How to Buy a Locker Manufactured to a Net-Zero Standard

Lockers last for years; consequently, your purchase should support Net Zero goals. This guide explains how to select lockers made under a Net-Zero strategy, using short sentences, UK English, and clear steps. In addition, it links to helpful resources, including Total Locker Service and the TLS blog.

Net-Zero vs Carbon-Neutral

Net-Zero requires deep cuts across Scopes 1, 2, and 3; only small residual emissions can be neutralised. Moreover, the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard aligns targets with 1.5 °C and prioritises real reductions before removals.

Carbon-neutral is different because it balances a footprint to zero for a period. Today, credible claims should follow ISO 14068-1. In practice, you should reduce first and then use high-quality offsets or removals, with precise wording throughout.

Understand Scopes 1, 2, and 3

Scope 1 covers direct fuel use; meanwhile, Scope 2 covers purchased electricity and heat. By contrast, Scope 3 spans the rest of the value chain. For lockers, Scope 3 often dominates because steel, laminate, coatings, packaging, transport, and end-of-life sit here. For clarity, see the GHG Protocol overview diagram here (PDF) and a plain-English explainer by National Grid here.

A Buyer’s 12-Step Roadmap

• State your goal. Specify lockers manufactured under a Net-Zero strategy aligned with the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard.
• Check governance. Request proof of the supplier’s public Net-Zero target and interim targets; preferably, choose SBTi-validated commitments.
• Insist on an EMS. Ask for ISO 14001 certification for the manufacturing site to ensure continuous improvement.
• Require GHG accounts. Obtain a Scopes 1–3 inventory based on the GHG Protocol.
• Use UK tender discipline. Mirror the Cabinet Office’s PPN 06/21 Carbon Reduction Plan approach, even for private buys.
• Ask for product EPDs. Prefer Environmental Product Declarations verified to ISO 14025 and EN 15804 for like-for-like comparisons.
• Specify low-carbon energy. Request the factory’s electricity mix for the last 12 months; ideally, use on-site renewables or certified contracts.
• Set material thresholds. Seek recycled content in steel, and ask for LCA/EPD data for SGL laminate and HDPE, linked to EPD modules.
• Design for longevity. Require replaceable doors, hinges, shelves, and locks; additionally, ask for a 10-year spares plan.
• Limit coating impacts. Prefer powder coat with efficient cure temperatures; for laminates, specify low-VOC adhesives where applicable.
• Improve logistics. Consolidate deliveries, favour UK-routed transport where possible, and request estimates of kg CO₂e per shipment.
• Plan end-of-life. Require a take-back or recycling plan, plus fastener maps and material IDs to speed strip-down.

Materials: Choose for Carbon and Service Life

Steel Carcases

Steel is strong, repairable, and highly recyclable; therefore, it remains a sound default. Specify thickness, powder coat, and corrosion protection. For context and options, review the Lockers overview and the Locker Buying Guide. Additionally, the Probe metric PDF lists accessories such as sloping tops and stands; access it here.

Compact Laminate (SGL) Doors

SGL is hard and water-resistant; moreover, its smooth faces are easy to wipe. It performs well in busy corridors and wet rooms. Explore Laminate Door Lockers and low-height laminate lockers for younger users, and request LCA or EPD data where available.

Plastic (HDPE) Bodies or Doors

HDPE suits wet zones and outdoors because it resists corrosion and cleans easily. For leisure environments, consider the eXtreme Outdoor Plastic Lockers range and the wider leisure locker options.

Design Features that Support Net-Zero

Ventilation. Vented or mesh doors keep interiors dry; as a result, kit needs fewer dryer cycles and fewer reactive cleans. For maximum airflow, examine Wire Mesh Lockers.

Repairability. Doors, hinges, number plates, and locks should be easy to swap; consequently, life extends and embodied carbon in replacements falls. TLS carries a wide range of locker locks and replacement parts.

Sloping tops and stands. Sloping tops prevent clutter, while stands lift lockers by approximately 150–185 mm for cleaning access. For details, see accessories in the Probe metric datasheet and in the TLS Buying Guide.

Locks that Reduce Waste and Touchpoints

RFID and Keypad Access

Contact-free access reduces shared keys and loss; furthermore, it cuts replacement key waste over time. Review RFID locks for lockers, Aspire RFID, Versa, and the KL1100 RFID. For keypad alternatives, see Aspire Keypad and Codelocks.

Coin Locks and Conversion

Where coins are essential, adjustable coin locks avoid scrappage when currencies change. Consider Ojmar coin locks and the hasp conversion plate for future flexibility. To support repairs, TLS also provides key cutting and refurbished options.

Manufacturing Energy: What to Ask For

• Last 12-month electricity mix (% renewables, on-site generation, PPAs).
• Thermal energy decarbonisation plan for ovens and curing.
• Efficiency actions, such as heat recovery, compressed-air optimisation, and variable-speed drives.
• Powder reclaim rates and metal scrap recovery rates.
• Packaging policies covering recycled content and reuse schemes.

Tie these items to the supplier’s ISO 14001 system and GHG accounts; in turn, ask for the annual report or sustainability page link to keep claims measurable.

