Setting The Tone

Cygma Products

Social responsibility is fast becoming an important issue facing smaller businesses. All businesses, no matter how large or small, have influence or power in their local community and in their relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Being socially responsible can improve financial performance and access to capital, enhance brand image and sales, attract and retain a quality workforce and reduce long-term costs.

As a progressive company, Cygma Manufacturing are taking social responsibility to heart and have recently become the second patron member of Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale’s BEA programme. The Middleton-based company specialise in recycling printer and toner cartridges (see article on office-recycling opposite) as well as manufacturing bespoke cartridge and toner products. Customers include several national banks and many local organisations.

Since 2003, Cygma has benefited from support and advice from Groundwork, whilst working towards the International Environmental Management System, ISO14001, using the BS8555 progressive approach. By using resources efficiently and reducing the amount of waste produced, the company have identified substantial cost savings allowing investment in new recycling technology that has helped secure new contracts and safeguarded 32 jobs.

As a patron member of the BEA, Cygma can continue to improve their overall environmental, health and safety performance as well as increase their local profile and put something back into the local area.  Having previously volunteered alongside Groundwork to renovate an area of Boarshaw Clough, a Middleton-based nature site (as covered in issue 17), Cygma jumped at the chance to sponsor a community project in Irkside as part of their membership package.

Irkside is a well-used community nature site that backs onto Alkrington Woods in Middleton. Onsite work and maintenance has taken place by Groundwork to ensure the area is kept to the best possible standard. As well as providing a nature reserve for the local community, the site is an invaluable educational tool allowing school groups to explore and understand nature.

As well as enhancing and reinforcing their environmental credentials, as patrons, Cygma sponsor the monthly ‘Business Briefing’, which is sent out to 700 businesses, and the Quarterly publication that is sent out to over 1,700 businesses in the Oldham and Rochdale areas. This helps gain recognition within the local business community, offering the chance to further promote business.