Check Up on REACH
Government’s View on Green Tariffs
Celebrating Savings
Become Waste Aware
 

Check Up on REACH

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) requirements will impact most businesses in the UK in some way. It is important to understand what your role is in REACH, and what you can do now to be sure you are ready. The main aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment through better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemicals. It will make those who place chemicals on the market responsible for providing this information and passing it down the supply chain, so that the risks associated with their use are managed properly.

It will also enhance innovation in, and the competitiveness of, European industry through the removal of particularly hazardous substances and the need to replace them with safer alternatives. Legislation for enforcing REACH will come into force on 1st December 2008. Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "REACH is a welcome change in the way chemicals are controlled and how their use is managed throughout the EU. Businesses must find out now whether REACH will affect them. Even if you don't think REACH applies to your business, check to make sure of that - many businesses rely on chemicals without realising it." Comprehensive information on REACH is available on the UK REACH Competent Authority website at www.hse.gov.uk/reach

Government’s View on Green Tariffs

A number of electricity supply companies currently sell renewable electricity tariffs, often referred to as “green” tariffs. Renewable electricity has significant environmental benefits due to the low levels of carbon dioxide emissions associated with its production.

However, despite the benefits of renewable electricity, there is currently significant uncertainty regarding the additional environmental benefit of the green electricity tariffs on offer i.e. whether these tariffs achieve any new renewable capacity or carbon saving beyond that created by regulation. In addition, there are concerns about potential double counting of the carbon benefit from renewable generation.

In light of these concerns, for voluntary reporting purposes, the Government recommends that organisations calculate emissions from renewable tariffs using the average electricity emissions factor for the UK. In addition, for reporting under regulations such as the Climate Change Agreements, Carbon Reduction Commitment etc. organisations should also use the average electricity emissions factor for the UK for renewable tariffs. For the purposes of carbon footprinting of products, services, companies or their supply chains, the Carbon Trust does not consider renewable tariffs as “zero carbon” at present and therefore when calculating emissions from renewable tariffs the standard electricity emissions factor should be used. Emissions factors are calculated for the UK as a whole and published by Defra and may be downloaded from the Defra website.

Celebrating Savings

The Corporate Environmental Advisory Centre, CEAC, is celebrating success in assisting local businesses to identify opportunities for savings. With much larger than expected environmental and cost savings, businesses who participated in site visits and training over the last 12 months are set to reap considerable savings in future.
CEAC’s services aim to enhance businesses’ skills to manage environmental resources and to identify opportunities for cost savings from environmental good practice. Such skills are vital in today’s business environment and CEAC achieves this through bringing businesses together in a range of interactive events and training opportunities that focus on topics such as environmental legislation, recycling, energy efficiency and saving water. 

In addition the Centre carries out tailored resource efficiency site visits that identify cost savings, analyse environmental performance, and outline how to achieve environmental aims.
The companies involved are as diverse as food manufactures and IT services providers. They have identified savings of 4.5 million kWh of energy, 1,800 tonnes of CO₂ (equivalent to the volume of 11,000 double decker busses), 39,000 m³ of water, and 9,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. The environmental savings weren’t the only benefit. The cost savings added up to £533,000, proving that it pays to think green.
CEAC Manager, Marylene Mansfield-Williams, said “The savings are impressive and exceed our expectations. Despite greater environmental awareness our work shows that within businesses there is still scope to cut waste. For small companies savings may appear small but taken together the impact is significant.
We will continue offering training courses, networking events and site visits. Services are tailored to individual company requirements to maximize outcomes.”

Become Waste Aware

All businesses can significantly reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill by taking action to design-out waste and manage the waste that is produced far more effectively. But do you know where to start?

We now offer you the opportunity to receive affordable waste awareness training through a new nationally accredited qualification. The one day CIWM Waste Awareness Certificate Course (a Chartered Institution of Wastes Management qualification) has been specifically tailored to help you to introduce practical waste management and minimisation measures at work.

The course will give you the knowledge, skills and practical advice you need to identify waste, understand sustainable practices in waste management, know how legislation, particularly the Duty of Care, helps to promote best practice in waste management and save money by recognising how and where waste can be reduced and eliminated.  Further details are available in our events section.