November 2008
Reduce - Re-use - Recycle: managing waste to manage the environment
Efficient and responsible waste management have acquired a new urgency at a time when concerns for the environment and rocketing resource and energy costs are putting businesses under great pressure.
Colt regularly reviews the way it manages waste at its manufacturing site in Havant, constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. Last year, with the advice of Envirowise - the government-supported environmental consultation service - the company has further enhanced the environmental performance of its operations.
This process of continuous improvement is part of Colt's environmental management system, which has led to its achieving ISO 14001 certification for the past three years.
When carrying out periodical reviews of its internal processes to minimise waste, Colt focuses on three main areas:
Reducing waste
Following a review of the manufacturing process, Colt only produces very small amounts of steel and aluminium waste, which is recycled. Colt has also changed the way it packages its products for shipping, reducing the amount of wood used for pallets and crates, and purchasing this only from a FSC approved source. All cardboard used in packaging of Colt products is reclaimed from components supplied to Colt and no new cardboard is purchased.
Re-using resources
Around 90% of the aluminium sourced is recycled material.
Recycling
As noted above Colt separates and recycles all its metallic waste. The majority of packaging materials received at the factory is recycled, including the cardboard and wood from pallets and boxes.
These will also be the three main themes in the Waste Management for Manufacturers workshop organised by the West Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership (WSSBP) at Colt's premises in Havant to help local businesses adopt environmental best practices. This half-day event will provide participants with expert advice from the Manufacturing Advisory Service, NISP and the Environment Agency. Click here for more details: http://www.westsussexsbp.org.uk/Events.aspx?ChannelID=39&PostingID=252
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