Transport, Installation, and Use-Phase

• Consolidate deliveries. Request estimated kg CO₂e per shipment; consequently, you can compare options fairly.
• Prefer UK-routed logistics. Reduce distance where possible; alternatively, offset only the unavoidable remainder.
• Install for longevity. Use corrosion-resistant fixings and anchor correctly; as a result, premature failures fall.
• Maintain simply. Wipe with neutral detergent and repair promptly; otherwise, minor issues become scrappage.

End-of-Life and Circularity

Design for disassembly reduces future costs and carbon. Therefore, ask for fastener maps, material IDs on plastics, and a take-back statement. An EPD shows end-of-life assumptions and “Module D” benefits beyond system boundaries; consequently, you can compare options transparently.

Documentation Pack to Request

• Corporate Net-Zero target and interim targets aligned to SBTi Net-Zero.
• Site ISO 14001 certificate with the factory in scope.
• Scopes 1–3 inventory per the GHG Protocol.
• PPN 06/21-style Carbon Reduction Plan, signed at board level and updated annually.
• Product EPD(s) verified to ISO 14025 and EN 15804.
• Any carbon-neutral claims aligned to ISO 14068-1.
• Confirmation that wording meets the UK Green Claims Code and supporting GOV.UK guidance.

Sector-Specific Advice with Examples

Schools and Colleges

Choose SGL doors for impact resistance; in addition, use low-height units for juniors. To reduce lost keys, prefer RFID or keypad access. For examples, explore low-height laminate lockers, Laminate Door Lockers, and RFID locks.

Leisure, Gyms, and Pools

In wet zones, HDPE or SGL performs best; furthermore, RFID wristbands speed access. Where coins are necessary, specify adjustable coin locks to future-proof fleets. See Outdoor/HDPE lockers, Ojmar OTS RFID, and Ojmar Coin Locks.

Healthcare and Laboratories

Robust steel carcases with quality powder coat are essential; additionally, add sloping tops and stands for simpler cleaning. Audit trails often matter, so consider RFID systems. Browse steel lockers and Aspire RFID.

Industrial and Food Production

Clean/dirty separation reduces cross-contamination; meanwhile, ventilation tackles moisture and odour. Heated and mesh solutions can also help with drying. For examples, examine Wire Mesh Lockers, heated mesh lockers, and workplace lockers.

Typical Dimensions and Options

• Heights: 1800 mm standard; alternatively, 1200 mm for juniors or under-bench spaces.
• Widths: 300 mm common; however, 380 mm suits bulky kit.
• Depths: 450–500 mm typical; for very large bags, consider 600 mm.
• Doors: 1–6 tiers with steel or SGL options.
• Locks: RFID, keypad, key, hasp, or coin, depending on use case.
• Accessories: sloping tops; stands ≈150–185 mm; number plates; ventilation choices.

Worked Specification You Can Paste into a Tender

Objective: Supply and install lockers manufactured under a science-based Net-Zero strategy aligned with 1.5 °C.

Standards: Corporate Net-Zero strategy aligned with SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard; factory certified to ISO 14001; product impacts documented via EPD verified to ISO 14025 and EN 15804. If used, carbon-neutral claims must follow ISO 14068-1.

Materials: Steel carcases with durable powder coat; SGL doors or HDPE bodies in wet areas. Provide recycled content declarations and fastener maps.

Energy: Provide last 12-month % renewable electricity used in manufacturing and the source (on-site, PPA, or certified supply).

GHG Accounting: Provide Scopes 1–3 inventory for the latest reporting year, with methods per the GHG Protocol. Also include a PPN 06/21-style Carbon Reduction Plan.

Logistics: Consolidated UK delivery with an estimate of kg CO₂e per shipment.

End-of-life: Take-back and recycling statement for door sets, locks, and steel carcases.

Compliance: Confirm that environmental wording meets the Green Claims Code and the supporting GOV.UK guidance.

Comparing Options with EPDs

EPDs provide third-party verified, cradle-to-grave data; therefore, they enable fair comparisons. Because they follow ISO 14025 and EN 15804, you can compare embodied carbon, energy, and end-of-life assumptions in a consistent format. Where suppliers lack EPDs, ask for interim LCA summaries and a timeline to publish full documents.

Cost, Value, and Carbon

Net-Zero-aligned lockers may cost more upfront; nevertheless, they cut emissions now and avoid early scrappage later. Because long service life and easy repairs lower lifetime cost and carbon, EPDs and CRPs help you compare bids on impact as well as price.

Example User Journeys (with Links)

• Net-Zero lockers for schools with tough SGL doors.
• Outdoor/HDPE lockers for wet zones and pools.
• Mesh lockers where drying and airflow matter.
• RFID locks to reduce key loss and replacements.
• Workplace lockers for industrial settings and PPE.
• Locker Buying Guide covering dimensions and options.
• TLS blog with examples and case notes.

Conclusion

Buying Net-Zero-aligned lockers is practical and straightforward when you seek the right evidence. Use SBTi for strategy, ISO 14001 for systems, and the GHG Protocol for accounting. Then add EPDs for product impacts and apply the Green Claims Code for wording. Finally, specify repairability, plan logistics, and confirm end-of-life routes. The result is a durable, low-impact locker room that supports your Net-Zero pathway.

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