Highlights
Over the period from 2009 to 2011, capital investment of more than £1.5 million and the engagement and enthusiasm of all staff has helped make significant economic achievements, including:
- an 18% saving on electricity;
- a 7% saving on gas consumption;
- improved effluent treatment processes;
- increasing the on-site recycling rate to 94%;
- increasing the recycled content of plastic milk cartons 10% to 15%.
All of these measures have saved around £100,000 and would not have been achieved without the drive and enthusiasm of all staff.
Robert Wiseman Dairies procures, processes and delivers liquid milk throughout Great Britain. The East Kilbride site has responsibility for the processing and production of the group’s speciality products, including flavoured milks. It also supplies milk to schools across the UK, as well as orange juice, cream and organic and GM-free milk.
Over the period from 2009 to 2011, capital investment of more than £1.5 million and the engagement and enthusiasm of all staff has helped make significant economic achievements, including:
- an 18% saving on electricity;
- a 7% saving on gas consumption;
- improved effluent treatment processes;
- increasing the on-site recycling rate to 94%;
- increasing the recycled content of plastic milk cartons 10% to 15%.
All of these measures have saved around £100,000 and would not have been achieved without the drive and enthusiasm of all staff.
The VIBES judges were very impressed with all aspects of Wiseman’s operations. Of particular note was their own development of an ‘Environmental Excellence Roadmap’ which has set ambitious targets to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions (per 1000 litres produced) by 2015—the East Kilbride site is making a key contribution to ensure these targets are met. The targets include:
- a 30% gas reduction;
- a 15% fuel reduction;
- a 25% electricity reduction;
- reducing refrigerant leaks to less than 3% and use new systems that use natural refrigerants;
- further reducing waste by 10% and divert 100% of waste away from landfill;
- a 15% effluent reduction;
- a 25% water reduction.
Staff are highly engaged and suggestions for further improvements are encouraged. ‘Environmental treasure hunts’ are organised where staff walk round the factory in areas they generally do not work in and make suggestions for improvements. Environmental awareness training is provided for all staff, including eco-driving lessons in the summer.
Recently, Wiseman’s environmental credentials were an integral part of a bid to win a large contract with the Co-op, which they successfully secured.
The VIBES judges felt that Wiseman’s Environmental Excellence Roadmap showed a strong commitment to environmental improvements. This is supported by well-monitored progress and successful results. The East Kilbride site has played a key role in the Roadmap’s development and has demonstrated the cascade of environmental objectives into managers’ and team leaders’ objectives, down to operator level. This encourages staff to take ownership of the environmental objectives set and has shown a change in attitude to the operations taking place at the site.
The site has commendable plans for further improvements, including bottle light-weighting to reduce further resource use. They have also installed a new refrigeration plant that will reduce electricity use by a further 12%, demonstrating that their environmental success is part of a longer-term picture. The judging panel felt these developments were clearly being put into motion and were impressed that Wiseman’s are still striving to do more, despite their already significant achievements.