Pest Solutions are delighted to announce the appointment of Maisie Bullock BSc hons, MSc as our new dedicated Net Zero & Sustainability Coordinator in January 2024 via the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce “Step Up to Net Zero” programme.
As the very first pest control company in the UK to appoint someone in such a role, Pest Solutions continues to be a leader in the professional pest control industry when it comes to sustainable practices.
We have made a commitment to being achieving Net-Zero by 2030 and whilst we have already taken huge strides in this direction by upgrading our fleet and moving to paperless reporting, Maisie’s appointment is by far the biggest and most exciting step we have taken so far.
In her short time with us so far, Maisie has already made a huge difference, helping us to optimise our sustainability action plan and providing some great actionable advice that we have already begun to implement.
In the months to come, Maisie will be going through every aspect of the Pest Solutions machine with a fine-tooth cone, making recommendations for change and ensuring that we remain the hallmark for sustainable pest control in the UK.
Whilst we might be competitive business wise, we believe in a more sustainable and responsible future for the entire pest control industry.
Here at Pest Solutions our Managing Director, Chris Cagienard, currently serves as President of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). As a result of this, we have made the responsible decision to share and publish the findings and guidance of Maisie’s work in this role with the entire membership of the BPCA.
We believe this is a sustainable way of helping our entire industry to make real progress toward Net Zero & Sustainability goals. Many of our smaller member companies in BPCA may not be able to tap into this resource otherwise and we also believe that the sharing of our findings is the right thing to do.
Maisie joins the Pest Solutions team with the support of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, “Step up to Net Zero” programme, a fantastic, supportive initiative that helps businesses across Glasgow to achieve ambitious sustainability goals. Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce have the goal of driving toward Carbon Net Zero in the city by 2030.
Initiatives like Step up to Net Zero aim to help make this a reality. Pest Solutions are highly appreciative of the support in helping us to appoint Maisie to this role and will be providing ongoing support in the role in the months to come.
Introducing the role of Net Zero & Sustainability Coordinator is something we have been looking to do for a while, but we knew that we needed to wait for the perfect candidate to come along, and when were introduced to Maisie it was clear that we had found exactly that.
Her background and experience in sustainability is truly exceptional having graduated with Distinction from her Masters degree in MSc Environmental Futures: Sustainable Systems at the University of Glasgow, just to top off her First Class Undergraduate Geography degree from the University of St Andrews!
She also has a huge amount of real-world experience having completed a 140-hour work placement with Masons Evans Partnership and a month-long expedition in Honduras as a research assistant.
As you can see, we are extremely lucky to have someone of Maisie’s pedigree join the Pest Solutions team, but whilst her background is incredibly impressive, it was her passion for how sustainability practices could be implemented in the world of professional pest control that made it clear she was the perfect candidate for this role.
Now, we could spend all day talking about how wonderful Maisie is and the difference that she will make to our net zero & sustainability goals, but we aren’t the experts, she is!
We asked Maisie some questions about what it was that attracted her to the role as Sustainability Coordinator here at Pest Solutions, what she was looking forward to the most, and where she saw the future of sustainability in the pest control industry going. Her answers were as interesting and informative as you might expect so without further ado, let’s jump right in and here from Maisie herself.
Question: Before we get onto pest control, why is sustainability in general so important to you?
Maisie:
“So many reasons, sustainability is crucial for ensuring the well-being of people, the planet, and future generations. It promotes a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment, fostering a more balanced and resilient society.
Sustainable practices help to protect and conserve biodiversity by preserving natural habitats, reducing pollution, and promoting sustainable land use practices. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the health of ecosystems and supporting the well-being of plant and animal species.”
Sustainability plays a key role in addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy efficiency, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Sustainable practices help to mitigate the impacts of climate change and build climate-resilient communities.
It is also crucial for ensuring the well-being of communities and societies. By promoting social equity, fair labour practices, and access to resources for all, sustainability helps to address social issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to basic needs.
In a business environment, sustainable practices help to create economic stability by promoting long-term growth and development. By investing in renewable energy, green technologies, and sustainable agriculture, businesses can reduce costs, drive innovation, and create new job opportunities.”
