Environment Champions success shared

May Gurney shared the success of its Environment Champions campaign with delegates at the 'Shaping Norfolk's Future' conference on 28 November.

As part of May Gurney's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations, in 2006 the company engaged Global Action Plan to help deliver Environment Champions at its head office in Trowse.

The aims of the project were:
- To reduce energy consumption and the level of waste produced
- To establish a team of 'Environment Champions' with an understanding of environmental issues
- To develop a method for communicating with the wider workforce
- To raise staff awareness of environmental sustainability
- And to empower employees to play a part in managing the company's environmental impact.

The campaign was launched in May 2007, and since then a 28% reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill has been achieved.

Also, a survey of employees at Trowse revealed significant improvements in awareness and behaviour relating to energy and waste issues - not just in the office, but also at home. 57% of respondents said they've changed their waste habits at work radically, and 27% said they have also changed their approach to waste at home.

The project's successes include:
· 28% reduction in waste sent to landfill, equating to 3.2 tonnes
· 40% reduction in paper sent for shredding and recycling
· 30% reduction in paper usage per day during October (35 sheets per person compared with 2006 average of 50 sheets)
· 21% reduction in the number of lights left on overnight
· 21% reduction in the number of monitors left on overnight

As a result of its success, May Gurney will roll Environment Champions out to all offices and depots across the country over the coming year.

Ian Findlater, Group Business Development Director, said: "We carry out tremendous, award-winning work on projects to raise the bar on sustainable construction, but this initiative focuses on the choices we each make every day.

"I'm delighted with the results so far which really demonstrate how small changes can make a big difference when everyone works together."

The conference, 'Prosperity in a Sustainable World', encouraged businesses and organisations to consider how the development of environmental products and services and efficient environmental management can be profitable.

For further information go to www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk