Peter Parker Award 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
South East Water plc - Barcombe Reservoir Sustainable Improvements
 The project emanated from South East Water's desire to become more sustainable, linking new and existing policies together to create a new direction. South East Water's sustainable programme has been developed around three themes; (1) effect on the local economy (2) the environment and (3) social structure.
Under Environment, South East Water has worked to protect the South Downs, a stretch of chalk downs which through scrub clearance has seen swathes of land restored to “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty”. South East Water has entered much of their land into DEFRA's Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme.
Other environmental projects include:
- encouraging the return of otters to Sussex
- a barn owl boxing scheme in Arlington, and
- river and reservoir management using common reed and willow planting.
Through Social Sustainability South East Water works to ensure that their staff, customers and stakeholders understand and partake in the vision to be more sustainable. Many areas of land require a trade off between protecting the biodiversity of the land and opening them to recreational use. South East Water has worked to introduce sustainable recreation, protecting footpaths and banks from erosion and using traditional oak in signage and benches that helps to protect rare coppice woodlands and the communities that work them.
Through South East's Economic Sustainability initiatives they have created a number of efficient business areas. At Barcombe treatment works they have developed a sludge removal process that enables the waste to be used as a resource on agricultural land rather than go to landfill. The heat from the process heats buildings. An environmental algae control has been developed which has not only been successful in treating algae but has also reduced operating costs.
www.southeastwater.co.uk
top
Premier Award 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Clinical Designs Ltd - The K-Hayler
 Over the last 5 years Clinical Designs has been working to develop a simple method to dispense the correct dosage of asthma drugs. The result is the K Haler a device that has no complicated metal valve or spring activators but still works with standard cans and formulations. The device's simplicity has made it suitable for children and the elderly to use and the complete omission of metal parts makes the K-Haler fully recyclable
The K Haler is a breath actuated inhaler which co-ordinates the firing of the canister with the patients inhalation. The design is simple and reliable with low manufacturing costs. Being made from plastic the K-Haler has an assembly cost under 15 pence which is an estimated 80 -90% reduction on standard haler manufacturing costs. It has an eco friendly composition and takes less energy to produce, which is a significant contribution when millions of inhalers are required each year.
The K-Haler is made from 5 parts, it is small in size yet has improved compliance with regulation; it is compatible with a variety of can sizes and is 100% recyclable.
Dispensing life saving medicine to an asthma sufferer is critical and the K-Haler will give the user better control over their medication and may even reduce the amount of drug required.
www.clinicaldesigns.co.uk - K Haler
top
Premier Award 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
 A&E Threads GB Ltd - A&E Sustainable Business Programme
A&E Threads undertook a review of their activities which resulted in a programme of energy conservation measures, recycling initiatives, pollution control measures, improved conditions for employees, bottom line cost savings and contact with local community.
By introducing a recycling plan they are aiming to achieve zero waste from their factories. They have established recycling partners to recycle office waste, scrap thread, waste plastics, packaging and glass. The company has also created a recycling brochure for their customers, it enables them to recycle or return all the plastic cones, spools and polybags.
The company has engaged employees and stakeholders at all levels to ensure that the programme of business improvement is economically viable and beneficial to the environment on a local and wider basis. The company is a member of the local tenants association and have changed working hours to reduce the impact on the local residents.
The company has also developed new machinery using oxidizer technology which removes the majority of volatile organic compounds from nylon bonding operations this has reduced energy use by 50%.
top
Premier Award 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Corus Colors - Product Developments at Corus Colors
 Corus Colors is a specialist business for the production of coated steel products, which have applications in construction, consumer products and automotive markets. Corus has established a product strategy that focuses upon environmental and sustainability issues.
Corus developed Neotec, a tin/zinc alloy coating for steel strip used for fuel tanks. It replaced a lead coated product and is more effective than plastic due to enhanced environmental performance and recyclability. Neotec is cleaner to produce and prolongs the products life beyond 30 years. To date over 100,000 tonnes have been requested for use in UK, and export markets and has been specified for use by car manufacturers such as Lotus, Ford, Rover and Aston Martin.
www.corusgroup.com
top
Premier Award 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Apex (Cleanaway/Onyx/SITA) - Green Compost - The Standard in Peat Replacement
 Cleanaway 's project, Apex Green Compost, is a collaborative relationship between Onyx, Cleanaway and Sita. These three rival companies have created a partnership in order to become a major supplier of compost from green waste.
