ENGLAND
Envirowise in England has worked with Norfolk County Council to launch a Green Supplier Scheme, providing suppliers to the local authority with free, impartial advice to achieve waste, energy and fuel savings, improved pollution prevention and compliance.
Norfolk County council has over 10,000 suppliers, and recognises that it can positively influence the behaviour of this large number of businesses – which may be hit with more formal government procurement requirements in future years.
- Green Supplier Support Scheme
Download the GSSS leaflet here.
NORTHERN IRELAND
September saw the launch of the first ever food and drink resource efficiency programme in Northern Ireland.
Seventeen companies have been invited to engage with the programme which could help them save up to £1,000 per employee or up to 1% of their turnover. Invest Northern Ireland’s Food Division will be involved in identifying cost saving measures by improved resource efficiency. The programme will help businesses to understand current legislation. It will focus on providing practical starting points and assistance for them to map their waste streams and water use and create plans and processes to help them minimise it.
The waste management issues of the food and drink industry span from food and packaging waste but also include a significant element of hazardous waste. Expert advisors are on hand to help Northern Ireland’s food businesses to identify issues that are specific to them, using a bespoke diagnosis tool, along with training and general advice.
According to Invest NI, the main economic development agency in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland’s food and drink processing industry is a growing industry with over 420 companies in the sector. Food and drink is Northern Ireland’s largest manufacturing industry with a combined turnover of the industry in excess of £2.7bn (2007) and directly employing over 18,500 people.
- Northern Ireland Food & Drink Advice
Find support for the food and drink industry here.
SCOTLAND
In October, an initiative focused on helping the construction industry was launched. With more than 10.6 million tonnes being generated annually, the construction industry is one of Scotland’s largest producers of waste. Firms currently pay £32 per tonne in landfill tax and, with this tax set to rise, the financial impact on companies that do not act will only increase. Since 2005, Envirowise has worked closely with construction giant Laing O’Rourke to improve its green credentials and the company is currently involved in developing a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) Project which has already resulted in financial savings of £30,000 for the business. Envirowise has also developed a Good Practice Guide for the construction sector ‘An Introduction to Site Waste Management Plans’, available to download free of charge.
- SWMP Guide
Download the Site Waste Management Plan Guide free here.
WALES
In Wales, tailored support for Welsh businesses which produce significant volumes of solid waste is now available. Welsh initiatives are gathering pace, and the team is working actively with key organisations including IOD, Netregs and WRAP in Wales. To find out more, or request a call back from one of our Envirowise network of regional managers, contact Jennifer Collins.
- Welsh Support
Find support for your business in Wales here.
Resources
Visit the new Envirowise England homepage
Visit the new Envirowise Northern Ireland homepage
Visit the new Envirowise Scotland homepage
Visit the new Envirowise Wales homepage
Back to index |
Next