Hot Topic

Six years ago and in line with the commitments of the board of Directors of NB real Estate decided to bring down the amount of waste going to landfill to an absolute minimum as part of a commitment to achieve environmental best practice in all business activities.

The Exercise

Steve Cotney, the centre manager of the White Lion Shopping Centre took the environmental policy and took prime responsibility for the delivery of its aspirations.

To do this they looked at all their operations including office, delivery and despatch of items, warehouse operations and those of the retail outlets.

In the office

• Staff are aiming for a paperless office system and steps taken towards this goal include double sided printing and photocopying, maintaining an up-to-date mailing list to avoid duplication and waste and minimising unsolicited mail.
• Reducing the amount of office equipment made obsolute by leasing new computers and considering repairing and upgrading existing equipment rather than replacing it.
• Using non-disposable or reusable items such as rechargeable batteries and refillable ink cartridges
• Scrap paper and old envelopes are reused, with used stamps being collected for charity

In the shop

Retailers are encouraged

• to utilise reusable cardboard packing boxes
• to reuse coat hangers where possible to reduce waste
• to co-operate with the recycling policy. For this to happen the challenge was overcome by effectively communicating with and educating our tenants in the positive benefits of recycling both financially and to the environment.
• Recycling of polythene and cardboard waste with a baler installed on the premises

Other measures taken

• Installation of energy saving light fittings and time clocks to control both lighting and equipment to ensure that they are only utilised at the appropriate time.
• Monitoring of energy consumption on a daily basis to identify excessive usage.

Feeling the benefits

• Over £13,000 savings per annum can be demonstrated made from
• Baling and recycling polythene and cardboard
• Haulage costs reduced as a result of producing bales with over 22.55 vehicle movements not required as a result of the recycling efforts
• Landfill costs
• Receiving income from recyclate
• Energy consumption has been reduced fom 575,000 kWhs to a consumption of 350,000kWhs.
• Clothing banks in the shopping centre help charities

If companies are not addressing their waste issues, they are literally throwing their profits away. Think about that

Steve Cotney, Centre Manager White Lion Walk, Guildford