Apex Green Compost is compost created from vegetation and plant matter sourced from civic amenity sites and kerb side collections. By recycling the vegetation huge benefits are being seen in the form of reduced landfill, reduced peat use and promotion of recycling green waste. The partner's business model allows large scale composting and makes a major impact on waste reduction.
www.cleanaway.com
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Ricoh Wellingborough Products Limited - The Road to Zero Waste
Ricoh's project aimed to “achieve, maintain and promote zero waste”. The project is now a core part of Ricoh's Environmental Management and is one of their key business drivers.
 In order to achieve zero waste Ricoh introduced a colour coded “slim bin” waste segregation scheme in its factory and offices. Each employee is responsible for segregating their own waste into the bins and all are encouraged to minimise the amount they produce.
- Cardboard and paper is sent to be pulped for re-use.
- Polythene is processed and converted into new products such as damp proof building membrane.
- Plastic is sorted into type by H M Prison and sent to be recycled.
- Used polystyrene plastic cups are collected and converted into stationery products such as pencils and rulers.
- General miscellaneous waste that does not fit into the scope of recycling is sent to incineration with energy recovery.
Through continual improvement Ricoh has seen a 65% reduction in the amount of waste produced over a 3 year period and the cost of incineration has been offset by the financial revenue received from other recycled waste streams.
Parts and packaging materials from the manufacturing line have been identified for reuse "in-process". A total of 14 parts have been identified for reuse by returning them to sister companies, as well as packaging being reused internally.
Ricoh has championed the idea to process a neighbouring company's waste polythene for recycling, to help reduce the neighbour's impact on the local landfill site and to influence their environmental approach. Many of Ricoh's scrap products are donated freely for re-use in the community by local schools, playgroups, church and charitable organisations.
www.ricoh.co.uk
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Keanes Environmental - Recycling Utility Spoil
 Each year the utility companies excavate 3.5 million tonnes of material that is then sent to landfill. Keanes' new Trenchmod process enables this spoil to be recycled by transforming the waste into reusable trench fill material.
The excavated material is processed through a unique machine that is fully computerised and provides a report on the constituents used and tonnages produced. The processed material is then tested for compliance with regulations. Trenchmod has been used in maintenance excavations since January 2000 and by the end of 2002 over 45,000 excavations had been backfilled saving over 90,000 tonnes of waste to landfill.
By reducing the need for raw materials Trenchmod helps protect the natural environment. It reduces the need for transportation of quarried material and eliminates the need to landfill excavated spoil. By backfilling excavations Trenchmod is an environmental solution for the thousands of excavations that are carried out daily.
www.tranchmod.com
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Arctic Circle Ltd - The Quantum Compressor Range
The company supply compressors and compression systems for refrigeration duty – largely to the food retail market. The entry was for the Quantum range of compressors that have been developed with the strategic objective of increased reliability and efficiency.
 The compressor range incorporates a number of innovations that offers significant energy saving benefits and enhanced durability with 35db lower noise levels than typical.
The compressor is probably the world's most efficient refrigeration compressor being 15% more efficient than the nearest rival. This equates to possible saving of 1.5% of UK electricity demand.
www.acl-online.com
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
R & JM Place Ltd - Recycling Water for Bean Sprout Production
 Since 1999 Place UK have been involved in water efficiency. A core objective of the strategy was to achieve water savings for the total farm operation whilst maintaining high level of yield and quality. Following a review of the whole operation it was established that the greatest area of use of water on the farm was in the production of the company's bean sprout crop. Normally in the production of bean sprouts the irrigation water is only used once and then dumped to waste in a lagoon. Now it is cleaned to reuse again.
Place UK have worked with a filtration and separation specialist to develop a recirculation system that captures excess water in the irrigation process for reuse. The excess water is collected, filtered, treated and then recycled into the irrigation process. The system has resulted in water savings of 38%, £13,760/per annum and has enabled water to be saved without an adverse effect on yield or quality.
