Reducing environmental impact in the supply chain
Macrae Edinburgh has taken a comprehensive, sustainable approach to environmental management in order to reduce their environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
This has
involved energy saving initiatives, a significant reduction in cardboard
packaging, a year on year carbon reduction plan, working towards zero waste to
landfill
by 2013 and a conservation project with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Macrae is
part of Young's Seafood Ltd.
The comprehensive approach to environmental
management undertaken by Macrae Edinburgh
encompasses a number of areas:
Packaging
Macrae Edinburgh has taken 180 tonnes
of cardboard packaging out of the business by working
together with Waitrose (their main customer) on a new
delivery model and more streamlined packaging. The
Macrae team attend monthly Waitrose sustainability
meetings where environmental standards and targets are
discussed.
Carbon reduction
Macrae Edinburgh will produce a year by year carbon reduction plan by the end of
2011,
detailing the reduction of operational carbon dioxide emissions based on 2010
levels and the reduction of energy consumed per unit of production. The Macrae
site target is a 15 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.
Energy saving
Within the factory, motion sensors have
been fitted in all areas to automatically switch lights off and
on. This energy saving initiative will soon be implemented
in all management offices, another measure soon to be
implemented along with the sub-metering of electricity
to each individual department within the factory. This will
allow Macrae to assess departmental energy use and micro
manage the energy consumption of each area within the
factory.
Waste management.
Macrae Edinburgh has set the
objective of sending no food waste to landfill by 2013.
In future, waste will either be recycled to minimise waste
being sent to landfill, or sent to anaerobic digestion.
Anaerobic digestion is widely used as a source of renewable
energy, and as part of their integrated waste management system, anaerobic
digestion reduces the emission of landfill
gas into the atmosphere.
Conservation
Macrae Edinburgh also work closely with
the Scottish Wildlife Trust, funding the development and
maintenance of the Tailend Moss reserve adjacent to the
factory. The three year commitment will fund access paths,
fencing work, habitat enhancement and biodiversity at this
important local wildlife site.
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