Sustainability in Motion at Stairlifts Scotland Ltd

Stairlifts Scoltand Ltd has been providing solutions for safe living and independence for almost 30 years and we are proud that environmental sustainability has been at the core of our business operations for over a decade now. 

Indeed, the desire to reduce wastefulness in this industry drove our founder, Mrs Morna M Barry to establish the company after she recognised the economic and resource benefits of offering stairlift repair and relocation services (which her then employer – a UK household brand name in stairlifts – refused to provide).

That desire to be sustainably resourceful and efficient, but to also add value for business and client benefit, has driven our business success and has embedded social and environmental sustainability as a core operating principle. 

We have been early adopters of environmental sustainability investment ever since, achieving ISO 14001 for environmental management systems in 2009, installing solar and LEDs in 2012 and leasing our first EVs and chargers in 2013. We’ve never been afraid to lead from the front to lower the impact of our operations.

We are proud of all that we have achieved to date and of the strong foundations we have established over the past 30 years and we look forward to building on these achievements over the coming 25 years as we fully transition towards our most important and lasting legacy as a net zero business by 2050. 

Here we share some of the social and environmental credentials we have achieved to date along, some of the key goals we have set ourselves over the coming years and the priority areas we will be focusing on in the immediate 12-24 months. 

This information was published in January 2026 and will be updated every 12 months with our next update due in January 2027. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to discuss our social and environmental sustainability work further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our Net Zero Journey

FOOTPRINT & EMISSIONS REPORTING:

Working with funded support from Glasgow City Council we completed our initial carbon footprint baseline in December 2024 based on 2023 operating data

  • 99.7% of our Scope 1 fuel is used in our fleet of vans, 0.3 in our heating, resulting in a focus on transitioning to an EV fleet between now and 2035

  • Our solar panels reduce Scope 2 emissions on average from 3.9 tCO2e per year to 1.8 tCO2e per year

  • Current Scope 3 categories reported within our footprint include emissions associated with hotel accommodation, business travel, water usage, waste disposal, home working and employee commuting. 

  • 60% of our Scope 3 emissions arise from Business Travel so our 12-24 month focus is to introduce a policy to support reductions in this area

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:

We are very proud to have operated to ISO 14001 certification standards in environmental management for over 15 years, holding the accreditation since 2009

ENERGY CONSUMPTION:

Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels across our operations has been a focus of ours over the past decade and more and we are proud to have made great strides in this area including:

  • Solar: 50 solar panels which have been in situ for 13+ years, installed in 2012 and which reduces our Scope 2 emissions on average from 3.9 tCO2e per year to 1.8. Over the coming 12-24 months we be scheduling cleaning of our solar to drive further Scope 2 efficiencies 

  • LEDs: LED lighting installed over 15 years ago in 2010

  • EVs: Our first EVs purchased and charger installed in 2013, now have 4 EVs in our business fleet and our dual car is powered by our solar (and offered to GCC personnel during commonwealth games) 

  • We have a fleet of 4 EU6 and LEZ compliant Ford Transit vans, reduced from 5 vans following a focus on introducing load and scheduling efficiencies 

  • Fabric Improvements: Over the coming few years we will also be investing in fabric improvements to drive further building efficiencies via insulation and cladding work (including our offices) 

SUPPLIERS / MATERIALS:

Our primary suppliers are manufacturers of specialist mobility and access equipment and comprise large international corporates such as Baxters (based in the US) to more specialist suppliers from around the UK, Netherlands and Sweden. 

  • Values alignment: Our focus over the coming 12-24 months will be to map the net zero values alignment of our top 75% of suppliers by turnover.

  • Procurement planning: In the meantime, we proactively focus on conscious supplier and procurement practices such as parts stocking and sourcing where possible from within the UK. Where this is not possible, we hold stock and carefully schedule advance orders for parts coming over longer distances.

WATER & WASTE:

It is not lip service when we say that we actively reduce and prevent waste here at Stairlifts Scotland Ltd, we take waste reduction and waste management very seriously:

  • Recycling: We have actively segregated and recycled as much waste as possible since our business was incorporated in 1996 with handling in place for specialist waste streams including metals, paper and card, plastics and natural and wet waste and we have a cardboard crusher on site.

  • SEPA Registered: we are also registered with SEPA as a Carrier of Controlled Waste.

  • Waste management: we store specialist waste safely and, in the right, allocated places for dispatching with authorised carriers and we maintain complete records and documentation associated with all of our waste processes.

  • Specialist waste - WEEE: We operate within WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Guidelines for the handling and processes of electrical waste to ensure all waste is disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.  

  • Specialist waste - Healthcare Cross Contamination standards: are adhered to closely and all returned equipment that requires quarantine is held in a secure external storage container pending specialist uplift. Furthermore, all returning equipment is sterilised on site to healthcare standards.

  • Specialist waste – batteries: batteries that are no longer chargeable are brought back to our workshop and stored in a dedicated used battery recycling container until there is sufficient volume for specialist uplift. 

  • Waste reduction: We operate waste reduction practices in our offices and workshop floor including a digital first approach to business, the use of recycled paper where paper is absolutely required and strict switch-off policies for all equipment, lights and office hardware.

