26th April 2013 - E4environment, Powered by Solar

Exciting times at Hilley Farm today. Salop Energy have just completed our new solar PV installation and have flicked the switch. This means that E4environment is now powered by solar energy via a 30KW system, using Suntech solar panels and Hilti roof frames.

28th March 2013 - Wolverhampton's Mander Centre Attains Silver Status in Green Achiever Scheme

The Mander Centre Wolverhampton has attained Green Achiever scheme silver award status at the first attempt, in recognition of the work carried out to minimise its environmental impact.

Centre director Nicholas Pitt and his team manage over 100 shops, restaurants, cafes, a 500-space car park and a ten-storey office building within the complex. The Mander Centre is committed to preventing pollution and complies with all relevant green legislation. Eco-friendly initiatives allow tenants to segregate waste so that cardboard, plastic, shrink-wrap and hangers are recycled. Low-energy hand dryers, stop taps and dual flush cisterns in the public toilets reduce energy consumption and water usage.

Nicholas Pitt said:  “Over the next three months we aim to increase the proportion of recyclable waste by reducing the total amount of waste we produce.  We will continue with our programme of introducing energy-efficient lighting and ensure the environmental credentials of all products purchased and used in the centre are in line with our green objectives. We will also be researching the feasibility of installing solar PV panels, a grey water harvesting facility for use in the public toilets, and electric car and bicycle charging points.”

Deborah Cairns, operations manager at E4environment with specific responsibility for the Green Achiever scheme, said: “Consumers everywhere  are now demanding more from manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, whether that takes the form of more recyclable products and packaging or services and products that are environmentally friendly. The staff and management at the Mander Centre are demonstrating a conviction to enhance their green status that not only sets a standard for others to follow but enhances the reputation of the outlets in the shopping complex and saves the organisation money too. Congratulations to them on gaining silver status.”

For more information please visit www.mandercentre.co.uk or www.greenachiever.co.uk



(Source: A1 Retail Magazine)

This story was also covered on thebestof Wolverhampton website.

Established five years ago, the national Green Achiever Scheme has more than 1,000 members ranging from large multi-national, multi-site manufacturing and distribution companies to one-man band catering or cleaning businesses. The common factors supported by the Green Achiever accreditation scheme is that each wants to know what their environmental responsibilities are, to receive recognition for the good actions they are already taking and also to receive guidance on how they can improve this going forward.

The accreditations focus on how a company operates on a day-to-day basis rather than focussing on systems and procedures – eg what do they actually do in practice to reduce their energy usage, what waste really gets recycled, and does the company actually encourage and enable their employees to reduce their vehicle mileage? The scheme provides a framework of accreditations that enable companies to choose the appropriate level for them at a certain point in time:

Initial Registration (free for three months) demonstrating an interest and intention to manage the environmental impacts of how the company operates.

Self-Assessed (£120 +VAT) – enabling a company to review its current operations and agree an improvement plan, receive an Environmental Policy for use in tender submissions and use the star-rate logo to promote their achievements to current and potential stakeholders.

Silver / Gold Status (between £330 - £660 +VAT & expenses) – enabling a company to have an in-depth review of their operations by a qualified environmental auditor, receiving a full report, Environmental Policy, improvement plan and use of the Silver or Gold logo. The audit and report can be used to complement ISO14001, BS8555 or EMAS or indeed as preparatory steps towards these other standards.

Applications may be made at any time.

Click here to visit the Green Achiever website for further information (opens in new window).

Click here to view the Lanyon Bowdler success case study.

(Source: Green Grants Machine)

2nd January 2013 -

Green Achiever Press Coverage

Local newspaper coverage of Lanyon Bowdler's third year Green Achiever Gold.

Article from Shropshire Star business supplement, 2nd January 2013.

Clipping from Shropshire Star, 26th December 2013.

17th December 2012 -

Rolawn bags Green Achiever award

Turf and topsoil supplier is awarded Conditional Gold status by the Green Achiever Scheme.

The award recognizes the successful programme of developments the company put in place since being awarded Conditional Silver in Autumn 2010, following an extensive environmental audit.

Rolawn md Paul Dawson said: "Green Achiever gave us a framework for continual environmental improvement so to be awarded gold status recognises the steps the company has taken; from our sustainable and recycled topsoil products to our highly efficient turf operation."