Question: Why did you choose to apply for the position of Sustainability Coordinator at Pest Solutions?
Maisie:
“I applied the placement through Step Up to Net Zero. This programme supports businesses across Glasgow to improve current sustainability practices. Pest Solutions was one out of many businesses that applied to be on the programme.
I chose to apply to Pest Solutions because I was impressed by the reasons they gave for wanting to be a part of the programme. In comparison to other organisations, I could tell a lot of time and effort had been put into their statement and I thought this could be reflective of a true passion to seriously address their environmental impact.”
Question: What are Pest Solutions currently doing right, and where do they need to improve?
Maisie:
“Pest Solutions has a Sustainability Action Plan and within this plan there are short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions surrounding net zero, waste management, and circularity.
I think this is a great opportunity, as it prioritises actions surrounding sustainability within the business, to turn thoughts into actions, and preventing procrastination on an issue that needs to be delt with today. It is also an all-encompassing comprehensive plan.Â
It considers everything from investigating e-cargo bikes as an alternative to vehicular transport, to thinking about the processes that occur outside of Pest Solutions and auditing existing suppliers on their sustainability efforts, to ensure our appreciation for the environment is reflected throughout our supply chain.
I also think that the support and appreciation for making a more sustainable company, from all members of staff, not just senior management, is another aspect that Pest Solutions is doing well in. If everyone understands and respects the need to reduce our environment impact, this will no doubt, work in favour towards successfully addressing actions regarding sustainability.
To improve on sustainability within the company, we first need to address the actions stated in our Sustainability Action Plan. Although work has already began on this, within the coming weeks, it will become more apparent what areas need more attention in comparison to others.”
Question: Why do you think that Pest Solutions will be successful in their sustainability goals?
Maisie:
“There are many reasons why Pest Solutions will be successful in reducing its environmental impact.
Pest Solutions is genuinely committed to sustainability and has prioritized and invested in sustainability initiatives. This commitment is reflected in the company’s mission.
They have strong leadership support in driving sustainability initiatives and integrating sustainability into the company’s overall strategy and operations. However, I have also witnessed employees at all levels in the company champion sustainability to inspire other employees and stakeholders to embrace sustainable practices.
Pest Solutions has set specific, measurable, and time-bound sustainability goals, as explored in our Sustainability Action Plan. By tracking performance against key metrics, Pest Solutions will assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate accountability.
Importantly, they are willing to embrace innovation and adaptability for sustainability improvements. They are open to new ideas, technologies, and practices that can reduce environmental impacts, enhance social responsibility, and drive economic growth.”
Question: What are the biggest sustainability challenges facing the pest industry from what you have seen so far?
Maisie:
“Transitioning to sustainable pest control practices may require significant initial investments in equipment, training, and certifications. Companies may face challenges in allocating resources and funding for these sustainability initiatives.
The biggest challenges can be broken down into the following areas:
Education and Training. Ensuring that staff are properly trained can be a challenge. Companies may need to invest in employee training, which can be time consuming and costly. It may also be difficult to initially identify what staff need to be trained on and how this can be provided.
Customer Education and Support: Customers will need to be educated on the benefits of sustainable pest control and be persuaded to prioritise sustainability over cost or convenience. This may be a challenge and there may also be a perception that greener solutions are not as effective as their alternatives. Companies may, therefore, need to engage in marketing and communication efforts to raise awareness and change consumer perceptions.
New technology: Incorporating new technologies and methodologies into pest control operations can present challenges in terms of training, integration, and implementation. Companies may need to build technical expertise and adapt to rapidly evolving innovations in the field of sustainable pest control.
Competitive pressure: This may arise when a larger organisation has the funding and expertise to reach environmental commitments faster than smaller businesses. This may cause a competitive disadvantage to companies left behind, not because a lack of will, but a lack of resources.
Overall, the shift towards sustainability in the pest control industry presents several opportunities and challenges for companies. By embracing sustainability and addressing potential hurdles effectively, pest control businesses can position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly changing market landscape.”
