Environmental
Since 2003 we have reduced our energy consumption by implementing a company energy efficiency scheme.
This involved installing more efficient hardware in the Bristol factory, including a new compressor system and 3 new shrink wrapping machines.
We coupled this with simple measures to build on the benefits of the new machinery and improve office and shop floor operations. These included staff training in new energy saving procedures and waste systems, clear signage on power timers, demand activated devices and replacing water coolers with cheaper, more efficient plumbed-in water filter systems and improved lagging to hot water storage.
We found this had a range of financial and environmental benefits. The new machinery is smaller, more reliable, and has lower running costs. After using the new hardware the factory floor reported faster run down times and a significant reduction in excess heat that needed dispersing, reducing the need for air conditioning in warm weather.
Distribution counted for a large proportion of our carbon emissions as we distribute our products nationally to a range of outlets. So in 2007 we consolidated 3 storage facilities into one Distribution Centre.
The company benefited from reduced 3rd party logistics costs, with less shunting of goods from one centre to the other and greater coordination of stock movements overall. The new facility and operations also meant fuel consumption and carbon emissions were reduced significantly, with the added benefit to the city of less vehicle movements on Bristol roads.
As part of Bart Spices commitment to making Bristol a greener city we are keen to continually try and reduce the amount of waste that is going straight to landfill from our operations. Since making the Green Capital Pledge we have put systems in place for recycling glass, paper, cardboard, soft plastic and even on-site composting. Training has been provided to staff on the new recycling systems, ensuring they were integrated into day-to-day running.
These systems have enabled Bart Spices to increase our recycling rates, bringing practice in line with what we consider important. The recycling systems and staff training further supported the development of more efficient practice across operations. Now less material is going into landfill and more is being processed back into useable materials – the company is also a step ahead of waste legislation, which will in the future require businesses to recycle more of the waste they produce.
To show our support and encouragement of recycling we have sponsored the waste collection and recycling at the Bristol Organic Food Festival since 2007.
Future Steps
To support continual improvement in energy efficiency Bart Spices wants to develop more detailed weekly energy monitoring, allowing us to target high-use areas. In the waste management, we would like to measure more of the waste we recycle helping to develop targets and support continual improvement. Internal communication and development will continue to be vital to attaining improvements.
In 2009 Bart Spices signed up to the May Day Network, where we made a pledge to monitor, report and reduce our carbon emissions.
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