News and Updates

In the run-up to Christmas, Arco colleagues, customers and suppliers have been contributing their time, efforts and money to a host of well-deserving causes, raising thousands of pounds and enriching the lives of those most in need across the UK.

Christmas raffle for Macmillan Cancer Support

This year, Arco's annual Christmas raffle raised more than £6,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support- the company's longest-standing charity partner. More than 30 prizes were up for grabs in the raffle, donated from across Arco's network of vendors, partners and colleagues. A big thank you to everyone who donated.

Cash for Kids: Missions Christmas Appeal

In support of Cash for Kids - a charity is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people - Arco joined the Mission Christmas campaign, the largest Christmas gift appeal in the UK. Arco colleagues donated items and signed up to be Mission Christmas volunteers, sorting and packing gifts to help make sure children living in poverty wake up to presents on Christmas Day.

Showcasing seasonal creativity

In December, young relatives of Arco colleagues were invited to take part in the company's Christmas card competition. Showing their creative streaks, Eva Lindop, 13, and Willow Mallinson, 5, each won a pack of 12 Christmas cards of their design, a family fun day voucher, and a £100 donation from Arco to a charity of their choice. Willow's chosen charity was Hull Food Bank and Eva chose Dove House Hospice.

Combined with other community and charity activities throughout 2024, the seasonal efforts of Arco's colleagues reflect the company's commitment to having a positive impact on people's lives.

Find out more about Arco's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services have provided expert safety support for the return of classic ITV game show You Bet!

The reboot of the show, presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, features members of the public showing off their extraordinary skills, with celebrity panellists betting on whether each contestant can complete their chosen challenge.

The first episode, which aired on Saturday night on ITV1, featured a "Climber vs Car" challenge, with gym instructor Mila Stanzani scaling the exterior wall of a multi-storey car park while professional driver Michelle Westby raced her to the top and back down again.

Arco's team of working at height experts, led by Mike Clayton, were on hand at the new Shinfield Studios in Reading to help ensure the safety of everyone involved in the challenge.

The team provided advice to production company Rollercoaster Television on making the climb safe, provided the necessary safety equipment, assisted with protecting a camera operator and managed Mila's climbing rope to ensure her safety during the challenge.

Mike Clayton, technical lead (working at height) at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"It was an amazing experience for the team to be involved in this challenge for the reboot of You Bet!

"Throughout the years, we've been trusted to carry out working at height training and supervision for some thrilling and critical projects, but this was one of the most exciting we have been a part of in recent times. Mila took to the task with a great amount of confidence and the team at ITV were great to work with."

Sarah Boyce, Head of Production for Rollercoaster, said:

"In the early planning stages it was clear we needed experts in working at heights. Arco, being an ITV vetted contractor, were immediately recommended by our inhouse health and safety team.

"They went on to provide expert climbing knowledge and clear advice on how to make this challenge work. They quickly proved to us - and Mila - that they could be relied on 100% and were a big part of the success of this spectacular challenge."

To find out if Mila won her challenge, watch Episode 1 of You Bet! on demand on ITVX.

Find out more about Arco's expert working at height services

Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading safety expert, has reduced its carbon emissions by 21.2 per cent in a single year, its biggest annual decrease to date.

The reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions substantially outperformed Arco's 5.5 per cent target, and is a significant step towards the company's goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

The record carbon reduction is one of several significant achievements highlighted in Arco's 2024 Sustainability Report, released today.

The 2024 report shows considerable progress in the company's sustainability strategy, A Safe Tomorrow, which sets out Arco's aims to have a positive impact on people and the planet, while helping customers meet their own sustainability goals

Initiatives such as the installation of solar panels on Arco buildings have helped the company reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and cut its carbon footprint over the past year.

Focusing on efficient use of water in its global operations has also seen Arco reduce its water use by 22.6 per cent.

In 2025, Arco will take this commitment to carbon reduction further by setting science-based targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), including for Scope 3 emissions related to manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life product management.

Responsible Choice

Importantly, Arco reduced carbon and water use while increasing sales of its Responsible Choice ranges of PPE and workwear by 200 per cent. These products feature verifiable sustainability claims or independent certifications, making it easier for businesses to buy more responsible products.

Arco also hit its annual target for use of "Better Textiles". These more sustainable textiles made up 10 per cent of Arco's total textile sales in FY24, and the company aims to increase this to 17.5 per cent by 2025, aligned with The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Textiles 2030 initiative.

Circularity and digital innovation

Working with customers and stakeholders, Arco is driving product circularity, developing closed-loop systems, expanding recycling and take-back schemes and providing garment life-extension services, such as laundry and repair.

The company has also invested in its digital capabilities to improve sustainability, utilising data-driven insights and embedding traceability and transparency in its Responsible hi-vis and workwear ranges.

Less waste and packaging

Arco has continued to reduce packaging and waste, removing single-use plastics and moving to more plain cardboard packaging. In FY24, the company recycled about 90 per cent of cardboard, plastic, clothing and building waste produced at its premises.

Commitment to communities

Activity such as volunteering and other support for charities saw Arco generate £39.3 million of social value in FY24, including £4 million in Hull and East Yorkshire. The company has continued to support long-standing partners such as Macmillan Cancer Support and in May 2024 launched a new partnership with The Mental Health Foundation.

Guy Bruce, chief executive officer at Arco, said:

"At Arco, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the energy powering our buildings, to the materials that make up our products, to the way we work with our suppliers, we're always thinking of new ways to help secure a safer tomorrow.

"As Experts in Safety, Arco's core purpose has always been to keep people safe at work. And with a clear commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, we truly believe we can help secure a safer tomorrow for people, businesses and the planet."

Download the Arco Sustainability Report 2024 and read more at arco.co.uk/sustainability