Companies share ambitious aims for efficiency & environmental performance

Three Bridgend firms opened their doors to business leaders and the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development this week in a bid to share their aims for a low carbon future.

A series of three ‘Seeing is Believing’ visits to Buy As You View, Rockwool and South Wales Police were organized by responsible business charity, Business in the Community, to highlight the work each have done to improve their environmental performance and the advantages to their bottom line and reputation.

Seeing is Believing is the flagship programme supported by The Prince of Wales to inspire and engage business leaders on responsibility issues like climate change.

Graham Clarke said:  “BAYV has made significant investments at a challenging time, however our efforts are already making a huge difference to our carbon reduction commitment as well as creating operational cost efficiencies.  This means there really is no downside.  Everyone needs to do their bit for the environment and each small step is of real importance.”

It was led by Graham Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Buy As You View, who has led the firm’s drive to be carbon–neutral by 2015.  As a company they have invested £6m into new technologies and a greener fleet to enable carbon reduction. The firm are making excellence progress, having reduced their carbon emissions by 40% in just 18 months.

The visit to insulation manufacturer, Rockwool, highlighted the impact that their greener product has on their customers across Europe.  Their eco-friendly product prevents the waste of energy and contributes to an overall reduction in the worlds’ carbon usage, but the company has also put robust measures in place to use less energy in the processes of production and making it as efficient as possible.

Evidence too that the public sector can also make significant impact in efficiency drives was South Wales Police. Their efforts on energy, resource and recycling have saved the force more than £200k per annum.

Wales Director for Business in the Community, added:  “In a challenging environment for business it’s clear that Rockwool, Buy As You View and South Wales Police all see the win-win situation of reducing their environmental impact.  Well all can learn from this experience and see the opportunities that a low-carbon future can bring – working smarter, being more efficient and wasting less.  This is a responsible way to do business that’s good for your bottom line as well as the environment.”

More than 20 business people from around South Wales took part in the event with a special visit from the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths.

The Minister said: "I am pleased to have the opportunity to hear about the actions Welsh companies are taking to improve their resource efficiency. It is even better to learn that these low carbon improvements are resulting in real business benefits by enabling companies to operate more efficiently and helping them to secure their own futures. This is sustainability in the truest sense of the word and something that the Welsh Government is determined to encourage in business across Wales."

Simon Harris added:  “The Prince’s Seeing is Believing is a unique programme and one that continues to be Business in the Community’s most effective way of engaging and inspiring business leaders and increase understanding of social and environmental issues.

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our society, so it’s encouraging to see that so many business leaders from this part of Wales are prepared to collaborate, to learn from each other, and find practical solutions to this growing issue.”

Delegates from G24i, the P&A Group, Andrew Scott, Scottish & Southern Energy, Boyes Rees Architects, Cadwyn Housing, SWALEC, Tyco Flow Control, Syml Solutions, WSP Development & Transportation.