PACKAGING, & DISTIRBUTION:

  • Specialist Materials: Certain plastics are appropriate and required across our product range (for example washable plastics for naked and partially clothed use in toilet and bath access situations) and so we absolutely will continue to use these until the manufacturing sector within our industry innovates new materials that meet the healthcare and safety standards demanded of mobility and access equipment providers.

  • Minimalist packaging: we use recyclable packaging materials where at all possible and minimise use of packaging materials to reduce waste and shipping volumes while ensuring product protection. 

  • Electric forklift: we use an electric forklift within our workshop for safe movement and storage handling of our specialist stock and assets.

  • Optimized logistics: We plan delivery routes strategically to minimize fuel consumption and collaborate with local partners to reduce transport distances.

WE ARE EXPERTS AT CIRCULAR EQUIPMENT REFURBISHMENT, REPAIR AND RELOCATION:

  • Circular-First Approach: We practice a circular-first approach not only for the products that we place with our clients but for the component parts of all equipment that we are responsible for here at Stairlifts Scotland Ltd. This means that our entire focus is on extending the safe and useful life of our equipment through careful management, repair, refurbishment and relocation tracking systems.

  • Specialist Assets: The mobility and access equipment that we supply is either purchased directly by private clients or is purchased and placed, repaired and stored on behalf of a Local Authority. As such, we do not view our specialist stock as mere ‘inventory’, we view each piece as a precious, highly valuable asset. 

  • Prolonged Lifecycle Planning: With this mindset, we take our responsibility very seriously for the safe placement, in situ repair, removal, return, repair, refurbishment, storage and relocation of each piece of specialist mobility and access equipment in our care because doing so ensures the most productive possible lifecycle of these precious assets. Our highly effective maintenance systems and services not only prolong the life of installed equipment but also provide clients with access to high quality, warranty-covered refurbished equipment at accessible price points.

  • Parts and Storage: Our buying team work hard to strip, source and secure parts which prevent the early and unwarranted obsolescence of slightly older units that can be safely maintained, repaired and refurbished. Furthermore, our workshop layout features specialist racks ensuring that our equipment is stored in alignment with certified conditions for optimised safety, security and also flood protection.

  • End of Use Support: here a product, or component part can no longer be repaired or relocated, we provide services that support our clients in the safe and proper removal, recycling and disposal of products. This includes the segregation of valuable, infinitely recyclable materials such as aluminium.

EMPOWERING OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CLIENTS 

A FEMALE-FOUNDED & LED INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

Stairlifts Scotland Ltd is a female founded, female led, independent family business that has operated in Glasgow since 1996. 

  • A true family affair, the business is led today by Lisa Barry, who took over from her mother and business founder Mrs Morna M Barry and who now works alongside her brother and fellow Director Marc Barry. Stairlifts Scotland Ltd. 

  • Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses in a Deprived Area: After incorporating in the mid 1990s, Stairlifts Scotland Ltd was honoured to be recognised as one of the Top 100 fastest growing businesses in a deprived area.

KEY STANDARDS, TRAINING & WELLBEING 

  • Fair Work First Convention: we are a proudly local business serving the whole of Scotland. Our dedicated and highly valued team of specialists are supported with flexible working hours and the benefits of our alignment with the Fair Work First Convention committing to fair wages, working conditions, and work-life balance for all employees.

  • EN 81-40 European Standards: Our qualified engineers have years of experience and knowledge and are trained to EN81-40 European standards for the install, maintenance and safe use of electrically operated stairlifts and inclined lifting platforms.

  • Vulnerable Customer Awareness: we work closely with public and private care, therapy and health providers and the knowledge and expertise of our teams mean that we act as an extension of these core care services. As such we follow key Vulnerable Customer awareness principles to treat our clients fairly and with appropriate care and respect. We ensure that we maintain a non-pressured approach to project scoping and sales and that our teams know how to best guide and support our clients with a high standard of service.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT & CHARITABLE GIVING:

Stairlifts Scotland Ltd give regular donations and financial support to two key charities that are very dear to us:

  • The Earl Haig Fund, also known Poppyscotland, a charity that supports the armed forces community in Scotland through fundraising efforts, including the Scottish Poppy Appeal. 

  • And The St Margarets of Scotland Hospice, Scotland’s first and largest hospice providing critical and compassionate support for patients with advanced life-limiting illness and complex medical and nursing needs.

OFFERING SOLUTIONS FOR SAFE LIVING AND INDEPENDENCE:

At Stairlifts Scotland our knowledgeable, responsive and respectful teams enable independence, comfort and confidence. We are deeply appreciative of the trust that is extended to us by our clients and their families when we are invited into their homes to scope solutions that:

  • Enhance confidence and independence 

  • Enable full and safe access of a home

  • Boost emotional and psychological well-being

  • Support social engagement

  • Promote long-term aging in place 

ADVANCING OUR INDUSTRY VOICE AND INFLUENCE IN SCOTLAND:

Stairlifts Scotland Ltd are members of the BHTA (British Health Trade Association) and our Managing Director, Lisa Barry was the Founder and inaugural Chairman of The Scotland Group of the BHTA. Lisa pioneered the establishment of this group to ensure appropriate representation for operators north of the border arising from key governance and operating issues relating to health care and funding.

This information was published in January 2026 and will be updated every 12 months with our next update due in January 2027. 

In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to discuss our social and environmental sustainability work further, please do not hesitate to contact us.