Members of a business Resource Efficiency Club based in and around Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes are celebrating potential savings of more than £450,000, after identifying opportunities to improve their use of resources and reduce waste.
The Green Business Network Resource Efficiency Action Programme (REAP) is made up of nineteen companies from across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas. Since September 2005, it has been working in partnership with the Envirowise programme and other local business support organisations to share best practice and improve waste management.
The Club comprises businesses as diverse as breweries, sandwich shops and manufacturers of foaming agents for bubble baths. It works by bringing together members in a range of seminars and hands-on courses throughout the year. In addition, Envirowise facilitates on-site waste audits for companies to pinpoint areas where resource efficiency can be improved and money saved.
Claire Atkins, who leads the Club, said: "We are thrilled by the progress made by the Club over the last 18 months. Through our work with Envirowise our members have identified fantastic savings – and have demonstrated the clear business benefits to be gained from working in partnership towards a common resource efficiency goal. We look forward to building on these successes over the coming year."
Duncan Whitbread, Energy and Environmental Manager at Wells & Youngs one of the club member companies, commented: "I have found the professional support received from the REAP project to be invaluable. Independent audits of our site from "The Carbon Trust" and "Envirowise" highlighted areas of the operation where significant savings could be made. Added with the training courses and networking at the GBN monthly seminars, this gave me a broader outlook on resource efficiency. In all, an excellent partnership."
The Club's work will continue throughout 2007, when member companies will focus on putting in place the environmental changes recommended in order to realise the money savings. The Club is also actively recruiting for new members.
Resource Efficiency Clubs (RECs) are government-funded through Defra's BREW (Business Resource Efficiency & Waste Programme) scheme. The Resource Efficiency Clubs programme is managed by Envirowise.
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Harrison Cowley. Media Contacts: Rod Dennis or Rachael Wiley at Harrison Cowley on 0117 929 2311.
Notes to Editors:
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact. Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through the Envirowise Advice Line, information resources and on site visits* delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.
* Please note that different services are available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact our Advice Line on 0800 585 794 for more information on whether you are eligible for a site visit.