From engineering excellence to environmental stewardship, Fergus Tough's journey at Billi is one of passion, purpose and unwavering desire to drive meaningful change. Here, Fergus delves into Billi's proactive approach to sustainability and talks about how data-driven insights, early adoption of green technologies, and a company-wide commitment to change, are shaping a brighter future.

How long have you worked at Billi, and what drew you to the company?

I've been with Billi for six years now, and when I first joined as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, I was attracted by the opportunity to make a positive impact. Billi's commitment to innovation and its forward-thinking culture were a perfect fit for me – while on a personal level I have always tried to do what I can to minimise my impact on the environment, Billi is the first company I have worked at that has incorporated sustainability as part of the company ethos.

And what does your current role at Billi entail?

As Director of Manufacturing Operations, I oversee a wide range of departments from Production and Quality to Supply Chain. About 18 months ago, I also became Billi's ESG program manager, tasked with initiating our ESG reporting.

Setting up a robust ESG program from scratch must have been a challenge. How did you approach it, especially considering Billi’s acquisition by Strix in late 2022?

The support from our parent company, Strix, was instrumental. While Billi had a track record of environmental initiatives, Strix provided the framework and expertise to elevate our efforts. I worked closely with Matt Thomas, the Engineering and Divisional Operations Director at Strix, and his guidance was crucial in helping me navigate the complexities of ESG reporting.

While sustainability has always been a personal passion, this role allowed me to formalise my knowledge, and it was actually quite interesting how my work and personal life mirrored each other. I was learning about solar panels and green energy at work while implementing them at home! This practical experience, coupled with Matt's insights, really helped me understand the complexities and translate them into actionable steps for Billi. The open communication and collaborative spirit fostered by Strix and Matt have been key to our progress, including our shift towards data-led decision-making.

And how did this shift inform Billi’s sustainability agenda?

In 2023, Billi established the framework for its ESG initiatives and adopted a data-driven sustainability approach. Aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Billi's approach focuses on seven key goals within "the 3Ps": People, Product, and Place. Collaborations with organisations such as the International Well Building Institute and GreenTag, along with an emphasis on WELL certifications, recycling capabilities, and product waste energy capture, are a direct expression of our alignment with SDGs.

Now, at the core of these partnerships, initiatives and sustainability efforts is a data-driven decision-making process. For instance, Billi's partnership with Custom Fleet enables the collection of vital data on fuel consumption and vehicle usage, showcasing how this data-centric approach empowers us to set ambitious targets, monitor progress, and pinpoint areas for improvement.

Data clearly plays a crucial role in Billi’s sustainability strategy.

Absolutely. There's no room for bias when you have a data management system in place. We’ve really come to appreciate how important data is for informed decision-making and measuring progress, and we've been diligently collecting data on various aspects of the business – such as waste management and energy consumption – which allows us to set ambitious targets and track our sustainability performance much more effectively.

What are Billi’s main areas of focus in 2024?

This year marks a significant step forward, as all electricity used at our Thomastown manufacturing facility is now 100% renewable. It's a big win we achieved through a combination of solar energy and GreenPower-accredited Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). We're also offsetting company vehicle mileage with carbon credits to ensure 100% renewable energy use for Scopes 1 and 2, which puts us ahead of the recommendations made in the Paris agreement.

Moving forward, our focus is on Scope 3 emissions reduction and carbon neutrality. While we're actively working to integrate sustainability into every facet of our operations — from product development and supply chain logistics to manufacturing, partnering with local suppliers, and transitioning to recycled and biodegradable packaging solutions — we acknowledge that 94% of our Scope 3 emissions are 'in-use' emissions, influenced by the decarbonisation rate of electrical grids. This external factor underscores the importance of our ambitious internal targets and our commitment to achieving ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 45001 OH&S Management accreditations in 2024, followed by ISO 50001 Energy Management in 2025. These accreditations will help us drive our sustainability efforts forward and minimise our environmental impact, even as we navigate the complexities of Scope 3 emissions.

