Employees manage environmental impact

Hannah Nolan from Suprafilt is presented with her certificate

Delegates  from three local businesses successfully completed the Practical Environmental  Management Plus (PEM+) training offered by Groundwork Oldham amp;  Rochdale’s  Environmental  Business  Services.  The employees were given individual  delegate  awards, and used their own workplaces as case studies for environmental improvements.

Hannah Nolan from Suprafilt Group in Sparth was one of the successful delegates. Suprafit has since reduced their ink cartridge use,  made  all  faxes electronic and switch off all unnecessary electrical appliances.  Suprafilt  have  also gone from recycling virtually nothing to recycling  almost  90%  of their paper and cardboard waste. The company has reduced  the  amount  of water it uses by purchasing more efficient welding sets  and  reducing the pressure used by their jet washer. Also, one member of staff now cycles to work instead of using their car.

Ms Nolan said: “The PEM+ course is a really good foundation  for  implementing  an  Environmental  Management System. It has provided  us  with  the information and skills needed to manage and improve our environmental performance in both an efficient and cost effective way.”

The  training  programme  not  only  helped  the  delegates to have a clear understanding of environmental risks, but also enabled them to introduce an effective  Environmental  Management System in their respective businesses. Environmental   Management   Systems   help  businesses  to  improve  their environmental  performance,  and  achieve  an overall cost saving through a better-managed business.

Vicki  Handforth,  Environmental  Business Advisor from Groundwork Oldham amp; Rochdale  said: “The PEM+ course is a really good way to understand how an Environmental   Management  System  can  not  only  reduce  and  manage  an  organisations’ environmental impact but also enable it to be more efficient and generate significant cost savings.”