Reducing Wales’ carbon footprint – Business leaders take the challenge

There are significant opportunities for businesses to make savings in their gas, electricity and water consumption and minimise waste which not only helps to reduce your carbon footprint but saves businesses money.  In the current climate, this is something that cannot be ignored 

The visits form part of The Prince’s Seeing is Believing initiative, BITC’s flagship programme for engaging the UK’s top business leaders with key environmental and social responsibility issues.

Sharp’s General Manager, Bill Thomas, led the delegation of 20.  “Having recently announced that we are doubling our solar panel production as part of a £30 million expansion and creating 300 new jobs, we’re delighted to welcome other businesses into our premises to show how we are greening our operations at the same time that our business is rapidly growing.  There are significant opportunities for businesses to make savings in their gas, electricity and water consumption and minimise waste which not only helps to reduce your carbon footprint but saves businesses money.  In the current climate, this is something that cannot be ignored.”

Sharp Manufacturing have reduced their gas and water consumption by 13% and 17% respectively year on year, despite increases to their head count and production capacity. They’ve also driven down costs from purifying waste streams whilst seeing a net increase in income through material recycling.

Equally impressive efforts have been made by Brother Industries UK in a concerted effort to transform their business and embrace a culture of recycling.  The business which re-manufactures over 1 million printer cartridges and drums per year has reduced waste to landfill from a massive 90,000 tonnes per year to zero.  Success has been driven through effective employee engagement via an EcoPoints system which incentivises green behaviour and supports a culture of volunteering in community and environmental projects.

Craig McCubbin, Managing Director of Brother Industries UK, said:

"By engaging with our staff on environmental activities, we have seen a significant impact on our bottom line.   We were pleased to demonstrate this through BITC's Seeing is Believing, by sharing our initiatives and activities with other businesses"

Wales Director for Business in the Community, Simon Harris, said that while each company had made significant carbon and waste reductions, each had a slightly different approach.

“I’m impressed by what I’ve seen through these visits and enthused to see the concerted efforts being made by businesses to tackle their environmental responsibilities.  While we firmly believe that this is the right thing to do, a concerted effort to reduce carbon impact has not only yielded environmental benefits, but significantly reduced costs.  Other companies can learn from the positive example.”

Representatives from North Wales Fire & Rescue, Kingspan, Scottish Power, Calypso Softdrinks, KK Fine Foods, DailyCer  were among the businesses taking part in the visits.  They will report back to The Prince of Wales on what they’ve learned at an event later this year.

Simon Harris added:  “The Prince’s Seeing is Believing is a unique programme and one that continues to be Business in the Community’s most effective way of engaging and inspiring business leaders and increase understanding of social and environmental issues. 

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our society, so it’s encouraging to see that so many business leaders from this part of Wales are prepared to collaborate, to learn from each other, and find practical solutions to this growing issue.”

BITC will also be bringing it’s Mayday Summit on Climate Change to North Wales this Spring.  Hosted by UPM in Shotton on Wednesday 18 May, the event will provide an opportunity for businesses leaders to share the success and challenges of tackling climate change and resource consumption.

For more information about working with Business in the Community and The Prince’s Seeing is Believing programme, visit www.bitc.org.uk/wales.