E4environment operations manager Deborah Cairns, who has specific responsibility for the Green Achiever scheme, said: "Management at Rolawn Ltd has demonstrated a conviction to enhancing their green status that sets them apart from many others. It is testimony to the company's attitude that in economically challenging times focus on caring for the environment remains a priority. Well done and congratulations."

(Source: http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=16193&title=Rolawn+bags+green+achiever+award)

17th December 2012 -

Lanyon Bowdler praised for gaining third consecutive Green Achiever gold award

A firm of Shropshire solicitors has attained its third consecutive Green Achiever gold award in three years – the first business to do so under the UK-wide scheme.

Lanyon Bowdler, which employs 220 people across its six offices in Shropshire and Hereford, was recently presented with the accolade at its Oswestry practice by The Rt Hon Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Having originally signed up to the Green Achiever scheme in September 2008, the firm achieved silver status the following April, Best Green Business at the 2009 Shropshire Business Awards and was highly commended for the LSA Award for Excellence in Environmental Responsibility at The Law Society Excellence Awards in 2010. Since then further progress has been made in key areas such as reducing energy consumption and paper use as well as a lowering of its carbon footprint. In 2008 Lanyon Bowdler had four offices and although it now has six, the average energy costs across all of them have remained the same thanks to the installation of, for example, more efficient air conditioning; which paid for itself within seven months; heating thermostats, virtual servers and LED lighting which as a result, has also led to a reduction in planned building maintenance.

Lanyon Bowdler has implemented various IT solutions to support its aim of reducing paper usage. As a consequence savings have been made on purchases and the cost of archiving documents. In general terms, employees are encouraged to car share, walk and, with shower facilities at the new Telford office, cycle to work. The carbon footprint per employee at Lanyon Bowdler in 2012 is 1.32 tonnes CO2. This compares with an average figure of 3.57 tonnes CO2 for other members of the Legal Sector Alliance.

Peter Flint, senior partner at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “Our involvement in Green Achiever was initiated by the staff who continue to drive the project forward with support from management. Each office has its own eco monitor and there is an environmental committee, planning activities, setting goals and targets and producing an internal newsletter. We have come a long way since 2008 with simple, practical changes making a difference not only to the bottom line but the way in which everyone at the firm has embraced their environmental responsibilities.”

Commenting on the achievement Owen Paterson MP, said: “Lanyon Bowdler’s achievement is a great example of how to address key operational issues within a company or organisation and by doing so not only save money and increase efficiency but also encourage a positive ‘can do’ working environment. To attain gold status for the third time reinforces the firm’s long-term commitment to the initiative and for that I offer my congratulations to everyone at Lanyon Bowdler.”

Photo: Peter Flint, senior partner, Lanyon Bowdler, Owen Paterson MP and Mandy Stoker, director, E4environment.

(Source: http://www.shropshirelive.com/2012/12/17/lanyon-bowdler-praised-for-gaining-third-consecutive-green-achiever-gold-award/)

Also featured on Midlands Business News on 18th December 2012 http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2012/12/local-mp-praises-legal-firm-as-it-attains-green-achiever-scheme-gold-status-for-third-consecutive-year/ and Love Shrewsbury on 19th December 2012 http://www.loveshrewsbury.com/michael/local-mp-praises-legal-firm. 

13th December 2012 -

Rolawn achieve Conditional Gold status for green credentials

Rolawn, Europe's largest producer of cultivated turf and Britain's leading supplier of high quality topsoil, has been awarded Conditional Gold status by the Green Achiever Scheme.

The award recognizes the successful programme of developments the company put in place since being awarded Conditional Silver in Autumn 2010, following an extensive environmental audit.

Paul Dawson, Rolawn’s Managing Director commented: “Green Achiever gave us a framework for continual environmental improvement so to be awarded gold status recognizes the steps the company has taken; from our sustainable and recycled topsoil products to our highly efficient turf operation.”

Deborah Cairns, Operations Manager at E4environment and with specific responsibility for the Green Achiever scheme, said: “Management at Rolawn Limited has demonstrated a conviction to enhancing their green status that sets them apart from many others. It is testimony to the company’s attitude that in economically challenging times focus on caring for the environment remains a priority. Well done and congratulations.”

Photo: Paul Dawson, Managing Director Rolawn with Green Achiever certificate.

(Source: http://www.rolawn.co.uk/latest-news/263/?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed)