To support Zero Waste Week, here’s a showcase of our progress and the plans we have for the future.

What’s Zero Waste Week?

It’s an eco initiative, originally started by Rachelle Strauss back in 2004 following the Boscastle flood. Today, there’s a global following, with millions of people, action groups, businesses and organisations who support the campaign.

What are we already doing?

It’s a time where managing environmental impact is more important than ever. So we know that being committed to sustainability is integral in reducing the carbon footprint of our company.

We carried out a waste audit and identified opportunities that make an impact through our usual day-to-day activities.

Here are some of those we have put into action already:

• We always try to find ways to reuse materials (and reclaim powder for parts) where possible. When items are surplus to requirement, we separate them into the relevant skips. Then they can be recycled appropriately; this includes metal, plastics and wood.
• We identified that the installation of a new gas burner would reduce gas usage by up to 20%.
• We’ve also had a new RDM oven door installed to increase efficiency in our ovens due to heat loss.
• We have had thermal scanning done throughout the site to monitor where we are losing heat.
• All mains’ systems have been monitored for energy usage to pinpoint peaks in our system and why this is happening.
• In the office, we have 3 waste paper recycling bins for all our non-confidential waste paper.

We are already accredited with the ISO 14001:2015 certification for our environmental management system.

What’s in the plan to reduce waste?

Sustainability is a high priority for us here at Pym & Wildsmith. We have set out goals within our current business plan to help us on the path towards zero waste.

Now that we are 100% employee owned, we intend to develop a sustainability strategy. It’s important that everyone in the team is able to bring great ideas together.

One such example is to look at reusing heat from our exhaust systems to put back into our buildings.

Then, we’d like to identify other external certifications. This will prove that we’re considering the environment with our business choices, and maintain a high level of waste reduction.

Within the next 3 years, we aim to increase the level of engagement in social and environment best practices.

No-one can do everything, everyone can do something.

We understand and recognise that the mission to get to Zero Waste isn’t easy, and that it’s an ongoing process of refining how we all operate.

Maybe you’re interested in how your business can carry out a waste audit too? If so, here are some ideas from the Zero Waste Week website.