our responsibility to the environment

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Mission statement

Vanilla Chinchilla Ltd T/A Buttercup Bus Vintage Campers, recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements.

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods, with regular review.

Responsibility

Nathalie (Managing Director at Vanilla Chinchilla Ltd, T/A Buttercup Bus Vintage Campers) is responsible for ensuring that the environmental policy is implemented.

However, all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met. We will encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to do the same.

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Policy Aims

We endeavour to:

  • Comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Continually improve and monitor environmental performance.
  • Continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.
  • Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
  • Increase employee awareness and training.

OUR CAMPERVAN SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Fuel consumption

Our campervans all run on unleaded petrol , with reconditioned 1.6L aircooled engines (rather than running on leaded fuel). 

Carbon footprint

The majority of our fleet are classed as historic status, and are over 40 years old – which means that the carbon footprint invested to build them has been offset against their years in usage, unlike modern cars with a shorter lifespan.

Recycled

They are “recycled” as are maintained over the years (often with repairs to parts,rather than purchasing new parts). In our view, this is more environmentaly friendly than vehicles with a shorter lifespan being scrapped, with their materials needing to be disposed of in the environment.

If new parts are required, eg gear boxes, steering boxes, starter motors or engines, then we have to return the old part to be repaired as part of the transaction to purchase another re-conditioned unit. The old part can then be re-stocked for other people to purchase. 

Shared passengers

They are typically used for special occasions or family excursions, which means that you will often have multiple people travelling in them at one time, rather than modern cars often used for single commuters to get to work.

Emissions

Despite MOTs being optional for our historic status vehicles, we get our full fleet annually certified. This ensures that they conform to the emmissions standards along as being formally tested to be roadworthy.

Annually, our fleet cover far less mileage than a modern car, and so their engines run for less time, adding less pollutants to the air compared to a modern car (there are also significantly less of them on the road from a volume, and contributing pollution perspective).

They can only be driven slowly, which can be more environmentally positive with fuel consumption than modern, big engine cars running at high speeds.

Vehicle cleaning

The bodywork is polished by hand with microfibre reusable cloths and waterless car clean kits (with non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly products) where possible – but where water is required,  we use a pressure washer which consumes between six and ten times less water than the use of a standard hose pipe at low pressure.
Pressure cleaners also reduce the amount of cleaning products required, as dirt is removed naturally from the high pressure water.

OUR GLITTER BAR AND DRIED FLOWER BAR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

ECO GLITTER AND DRIED FLOWER EMBELLISHMENTS

Campervan glitter bar - buttercupbus - Kernwell photography 3

Eco Glitter

We use Bio / Eco glitter for our glitter bars. The Glitter is produced from a film made from trees, primarily eucalyptus, sourced from responsibly managed plantations.
Biodegradable glitter is a brand new type of eco-friendly glitter. Our supplier states that it is:

  • 100% biodegradable
  • Eco-friendly
  • Compostable
  • Cosmetically safe
  • Environmentally sourced, renewable raw ingredients to FSC® Standards
  • Cruelty free

How does the glitter decompose?

Eco glitter does not dissolve in water. Instead, microorganisms are needed to digest eco-glitter and transform it into the harmless substances, carbon dioxide, water and biomass.

With this in mind, eco- glitter takes a period of months, for it to break down. The little micro-organisms, found in places like soil and in the ocean, will eat it over a period of months, which allows it to break down.

 

Campervan glitter bar - by buttercupbus.com - Photo credit to Kernwell photography 4

Dried flowers

As an alternative to non-biodegradable gems, we offer dried flower embellishments to accompany the eco glitter, as part of our Dried flower tattoo bar services.

These are a mix of bought and hand picked flowers, flower pressed and dry stored. These are offered, to apply as embellishments to the face or hands – and are a natural product that is totally biodegradable.

Gel adhesive

We use Gel adhesive, a vegan, cruelty free, face and body glitter glue. This gel helps the removal of the eco glitter by peeling it off in one go. This reduces the dispersal of the glitter. Adhesion can last up to 24 hours, and is smudge resistant.

our office environmental policy

"Living Coral" - a reminder of climate change and its impact.....

Read our blog post here, where we take a look at Pantone colour of 2019 “Living Coral” – a reminder to us all about the environmental impact of climate change.

Paper

We will minimise the use of paper in the office.

We will reduce packaging as much as possible.

We will seek to buy recycled and recyclable paper products.

We will reuse and recycle all paper where possible.

Office supplies

We will evaluate if the need can be met in another way.

We will evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.

We will evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.

We will favour more environmentally friendly and efficient products wherever possible.

We will reuse and recycle everything we are able to.

Culture

We will involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.

We will update this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.

We will provide staff with relevant environmental training.

We will work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.

We will use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.

Energy & Water

We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.

Lights and electrical equipment will be switched off when not in use.

Heating will be adjusted with energy consumption in mind.

The energy consumption and efficiency of new products will be taken into account when purchasing.

Transportation

We will reduce the need to travel for business meetings, restricting to necessity trips only.

We will promote the use of travel alternatives such as e-mail or video/phone conferencing for clint engagement.

We will make additional efforts to accommodate the needs of those using public transport or bicycles.

Monitoring & improvement

We will comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.

We will continually improve and monitor environmental performance.

We will continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.

We will incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.

We will increase employee awareness through training.

We will review this policy and any related business issues at our monthly management meetings.

Maintenance & Cleaning

Cleaning materials used will be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Materials used in office refurbishment will be as environmentally friendly as possible.

We will only use licensed and appropriate organisations to dispose of waste.