Initiative will help manufacturers save costs and be eco-friendly
A NEW initiative could help manufacturers in Yorkshire to unlock thousands of pounds in cost savings and completely change their approach to the way they deal with waste.
Rethink Waste has been launched by sustainability experts Envirowise with support from manufacturers’ organisation EEF and will help companies discover the ‘true’ cost of waste to their business.
Manufacturers taking action to reduce waste and improve their resource efficiency could save up to £1,000 per employee.
Across the UK around £500m could be saved annually.
Three advice-packed online modules will take businesses through the key steps of collecting benchmarking data, developing an action plan and then implementing a waste saving strategy.
Participants will also have access to a virtual factory tour, audiocasts and an online resource efficiency conference.
Elin Crebbin, Envirowise regional manager for Yorkshire, said: “While many UK manufacturers have enthusiastically adopted recycling measures , there are more opportunities to reduce and re-use materials as well – actions that could substantially benefit their bottom line.
“With landfill tax set to rise to £48 per tonne in 2010/2011 the economic imperative to minimise waste at every opportunity is clear.”
Gareth Stace, head of environment at the EEF, added: “As outlined in EEF’s recent ‘Manufacturing Our Future’ report, climate change is a long-term challenge that manufacturers will need to face if they are to survive and thrive.”
Manufacturers can register for Rethink Waste before 31 December 2009. Registrations can be made at www.envirowise.gov.uk/rethink.
