The global environmental problems we face today are largely the result of human overexploitation of natural resources, including (fossil) fuels, minerals, water, land and biodiversity.
The use of resources, and the generation and treatment of waste result in significant environmental pressures during the extraction, production, use and end-of-life stages. As such, government environmental policy goals include reducing the amount of materials used in the economy, improving resource efficiency, lowering the generation of waste and turning waste into a resource.
The UK has a 25 Year Environment Plan, the government pledged to leave the environment in a better condition for the next generation. The plan is to become a world leader in using resources efficiently and reducing the amount of waste we create as a society. The intention is to prolong the lives of the materials and goods that we use, and move society away from the inefficient ‘linear’ economic model of ‘take, make, use, throw’, to a ‘Circular economy’
What is a circular economy? A more circular economy will see us keeping resources in use as long as possible, so we extract maximum value from them. We should recover and regenerate products and materials whenever we can, giving them a new lease of life.
As regulations are getting tighter, costs of energy are increasing, waste treatment and disposal is becoming more difficult and expensive, and environmental taxes and levies will only cost more in the future.
SCM can help your business develop sustainable strategies, comply with changing legislation, help mitigate against and/or reduce costs, and in the longer term, help make your business more sustainable. No matter how big or small your business is, there are always opportunities for improvement.
Examples of how SCM may assist:
- Development of sustainable strategies and road maps
- Waste mapping and waste management/recycling improvement programs
- Energy Efficiency Reviews and recommendations for improvement
- Integration of environmental processes with a lean approach
E Mail info@safetycompliancematters.co.uk for more information.