Our products use water and electricity, and there are great opportunities to ensure we create value while decreasing our carbon footprint. It's about capturing relevant data and making it as efficient as possible, and that's the sort of expertise we're excited about moving forward with. Our technical specialists continue to innovate to reduce our impact with initiatives such as our early adoption of 'green' refrigerant gases and converting waste heat into a source of heating energy in our products to reduce electricity consumption.

What prompted Billi to adopt these green refrigerants?

Globally, there's a shift away from using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerant gases due to their high Global Warming Potentials (GWPs). For example, R134a, which is a common hydrofluorocarbon, has a GWP of 1,430, meaning its greenhouse effect is 1,430 times more than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. In contrast, hydrocarbons (HCs) like R290 have GWP below 5.

While there is no current legislation or requirement for us to stop using HFCs in our domestic markets, we chose to adopt HCs early on because it’s best practice and to be able provide service to some of our export markets, such as the UK and EU, where such requirements are already in force. Being proactive aligns with our environmental responsibility, and we’ve invested significantly in infrastructure and training to ensure a safe and seamless transition.

It’s clear that commitment to early adoption underpins all facets of Billi’s business.

To me, sustainability means considering the impact of our actions early on, whether it be in product design, logistics and supply, ethical sourcing or even investment. And so, it’s essential for Billi to keep sustainability front of mind during key decision-making processes. It can no longer be an afterthought, and people in senior leadership positions – like myself – have an obligation to ensure we only accept the highest level of sustainable practices.

Early adoption of HC refrigerants is one example. The refrigerant cooling cycle is a complex process with many factors to take into account early on, including the design of the product and the amount of gas used. But when the gas, design, and pressures are balanced correctly, we can achieve superior cooling performance and reduce energy consumption – and that’s what our engineers are always working on optimising.

And how does this attitude affect new product development?

We also consider sustainability factors in our new product development research and ensure we field-test all of our units to proactively investigate real-world conditions for any unexpected behaviours across all our ranges. To us, this process of pre-emptive problem-solving means that we can address any potential unforeseen issue before the product reaches our customer.

Of all Billi’s sustainability initiatives, which one are you particularly excited about?

With an engineering background and keen eye for data, I’m most excited about being able to further optimise our products' energy consumption. Billi’s under-the-bench products rely on electricity and while we already have sophisticated energy-efficient systems in place, we continue to explore new ways to optimise and improve our products.

How does fostering a culture of awareness within the company fits into Billi’s sustainability agenda?

Having that strong culture is absolutely crucial, and it all starts with strong leadership and consistent messaging, followed by the integration of sustainability into employee objectives and business goals. We also want to encourage everyone at Billi to make small but meaningful changes in their daily routines. It's about creating habits – turning off equipment when not in use, making conscious waste disposal choices. These actions may seem insignificant but when everyone gets on board, they contribute significantly to our overall sustainability goals.

Finally, what significant sustainability shifts do you foresee in the industry in the coming years?

The momentum around sustainability is undeniable. There is no getting away from it and companies everywhere are realising they must embrace sustainability to thrive. And while the industry has made great strides in the environmental space – including the use of renewable materials – there’s still a long way to go.

In terms of shifts, we can expect to see a surge and the rise of electric vehicles. As that market continues to grow and improved battery technology brings about cheaper and more reliable long-range options, we’re bound to see significant reduction in emissions related to business travel. And for us at Billi, we're excited to be at the forefront of this movement, setting a high bar for environmental responsibility and inspiring others to follow suit.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS: 

Fergus Tough's leadership at Billi has been essential in driving the company's sustainability approach and initiatives.

  • Data-driven approach: Billi leverages data analytics to inform decision-making and track progress towards sustainability goals.  
  • Early adoption of green technologies: The company is committed to increasingly adopt sustainable materials and technologies, such as green refrigerants and renewable energy. 
  • Holistic focus: Their sustainability vision encompasses "People, Product, and Place", aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Cultural shift: Leadership team fosters a culture of environmental awareness within the company, encouraging employees to internalise sustainable practices.