Waste reduction

Cutting waste in a systematic way will help SMEs to reduce cost and save material. A special waste-prevention plan will be very helpful in introducing such a systematic approach. It helps to understand where resources are used, where waste is generated, and to find and prioritise waste-reducing and...

Tackling mounting energy and waste bills as business grows Experts helped SME address energy and waste issues as business grew 54 tonnes of waste and 174 tonnes of CO2 equivalent avoided annually Led to yearly savings of € 51 000 Malcolm Allan Ltd is a family business, established in 1954, producing...

Avoid, reduce, enhance... 6.8 % less packaging on 250 best-selling products Saving 1 360 tonnes of material and using 1 300 tonnes of recyclables Migros is Switzerland's largest retailer and supermarket chain. In recent years, as part of an environmental effort, it has reassessed its packaging in...

Eco-designs power a sustainability drive Since 2005, 12 040 tonnes of packaging has been eliminated on Auchan products In Poland, lighter water bottle caps saves 4.6 tonnes in plastics every year In France, new freezer bags have cut cardboard consumption by 33 tonnes, requiring 375 fewer transport...

Packaging protects and preserves products and ensures that they arrive in perfect condition. But producing packaging also consumes resources and disposing of it results in a large amount of waste, especially in the growing online trade. This is an economic and an environmental burden. Packaging and...

Every office generates waste such as paper, cardboard, packaging, bottles, disposable plates, cups, cutleries, towels, food waster, etc. A 'wasteful' company typically has higher material and waste-disposal costs. So efforts to cut back on office waste can save your company money. There are several...

Remanufacturing is the rebuilding, repairing or restoring of an end-of-life product or part to return it to like-new condition. Remanufactured products or parts should be backed by the same or similar level of warranty as new products. From a customer viewpoint, the remanufactured product can be...

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are typically used by households quickly after purchase or at least under one year. This includes packaged foods, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, but also cosmetics and personal hygiene items. FMCG packaging is a major challenge. Because of the short lifespan and...

Look closely and all kinds of savings can be found Top 20 analysis reveals energy-saving opportunities Adjusting compressed air pressure, for example, saves about 19 000 kWh in electricity a year Grain dust (byproduct) recommended for use as biogas fuel Garant Tiernahrung GmbH is an animal feed...

The core goal of a waste-management system is to think of ways to improve a company's handling of non-product outputs (waste with zero or negative market value), and implement measures to minimise waste generation through more efficient use of resources or re-use of materials and to separate waste...

A certified environmental management system (EMS) is a coherent strategy for reducing your environmental impact, complying with legislation and setting continuous improvement targets in a systematic manner. While ISO14001 is the most widely applied EMS in the world, the European Union has its own...

Positive incentives for employees are closely related to information, education and training activities. While information and training are often the first steps, this measure focuses on positive incentives to perpetuate or strengthen environmentally friendly behaviour. Creating incentives around...