Place UK have actively involved the local farming community and a group of 150 farms now wish to apply the same system to their crop production. They are collaboratively talking to the Environment Agency.
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Ionex Ltd - The IXL Process
Ionex have developed IXL a process for nitrate removal from drinking water, changing ion exchange from single use, throw away chemistry to multiple use, recycling.
 High doses of nitrates in water are recognised as a threat to human and animal health. Nitrate pollution causes eutrophication due to algal bloom which is acknowledged as the 3 rd most significant water problem globally.
Technology already exists to reduce nitrate levels in ground and surface water. The problem is no longer the high nitrate but the disposal of the regenerating chemicals used in the ion exchange process. The IXL is a more efficient electrochemical method, enabling the complete recycling of nitrate regenerant with no liquid waste stream produced. The benefit is reduced waste volumes so there is no need for effluent tankers, reduced chemical consumption therefore reduced chemical delivery to site and improved water quality.
The process of ion exchange is environmentally restorative. Fertilisers are made by combining nitrogen and oxygen, IXL reverses the process, producing nitrogen and oxygen from nitrate.
www.ionex.co.uk
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
The Venus Company Ltd - The Greenest Beach Café & Shop Business in Europe
 The Venus Company has been established on the principles of sustainability. They have reviewed their processes and impacts to ensure that all of their activities are sustainable, economically, environmentally and socially. By promoting green tourism to their customers the company is striving to minimise the harmful effects and maximise the beneficial influences that their activities have on the environment.
The aim of the Venus Company is to become Britain's greenest beach café and shop operator. The company's motto ‘loving the beach' comes through in the business decisions they make.
The alfresco sections of the café's have been created from reclaimed timber and the landscaping uses locally grown plants. Even the outdoor heaters are energy saving radiant heaters. The Venus Company use only environmentally friendly bleach free packaging which has the additional benefits of raising consumer environmental awareness. Customers to the cafés are also encouraged to use the cafes' recycling points, they are encouraged to sort through their rubbish and make a contribution to preserving the environment.
The staff are educated in environmental issues during their induction and are encouraged to building on the initiatives the company undertakes. Cardboard, plastic packaging and used cooking oil from the kitchen is returned for recycling. The café's equipment is energy efficient and they monitor their C02 emissions. Where they can they use chlorine and phosphate free products and the majority of food is sourced locally.
www.green-business.co.uk
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
United Utilities - High Hullockhowe Sustainable Upland Farming
 In the wake of the Foot and Mouth crisis United Utilities developed a model of sustainable upland farming for their catchment areas. The aim is to benefit the rural economy and at the same time protect water quality and local wildlife. In order to protect the water quality at source United Utilities have developed sustainable solutions to a sensitive farming area. The responsibility for the application of the solution is in the hands of the tenant farmers with partnership from United Utilities, RSPB and DEFRA .
High Hullockhowe Farm in Cumbria is de-stocking and implementing a farm management plan to benefit local biodiversity and water quality. The tenant farmer has been encouraged to think environmentally and implement environmental schemes such as black plastic recycling which involves surrounding farms. The project has also had serious influence on policy makers, such as Defra and Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
www.unitedutilities.com
top
Major Commendation 2003
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20th April 2004 by Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.
Redcorn Ltd - End of Life Vehicles
 Redcorn offer a service of removal, storage, de-pollution and finally destruction of abandoned vehicles free of charge including caravans, coaches and trailers.
Abandoned vehicles are a major problem to the environment and impact on the social status of the community. Across the country there has been a 750% rise in abandoned vehicles and London has seen a rise of 1250% over the last three years.
Redcorn are leading the way in vehicle disassembly investing in technology and machinery in order to recycle up to 78% of all vehicles. Every vehicle that is collected by Redcorn is de-polluted, all fluids and liquids are extracted, tyres, batteries and disposed of by contractors. Materials are separated at site and sent to contractors for recycling. Following the de-pollution process all vehicles are flattened for controllable storage prior to disposal by shredding.
Redcorn dispose of 20,000 vehicles per year a total of 120 vehicles per day through their three vehicle de-pollution units.
www.redcorn.co.uk
top |
