Livingston-based Caltek Aluminum Systems, the specialist manufacturer and supplier of aluminium architectural components such as windows, doors, and roofs, is leading by example when it comes to improving its green credentials. By enlisting the help of sustainability expert Envirowise and joining the Small Business Support Programme in June last year, the company has slashed its energy costs by £306 per year and implemented a recycling service that will divert almost 18 tonnes of waste from landfill, reducing waste bills by £1684 per year.
Andrew Gray, director of Caltek Aluminum Systems commented:
"Optimising our profit margins through resource efficiency not only makes clear financial sense but also ensures we are thinking more seriously about our impact on the environment. By working with Envirowise we've managed to make a substantial saving of up to almost 50% on our waste costs. We registered for free and received an informative site visit which has assisted us to plan and implement simple measures, helping us to improve the company's environmental performance."
"Straightforward practices like encouraging staff to recycle effectively and to be more aware of the amount of electricity saved when lights are switched off have gone a long way to help us realise cost savings. More recently we've started issuing quotations for work electronically which sees the company save paper. These small but effective changes have amounted to potential savings of over £3,000 per year being identified."
"We're now firmly on our way to a greener future and we're fully focused on continuing our improvement throughout the year. 2009 is set to be a tough year for many businesses and especially with the current recession hitting smaller companies particularly hard. It makes sense that small businesses should consider improving their use of resources not only to increase their bottom line but to send an important message to staff and customers alike about their commitment to the environment."