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17 January 2012
ENVIRONMENT
Pilot project helps producers gain environmental accreditation
Heart of England Fine Foods has established a pilot project for food and drink producers to allow them to gain environmental accreditations.
Funded by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, E4environment is working with HEFF, both based in Shrewsbury, to research how improving a business’s environmental awareness and credentials can positively impact on their overall performance and growth.
Using its environmental accreditation framework, the Green Achiever scheme, E4environment is working with HEFF members to recognise and reward their environmental good practices, enhance understanding of regulations specifically affecting them and provide the support to implement changes in order to further reduce their impact on the environment.
Companies who participate will receive an environmental regulatory health check report and a star-rated bespoke declaration of environmental commitment, recognising current good environmental practice and outlining a 12-month programme of improvement actions. Normally costing £112 + VAT, participation in the pilot project is free of charge and available to a limited number of HEFF members.
Rachel Kitto, HEFF Supply Chain Development Manager, says, “The Green Achiever scheme is proving a great success with our food and drink producers as it gives accreditation to those who are implementing environmentally friendly practices. More and more customers and retailers are demanding environmentally conscious products so we are delighted to be working with E4environment to deliver this project.
“HEFF operate a third party audit for its members called the HEFF Hygiene and Food Safety Standard to ensure that its members are producing food and drink to high quality standards in order to meet the needs of trade buyers and consumers. The Green Achiever scheme is a perfect partner to the HEFF Standard allowing producers to be recognised for their environmental achievements.”
Premium bottled rapeseed oil producers Great Ness Oil, Shropshire, have already successfully completed the scheme. Director David Nunn says, “At Great Ness Oil we've always been interested in sustainable agriculture and the environment and have always made a conscious effort to recycle and be more accountable for our waste. Buyers and customers are looking out for environmental credentials so the Green Achiever Scheme has been very beneficial."
Deborah Cairns, Green Achiever operations manager at E4environment, adds, “It is really good to be working with HEFF members to review how real green credentials can impact in the food and drinks sector. With suppliers and customers both making increasing demands for producers to demonstrate their environmental credentials we are keen to ensure that HEFF members have access to a product that is effective and tailored for what they need. With support from the Marches LEP we are able to do this to the benefit of local businesses.”
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