MOST SUSTAINABLE PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATION


paper or plastic products that are made from recycled materials


• Encouraged NViro employees to be aware of and recycle paper and plastic products where possible


• We recycle plastics and cans at all our offices


WASTE MINIMISATION AND RECYCLING


As a business we have introduced the following initiatives and have:- • Reduced the use of paper within our business environment by using electronic communication where practicable


• Introduced recycling schemes for any waste paper, cardboard and plastics at all our offices where we no longer have individual bins under our desks


• Entered into joint recycling programmes with our customers, for example at Brighton and Hove, Chichester College, Basingstoke and Deane


TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL We have:- • Reviewed operating areas to ensure most efficient use of vehicles. For example, in each Service Manager’s area, the most efficient routes between the main client locations have been calculated and issued to staff.


• As each vehicle is purchased, reviewed which vehicle is most appropriate for the job, eg number of seats, fuel emissions. All vehicles purchased meet ‘Euro IV’ standards


• Considered the use of alternative fuels on the basis of practicality, availability of vehicles and availability of alternative fuel


• Implemented route planning to enable fuel efficiencies on cleaning contacts operated primarily by vehicle-based cleaners, eg communal blocks of flats belonging to housing associations


• Initiated a policy of sharing vehicles when attending meetings


USE OF ENERGY FOR EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY We follow a policy of:- • Purchasing machinery from


suppliers that can demonstrate a positive attitude to environmental issues and are on an Approved Supplier list. Our main supplier, Hoopers in Portsmouth are now replacing all our Victor tub vacuums with Numatic dual powered tub vacs that save our clients’ energy


• Selecting machinery for contracts that are the most economic in use of both power and cleaning productivity. In simple terms this would mean using a higher proportion of upright vacuums at sites where there are large areas of open plan carpet, or using a larger diameter buffing machine where there are large open areas of vinyl floor to be polished. Where practicable consider the use of other sources of energy such as battery powered scrubbing machines. Implementing supplier or in-house training to ensure the most economic use of equipment


Disposing of all electrical equipment with regard to Waste Electrical, Electronic Equipment legislation (WEEE).


WATER CONSERVATION To conserve water we:- • Use dosing systems where practicable to ensure that excessive water is not wasted in the chemical dilution process


• Provide training to all staff as part of their induction on the prudent use of water


• Place a chart in each cupboard reminding amongst other things to make sure taps are turned off and to report leaking taps


• Encourage clients to install waterless urinal systems


SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT Nviro spends over £380k per annum on products directly associated with on- site cleaning operations, including £160k on chemicals, £120k on brand new machinery, £20k on uniforms and £80k on washroom products supplied to clients. To obtain the most competitive prices we obviously try and limit the number of suppliers we deal with in order to maximise volume discounts and we use one supplier for each of the above key areas. This also helps to maintain productive working relationships and to secure high levels of service, which in turn


benefits our clients at locations where these products are used. However, in order to satisfy ourselves that we are working with ‘green’ suppliers we hold an annual review meeting with each of our key suppliers and ask them either to provide a copy of their environmental; policy or to confirm that they use renewable resources in their production process or service provision. In terms of using local suppliers and SMEs we currently purchase our equipment from a supplier in Portsmouth. However, in accordance with our policy on sustainability we would consider a local provider for this service. We have recently carried our own tender for cleaning materials and we invited south coast companies to tender including Portsmouth (CJS) and East Sussex (Wightman and Parrish).


CARBON FOOTPRINT MEASUREMENT Through our parent company, The Quarr Group, NViro Limited is a member of the Isle of Wight Carbon Trust. The Trust is drawing down on government (DEFRA) funding used to set up BREW (Business Efficiency and Waste Programme) in order to offer consultancy services to smaller businesses. In March last year a BREW consultant visited NViro to identify formal targets to improve waste minimisation and resource efficiency and to approve NViro’s plan for reaching those targets. Please see our 2009-2010 Environmental Action Plan below.


STAFF TRAINING


Environmental awareness and policy features in all staff training including induction training and front line manager training. Each cleaning store at a client location is equipped with a laminated notice reminding staff of eight key ways in which they can help reduce environmental impact. The motto is ’You can make the difference’


SUMMARY


By managing our business in the above ways we aspire to being an organisation in which social responsibility and sustainability are part of daily business practice, resulting in our becoming a preferred place to work, a desirable business partner either as customer or supplier, a respected member of the community and a proactive steward of our precious natural environment.


SUSTAINABLE FM AWARDS 2010


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