Holly Smithson, Logistics Team Leader, describes how we helped Waddington Europe to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill Certification
Following the acquisition of a number of different thermoforming businesses across the UK and Ireland within the last seven years, each with a very different approach to waste management, Waddington Europe wanted to apply more uniform and streamlined waste management practices across the whole company that also incorporated their commitment to achieving zero waste to landfill.
Previously some of the sites had a lot of independent waste contractors, and in some cases, contracts weren’t in place, which made it harder to know where all their waste went for treatment. Waddington Europe were looking for help to introduce synergy across all three sites, so they could collectively work towards achieving a company-wide zero waste to landfill certification.
Waddington Europe approached our Zero Waste to Landfill team for help and advice and chose to work with us over another certification company, as they felt that we were more engaged. They were impressed with the guidance we provided to them prior to being appointed and recognised that we were best placed to help them achieve their goal due to our long-standing waste management background and expertise.
We carried out a detailed investigation to make sure they could achieve their goal and climb the waste hierarchy as high as they could. We pointed them in right direction to improve things by providing them with a framework of information needed and identified information gaps.
Once Waddington Europe had the necessary information in place, they were able to reduce their plastic process waste by making sure that they were recycling as much of it as possible. On 9 July 2020 they managed to obtain Zero Waste to Landfill Certification.
The process that they undertook to achieve the certification also made them take a good look at what all their sites were doing, which enabled them to fix problems around waste management that hadn’t been addressed. In the long run, the new processes in place will help to save the business both time and money as well as benefitting the environment, with less waste going to landfill.
In addition, any waste left after reusing, reducing or recycling is sent for incineration to make clean energy.
Waddington Europe will be able to use their Zero Waste to Landfill Certification and the work they’ve done to achieve it to help all sites to obtain ISO 14001 accreditation.
Going forward, Waddington Europe will set new waste targets for the coming year, and we advised that they look to record more reuse regarding their pallets and polymer bags.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this weblog represent those of the individual authors and not those of Valpak Limited or any other organisation.
A huge amount of work and commitment has gone into making this a reality. We worked with experts and market leaders to review our processes and waste streams to ensure anything that could be recycled was being recycled. This included everything from our offices and factory canteens, to recycling all the plastic waste produced by our own thermoforming production line back into the manufacturing process. We also looked to reduce as much waste as possible around the site.
If you would like advice on how to better manage your waste or how you can become certified too call a member of our team on 03450 682 572 or email us at zerowastetolandfill@valpak.co.uk
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this weblog represent those of the individual authors and not those of Valpak Limited or any other organisation.