YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER COMPANIES NET SAVINGS OF ALMOST £1 MILLION BY WORKING TOGETHER
Added: (Thu Feb 28 2008)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Members of a Business Resource Efficiency Club in Yorkshire are celebrating achieving estimated savings of £900,000, having identified opportunities to improve their use of resources and reduce waste.
The Yorkshire Resource Efficiency Club (REC) is made up of 45 companies from across all parts of Yorkshire and Humberside. Since December 2006, it has been working in partnership with the Envirowise programme and other local business support organisations to share best practice and minimise waste.
The Club comprises businesses from a range of different industry sectors, but includes a large number of local manufacturing firms who have taken part to realise the business benefits in becoming more sustainable. Regular meeting sessions are held involving all companies that each look at a different strand of sustainable action – including water, waste and energy – and provide firms with practical advice that they can implement straight away.
The support provided included energy and water monitoring surveys, which identified cost saving opportunities and then provide the benchmarks against which to quantify the subsequent improvements. Associated waste audits identified waste management improvements and commercial opportunities for several waste streams.
Andrew Dickins, Quality and Environmental Manager at Knaresborough automotive manufacturer Treves UK, added: “We have seen a lot of positive benefits from being involved in the Yorkshire Resource Efficiency Club. Part of our business manufactures carpets for motor vehicles, a process that previously resulted in waste that was destined for landfill. However, thanks to the guidance received from working with the Club we now recycle 100% of this waste.
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“Both this and other initiatives across our business mean that in the space of just twelve months we have been able to increase our overall recycling rate from 11% to an impressive 80% - a figure that we are determined to increase further in the future.”
James Downs, Finance Director at Bradford-based Flexiform Business Furniture Limited who design and manufacture office furniture, commented: “Before joining the Club we had already implemented a number of measures to cut energy use and waste at our premises, but through being involved we have been able to share ideas with other companies in a similar situation – as well as quiz the experts in order to make further changes.
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“For instance, we have made alterations to our paint process that means the paint track now uses significantly less gas, and hence energy. We are also looking into how to circulate ambient heat efficiently, to give our staff a comfortable work environment – while at the same time using only the energy that is necessary. We are now going to continue to look at ways of further reducing energy use in our premises.”
David Grantham who leads the Club, said: “We are thrilled with the progress made by the Yorkshire Resource Efficiency Club since it began just over a year ago. Through our work with Envirowise, our members have achieved fantastic savings – and have demonstrated the clear business benefits to be gained from working in partnership towards a common resource efficiency goal. We look forward to building on these successes over 2008.”
“For instance, we have made changes to our paint process that means the painting track now uses significantly less gas, and hence energy. We are also looking into how to circulate ambient heat efficiently, to give our staff a comfortable work environment – while at the same time not using more energy than is necessary. We are now going to continue to look at ways of reducing energy use in our premises.”
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The club is now looking to recruit additional firms to join the free initiative, with support expected to begin in March 2008. Please contact David Grantham on 01472 361 361 or email dgrantham@granthamcartwright.co.uk for more information.
Resource Efficiency Clubs (RECs) are government-funded through Defra’s BREW (Business Resource Efficiency & Waste Programme) scheme. The Resource Efficiency Clubs programme is managed by Envirowise.
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley
Media Contacts: Peter Stilwell or Rod Dennis on 0117 929 2311 / peter.stilwell@trimediauk.com
Notes to Editors:
About Envirowise
Envirowise is a government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1 billion by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental impact.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
• Advice Line on 0800 585794
• An encyclopaedic website of valuable and relevant information www.envirowise.gov.uk
• On-site visits conducted by a nationwide team of expert advisors
• Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
• A nationwide network of Resource Efficiency Clubs offering peer-to-peer support