Founded in 1979, Halyard is a manufacturer and distributor of equipment that enhancing experience by improving conditions both on board, and in the environs around commercial and leisure boats.
Their expertise lies in designing and manufacturing exhaust systems, including metal pipework and composite silencers. To enhance the boating experience, they also provide noise insulation, anti-vibration equipment, overboard discharge filters, and exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Halyard’s first significant ‘environmental’ project ran between 2003 and 2005 where they chaired the ‘Soundboat’ EU funded project that considered the impact of noise on the marine environment. Working with a European consortium they helped define regulations for noise pollution from boats.
Their dedication to marine environmental projects continued as active members of the ICOMIA Committee on Emissions. Throughout the 2010s, they played a pivotal role in shaping emissions regulations for leisure craft.
David Johnson, Sales Director, comments ”If our external focus on environmental issues is to have any credibility, we have had to ‘walk the walk’ as well as talking the talk, and this approach has become more evident in recent times.”
They’ve consistently recycled waste materials and prioritised energy-efficient plants and equipment. Now, their investment decisions explicitly factor in long-term energy use as part of the cost-benefit analysis.
It’s no surprise that, despite a higher upfront cost, energy-efficient curing ovens and welding sets offer lower lifetime ownership costs. Doing the right thing has a clear long-term benefit.
As well as plant and equipment, Halyard have also transitioned their vehicle fleet. They invested in their first Hybrid vehicle in 2017 and have maintained charging points ever since – their entire car fleet is either hybrid or fully electric.
Johnson, continues, “Whilst we believe we are being effective in reducing our carbon footprint, we are not experts. We are a relatively small business with some very large customers and suppliers, and whilst we believe we are doing many of the right things to move ourselves towards net zero we don’t have the tools to audit. There may well be more changes that we could make to our business that would further reduce our carbon footprint whilst increasing efficiency.”
Similarly, Halyard are conscious of new regulations (Plastic Packaging tax and CBAM to name but two) where demonstrating a robust audit methodology will be critical to effective compliance.
Recognising the need for expert guidance to assess their current position and navigate upcoming legislative compliance, they sought out a robust partner. Auditel outshone their competitors by offering pragmatic, actionable advice and unwavering support throughout the audit process.
As Halyard advances with Auditel as their ‘Carbon Footprint’ partner, they anticipate discovering more opportunities for enhanced efficiencies in their carbon reduction journey, along with a lighter compliance burden as new regulations emerge.
“We recognise that this is a marathon not a sprint, but having a clear stake in the ground following our audit work will allow us to develop a clear plan.”
David Johnson, Sales Director
