Leading the way on environmental sustainability
Macsween has developed an innovative approach to environmental management simply because it is the “right thing to do”. In addition to reducing their impact on the environment
the company has reduced costs whilst also increasing their competitiveness.
- Ongoing reductions in their use of energy
and water. Significant reductions in the amount of
waste sent to landfill.
- Piloting a new kind of online environmental
reporting system that will provide real-time
information on performance.
- Engaging their employees to support and be part
of Macsween's vision.
- Significant savings – a 15 per cent reduction in
their gas bill, along with savings from recycling and
sale of fat collected.
Macsween's innovative approach to environmental management has included:
- A responsible sourcing policy through which it seeks information on its
suppliers' own
sustainability performance.
- Publication of a regular public sustainability report, which includes ongoing
information on the
environmental performance of Macsween. The company is also acting as a case
study for a new
kind of online, real-time environmental report.
- Reducing carbon emissions through energy reduction and efficiency measures
including:
employee training; heat recovery units on refrigeration equipment; timers on
ventilation, lighting and
heating units. Macsween reduced their gas bill by 15 per cent from 2006-2008.
- Reducing waste, so that only 10 per cent of all waste is currently sent to
landfill – but the aim is to send zero waste to landfill by the end of 2011.
Associated recycling innovations include: collection of spent fat and oil (sold
for
processing into bio-diesel); composting of organic waste; compacting and baling
of
plastic barrels and cardboard packaging. Macsween has saved nearly £1400
through
recycling and another £1400 saved through fat collection and selling.
- Reducing water consumption through recycling of saline water (used in the
storage of haggis casings) and more efficient cleaning and filtering methods.
The
company is reviewing the feasibility of an innovative treatment system to
improve
the quality of waste-water.
Macsween's approach to environmental sustainability also helped the company to
secure a £400k grant from the Scottish Government in 2009.
Next steps
Macsween plan to continue to produce regular reports on their environmental
management. The company is aiming for a zero landfill target in 2011 and plan
to
continue to work with its supply base to ensure that this approach is adopted
more
widely. The company is also reviewing the feasibility of an innovative
treatment
system to improve the quality of waste water.
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