Question: What opportunities are available to pest control companies who invest in sustainability?
Maisie:
“In a pest control industry that is more sustainable, there are several key opportunities that can benefit the companies within the industry, clients and the wider public, as well as the environment. Some of these opportunities include.
Pest control companies that prioritise sustainability can differentiate themselves in the market by offering eco-friendly and socially responsible pest management solutions. As the demand for sustainable pest control services increases, there is a potential for business growth and expansion for companies that can meet this demand. Investing in sustainable practices can lead to new revenue streams and opportunities for market expansion.
Adhering to stringent environmental regulations and standards can position pest control companies for long-term success and credibility. By complying with regulations and adopting sustainable practices, companies can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and gain the trust of customers and regulators.
A shift towards sustainable pest control practices will drive innovation in the development of new technologies, products, and methods. This could enable cutting-edge, eco-friendly solutions that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective to be established at a faster rate than if there was little to no pressure to address environmental impact.
Finally, knowing actions to limit environmental footprint are contributing to a globally concerning issue could produce a higher job satisfaction, helping companies attract and retain their best people.”
Maisie’s addition to the Pest Solutions team as a dedicated Sustainability Coordinator is a huge step forward in terms of our environmental impact, but we are already well ahead of the industry as a whole when it comes to sustainability.
Since our foundation, future planning and corporate responsibility have been the building blocks of our success and being prepared to meet the climate challenges of the future and present is something we take extremely seriously.
Our investment in modern van technology keeps the carbon emissions produced by our technicians to a bare minimum and we haven’t stopped there.
We pride ourselves on serving customers across the whole of Scotland and the North of England, but that doesn’t mean our staff have to drive hundreds of miles every time we get a call. We have local offices in all Scotland’s major cities, and in Newcastle, and local technicians that live far and wide across the UK.
The benefits of this are huge, both environmentally and service wise, allowing us to respond to emergency call-outs faster than ever and minimising the miles travelled to keep our carbon footprint as small and light as possible.
It also means that our customers are always dealing with a professional who has an expert local knowledge of pest activity in the region (you would be surprised how much variation there is in pest behaviour from area to area) and are never too far away if a repeat visit is required.
There are many reasons why attempting to get rid of pest infestations without professional help is a bad plan.
Most pest species in the UK breed extremely quickly and will swiftly multiple if the situation isn’t dealt with. Without the correct training, market leading equipment, and a whole lot of experience, the chances to eliminating a pest infestation first time are extremely slim. Furthermore, a lot of the most effective treatments are regulated and controlled in the UK and cannot be found on the shelves of your local garden centre.
If the high chance of making the situation worse and the looming threat to people and property that pest pose is not enough to put you off the idea of DIY pest control, there are also environmental factors to consider.
Pesticides are often essential to eradicating pest problems, but if you haven’t been trained to use them effectively and responsibly, the environmental risk of using them can be severe. If you accidentally harm non-target species in your DIY attempts, you will not only be harming the local wildlife, but could find yourself in extremely serious legal trouble if you do so as many species are protected under animal welfare legislation.
Our team, on the other hand, are fully trained and experienced and know exactly how to create a pest management strategy that will target the pests causing you problems, and nothing else, having as little impact as possible on the environment in the meantime. All our work is fully compliant with the latest legislation and health advice.
If you are looking for pest control services from a professional pest control company that is fully committed to creating a more sustainable future AND has a fantastic track record resolving pest problems of all shapes and sizes across the UK, you are in the right place.
Pest Solutions are one of the fastest growing pest control companies in the country and our appointment of a dedicated Sustainability Coordinator shows our commitment to doing things in the right way for our customers and our planet for many years to come.
Call us now on 0800 027 2555 to learn more about our sustainability goals or to get a FREE quote for professional pest control services.
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We are open 24 hours 7 days a week to help with all pest related enquiries.
We are open 24 hours 7 days a week to help with all pest related enquiries.
We are open 24/hours 7 days a week to help with all pest related enqurirs.
