With cost-savings an ongoing priority for businesses during the current tough economic climate, sustainable business experts Envirowise are advising companies in the East Midlands to think 'out of the box' when it comes to identifying ways they can cut out waste in 2009.
With an estimated 80 per cent of the cost of a product and its packaging set at the design stage, the adoption of leaner and more sustainable packaging design, without any loss in performance, can have a positive knock-on effect on costs and profitability. To help companies understand where improvements can be made, and to help them influence their own supply chains, Envirowise is running an online webinar on eco-design for products and packaging on February 25, 2009.
Companies can take part in the free event online, where they will learn about relevant legislation, view live product and packaging disassembly exercises, and be given the opportunity to submit their own questions to an expert panel.
Envirowise cleaner design specialist Jenni Rosser says: "Although it’s often the bigger companies that are under most pressure to reduce packaging waste, smaller businesses can benefit by following in their larger counterparts' footsteps. By taking resource efficiency in packaging seriously, unnecessary costs can be eliminated and profits recouped."
Ken Simpson, UK Compliance Manager for Belkin, a manufacturer of audio, video and computer equipment and accessories, supports the event: "Like many companies, we take our duty to minimise our impact on the environment very seriously. It was the expert help and support offered by Envirowise that enabled us to see how we could begin to implement more resource efficient solutions.
"The changes we made not only reduced the materials used in our packaging, but unlocked hidden profits for the business. We would advise any business, whatever their size, to take the opportunity Envirowise is giving them with this webinar."
The webinar will help businesses understand how to make design packaging choices that reduce production, handling and transportation costs.
As well as signing up for the webinar in February 2009, businesses in the East Midlands are being urged to log-on to the Envirowise website (www.envirowise.gov.uk) to see exclusive content from another online event hosted in October which focuses on the other aspects of eco design.
To sign up for the next webinar, or to view content from the previous event, please visit the Envirowise website – www.envirowise.gov.uk/webinar
Envirowise also provides a host of other advice and fact sheets on eco-design, available via the website: www.envirowise.gov.uk or by calling the Envirowise advice line on Tel: 0800 585794
Media Enquiries:
Please contact: Caroline Charles or Graeme Jackson at Bray Leino PR
Telephone: 0117 973 1173
Email: ccharles@brayleino.co.uk or gjackson@brayleino.co.uk
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 £1bn by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
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:
- The Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website (www.envirowise.gov.uk) of valuable and relevant information
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions