A STUDENT working at oilfield services company Hydrasun has won a regional Environmental Placement Programme (EPP) award, run by the Business Environment Partnership in Scotland.
Alex Reid who had not long completed a degree in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, had been tasked with identifying new and innovative ways for Hydrasun to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of packaging, both in terms of how suppliers package incoming goods and how the company’s goods are packaged to go on to the market.
Over an eight-week period, Reid identified a number of ways that Hydrasun could reuse or recycle packaging, which would deliver a reduction of 8.8tonnes of packaging material per year and an annual cost saving of £20,200.
This sort of initiative fits the overall aim of the EPP Programme is to improve environmental practice within Scottish businesses.
Specific areas of waste elimination identified by Reid included:
The reduction in size of polythene bags used to package Hydrasun fittings. Cost saving £8,600
Reduction of labels printed to accompany fittings despatched. Projected saving of 70,000 labels per year
Installation of a cardboard baler within Hydrasun’s new Aberdeen HQ to improve efficiency of cardboard recycling. This will be installed during the firm’s relocation in December.
The introduction of a new scheme to offer waste wood free of charge to employees for use in wood-burning stoves or open fires.
The introduction of proactive recycling for waste hose, paper, cans and plastic and composting for food waste to be implemented at the new HQ in December 2010, leading to the diversion of the majority of current “general waste” from landfill.
At the regional awards, Reid presented her findings and won first place, securing her place at the 2010 national finals last month where she finished runner-up.
Bob McAlpine, chief operating officer of Hydrasun said of her achievement: “Winning the regional final is not only a well deserved recognition for Alex, but a reflection of the commitment of the entire Hydrasun team towards improving our performance in this vital area.
” We believe the opportunity to seek new ways to improve our overall environmental performance is a key business obligation and underpins our environmental policy.
“Our ISO 14001 accreditation, our Shanks ranking as a top three company within the north-east committed to recycling, and being first in Aberdeenshire to submit a “Green Travel Plan” for staff further demonstrates our commitment in this area.