the main forms of transport for taking materials to the plant. Road transport is used from the plant to distribution. Transport from the distribution centre to the site / customer is mainly by road and rail, but also by sea and air for export customers.

Does Godfrey Hirst use recyclable packaging for its products?

We keep all packaging to a minimum with a program in place to re-use packaging if it needs to be recycled. Carpet is rolled onto cardboard cores that can be re-used and recycled. We use an independent contractor to collect all recyclable packaging.