Swish Environmental Actions
[Updated 3/3/11] Swish achieved ISO14001Environmental Management Certification in 2007. Since that time Swish has continuously improved the environmental performance of its manufacturing and distribution operations.
To achieve certification Swish focused on reducing its consumption of electricity, water and heater fuel. Ambitious targets were also set to cut waste sent to landfill and CO2 emissions from delivery vehicles.
Environmental progress in 2010
CO2 down by 3.5%!
2010 was another year of excellent progress in reducing the company's environmental impacts. As a result of all our efforts we can say that a 3.5% reduction was made in CO2 output per tonne of production made in the plant (based on Carbon Trust Level 1 methodology).
The Company's Environmental achievements during 2010 look like this:
| 2010 Target | 2010 Achieved | 2011 Target | |
| Landfill | -20% | -38% | -10% |
| Electricity | -6% | -6% | -6% |
| Water | -5% | -12% | -2% |
| Diesel | -2% | -9% | -2% |
| Heater Fuel | -5% | + 9%* | 0% |
A cold start and finish to 2010 adversely affected Heater Fuel consumption
Overall progress
Since achieving ISO14001 Swish has made the following cumulative reductions:
- 72% less waste which cannot be recycled on site
- 48% less water for cooling and general consumption
- 20% less heater fuel for the factory and offices
- 10% less electricity consumed in manufacturing (per tonne of production)
- 10% less diesel used in delivery
Waste Reduction
Waste reduction is now embedded in all aspects of the company's operations. Since May 2010 any waste which cannot be processed on site has been sent to a waste management supplier, who sorts the waste to minimise landfill. All production scrap, start-up scrap, saw dust, misshapen or damaged boards are ground up and recycled back into production.
Water Reduction
During 2010 new thermostatic controls were incorporated into the site's open circuit cooling system. This simple action has tightened temperature control and considerably reduced water evapouration from the cooling 'tower'.
Energy Reduction
A combination of sensible, cost effective measures brought about the 2010 reduction. The transformer regulating on site voltage was 'tapped down' thereby reducing voltage site wide. Inverters were fitted to many of the production lines and to the main cooling fan thereby reducing power consumption during idle periods. Finally a number of old pumps were replaced with energy efficient units as was some of the older lighting in the plant.
Heater Fuel
The installation of secondary double glazing in the factory helped to offset the effects of a very cold start and finish to the year.
Diesel
The remarkable reduction in diesel consumption in 2010 was achieved against a background of rising volumes moving out of the factory. Clever load planning, regular vehicle servicing and driver training have all helped. The utilisation and mpg of each vehicle in the Swish Delivery fleet is monitored and compared against the average so that significant variances can be identified and acted on. Our products are delivered by road (rigid and artic trucks) and an average of 61 miles is travelled for each tonne of product delivered.
External Transport
Swish not only monitors its own use of fuel but now monitors the miles travelled to deliver raw materials to the factory gate. Smart measures that allow suppliers to remotely monitor raw material levels at Swish have reduced delivery frequency and therefore the amount of fuel used even as prodution levels increase.
Raw materials are delivered to us by road tanker and flatbed truck and we has calculated that approximately 17 miles are travelled per tonne of raw materials delivered to Swish.
Electricity
Electricity usage is monitored on a weekly basis by a series of sub-meters to understand where energy is being used on site. Efficiency plans and targets are in place to continuously improve energy performance. Swish has invested in energy efficient equipment including motors, pumps, lighting, compressors and inverters.
Water
Water usage is monitored on a weekly basis by a series of sub-meters to understand where water is being used on site and to identify any leakages. Efficiency plans and targets are in place to continuously minimise water usage. Swish has invested in new , more efficient equipment across its manufacturing site.
Heater Fuel
Simple reduction measures are in place including employee awareness training, reducing numbers of heaters in unnecessary places, closing windows, shutting down heaters when not required, regular servicing and turning down the level of heat output overall.
Landfill
All waste streams on site have been identified and are segregated and processed where possible (this includes all paper, cardboard, polythene, wood and metal). Since May 2010 any waste which cannot be processed on site has been sent to a waste management supplier, who sorts the waste to minimise landfill. All production scrap, start-up scrap, saw dust, misshapen or damaged boards are ground up and recycled back into production.
Vehicle CO2 Emissions
Vehicle fleet is Euro4 compliant and fitted with air management kits to reduce drag. Optimised vehicle servicing, load planning and vehicle routing contribute towards fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 output. The current fleet will be replaced in 2011and the new fleet will be Euro5 compliant.