AN OKEHAMPTON firm has won recognition for the way it has conducted a comprehensive assessment on the environmental impact of the way it does business. Kerry, on the Exeter Road industrial estate has now achieved the ISO 14001 standard to recognise its implementation of an Environmental Management System. Bosses at Kerry say they have had to examine every environmental aspect of the business and develop strategies to remove or reduce adverse impacts. The company, which processes fruit for the dairy industry, employs around 120 people at its Okehampton factory. Employees Julien Frediani and Rob Stratton were responsible for introducing the environmental management system, which took a total of around six months of work. They were required to look at every single aspect of the business and what impact it had on the environment. They then had to draw up a list of priorities and set about forming an Environmental Management System. One area the company was able to take an innovative approach was by recycling surplus steam from production areas in order to heat the office. Alec Lach, factory manager said the company had reduced the amount of waste going to landfill by two tonnes a month, which amounted to a 20% reduction. The company has also increased the amount of its waste which is recycled by putting in place greater controls on its waste segregation, changed the fittings on factory taps to reduce water consumption and looked at other issues such as light and noise and how they affect nearby residents. Mr Lach said it was in the interests of industry to reduce costs as well as being aware of their environmental duties, and these two aims could go hand in hand. Mr Lach said although there were initial costs of implementing new environmental procedures, the company had taken the view that ?overall it would pay for itself over a period of time.? Mr Lach said he believed ?going green? was of benefit to both the community and the company. He said the firm hoped that by changing the culture of the workforce, staff might adopt a greater awareness of recycling and the environment at home too. Mr Stratton, health and safety officer, said: ?This is certainly not a rubber stamp job. Far from it.? He said the company would be regularly checked to ensure it was maintaining its environmental management system. Mr Stratton said changing staff attitudes had been of vital importance. ?We have explained to them what we are doing so they have been totally involved right from the beginning,? he said. He said Kerry were also working with their suppliers, and asking them where possible to collect all chemical containers and re-use them. Kerry is a global business, much of the fruit it processes in Okehampton comes from overseas ? raspberries from China, strawberries from Poland, apricots from Greece and pineapples from Honduras. Kerry has established links with Okehampton College, and holds open days, mock interviews and work experience opportunities for college students.
