|
|
|
|
|
|
Cranswick recognise the growing importance of water sustainability, and are committed to making more effective use of this vital commodity. The Food Industry is a major consumer of potable water in this country, accounting for 10% of all industrial water use. In the nature of our business, the majority of that water is used in the essential cleaning and hygiene processes associated with producing safe and legal foods that our customers demand.
In order to bring more focus onto water usage, it will be included in the future evaluation of our carbon footprint, and set as a kpi for operations directors.
The majority of our sites use mains water supplies. Cranswick Norfolk has the benefit of an extraction licence and uses a borehole derived supply, and a proportion of water used for non-food contact areas is borehole derived on a second site.
Our clean water use embraces cleaning and hygiene, process water and steam generation, the latter particularly in our three cooking plants. The Group has committed to a 20% reduction in process water usage per tonne by 2020 and in so doing was the first company in the Meat Sector to commit to the FHC2020 agreement. So far, against the 2008 base year, a 10% reduction has been achieved. All sites have been surveyed under the WRAP initiative and action plans for water use reductions are being put in place.
Alternative technologies are actively being investigated to reduce water usage and effluent. One site has installed an electrolysed water cleaning system, which has dramatically reduced water usage, the amount of cleaning chemicals required and improved the quality of effluent discharged. Other sites are using ozone technology and biological methods to similar effect. Reverse osmosis is being used in two cooking plants to reduce hardness in the water used in steam raising and minimise scale build up in process equipment.
Where improvements have been required as a result of site growth, investment in infrastructure is being made. Our abattoir site at Preston has made a joint investment together with Yorkshire Water in a new drainage system from factory to treatment plant. A significant investment in renewing the drainage system at Cranswick Norfolk has been completed to safeguard the local environment.
Rainwater harvesting has been examined both in existing plants and new builds. Without further treatment, this water is of restricted use and so far the benefits have been outweighed by the costs of the harvesting system.
|
 |
We are proud to be the first company in the meat selector to enrol to the FHC (Federation House Commitment) to reduce the amount of processing water we use by 20% by 2020. |
|
|
|
The Food Industry is a significant contributor of industrial and commercial waste – some 10% of the UK total. Our targets are to reduce the amount of waste we generate by reducing inputs, recycling where possible and minimising our waste which goes to landfill.
The last year has seen a significant reduction in landfill, in part due to improved recycling efforts and facilities, but also due to the availability of waste to energy plants. One site has reduced its landfill by over 1000 tonnes per year, around 80% of its waste, through waste to energy. As other waste to energy facilities become available, more sites will reduce landfill in a similar way.
Waste to landfill has reduced over the period, falling by 37% per tonne of production despite production volumes increasing by over 40%. Increased recycling, waste to energy and anaerobic digestion have all contributed to this. Despite the growth in production volumes the volume of landfill has dropped by 700 tonnes per year over the last three years.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is another technology which can help reduce both waste and contribute to energy generation. Two sites have relatively local access to this disposal route and as other AD facilities come on stream, this will become a more viable group wide option.
|
|
|
|
With the rising cost of energy, there is both a financial and environmental incentive to the drive for energy efficiency. All our sites have been audited by the Carbon Trust to identify easily achievable efficiencies in the short term, and longer term options for future investment and savings. These include the installation of more efficient lighting (and passive infra-red switching where safe and appropriate), improved controls on equipment, improved energy management and reduction of refrigeration as the process allows.
Alternative energy sources are being investigated. Of the nine food sites, only one has so far proved a viable location for a large scale wind turbine. Others might be able to benefit from smaller units where geographical location and planning issues preclude large turbines. Solar generation potential is being assessed.
Optimisation of power supplied to each site offers significant gains in efficiency. A new low loss transformer which delivers a significantly lower voltage without compromising functional efficiencies is installed and working well in one site. Other optimisation routes are being evaluated to reduce and smooth the input power, eliminate spikes and harmonise the supply so that energy consumption is reduced. Combined heat and power options will be reassessed for sites where this could be most beneficial.
Where new equipment is sourced, its environmental credentials are becoming an important factor in the purchase decision. Maintenance policies are being centrally formulated to ensure that potential efficiency gains are optimised.
|
 |
The Sandwich Factory has introduced four Leyland DAF, Euro-4 engined delivery vehicles. Using a specialist SCR catalytic converter the emissions of nitrogen oxides and fuel consumption are reduced giving a positive benefit to the environment. |
|
|
|
WRAP (Waste & Resource Action Programme) have reviewed packaging usage at 3 of our sites, which has identified potential opportunities to optimise our packaging usage. Suggested steps to take this forward have been outlined and shared across group.
To minimise use of disposable packaging, returnable crates are widely used throughout the Group for delivery of product into our retail customer base, while much of our manufacturing base is supplied in returnable plastic Dolavs.
Where use of cardboard packaging is required, we will actively seek to specify sustainable material carrying the approval of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or an equivalent standard, and increasing percentages of recycled material. Similarly, with labels and other paper products used in the process, sustainable sources will be the preferred option.
Much of our packaging is controlled by customer specification, but we are committed to using packaging that is recyclable with a lower environmental impact over whole of life.
Recycling of cardboard, plastic and metal is practised at all our sites, and has increased significantly over the last three years - cardboard recycling by 85% over the three years to 1520 tonnes, and plastic recycling from virtually nil in 2008 to 150 tonnes in 2010. Contamination with meat waste is a barrier to increasing these figures but alternatives are being sought.
|
 |
We are aiming to reduce packaging use on our sleeved and labelled product by 10% through the introduction of printed film. |
|
|
|
|
The Group's Carbon Footprint was first defined and measured for the calendar year 2007 to establish base details for comparative purposes. Since that time the collection and analysis of data has been improved and has allowed the Environmental Project team to focus on areas where significant improvements can be made. A relative figure for tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of production was established at factory level, and the group position calculated from the amalgamated figures. At the same time, the actual carbon footprint is also monitored.
The use of energy in the form of electricity, gas and liquid nitrogen accounts for approximately 60% of that carbon footprint. Measures being assessed now for power optimisation will feed into improvements in efficiencies in future years.
The significant contribution (up to 20%) due to losses of refrigerant gases is also being addressed by a programme of equipment replacement, including the phasing out of certain gases with a higher environmental impact, and enhanced detection and maintenance systems.
The Group Carbon footprint boundary includes all factory activities (energy, f-gas, travel and waste) and all Group owned transport activities. Statistics are collated monthly and the footprint calculated using Carbon Trust methodology and software, reported at the half and full calendar year to the board. In collaboration with our suppliers and customers we will introduce more whole of life carbon footprinting to help identify areas where carbon reductions can be made.
 Over the last three years, the Group carbon footprint, measured as tonnes of CO2e per tonne of product, has reduced by around 21%. By 2020, we are targeting a further reduction of 30% against this 2010 benchmark.
|
|
|
|
