The Business Environment Partnership
www.thebep.org.uk
www.caradale.co.uk
www.blinkbonnyquarry.co.uk
The Business Environment Partnership (BEP), was established in 1998 to provide free and subsidised assistance with environmental management to small to medium sized businesses throughout Scotland. BEP is a wholly-funded partnership of over 40 public and private sector organisations, and fully integrated into the national enterprise network. The principal aim of their projects is to make the Scottish economy more competitive by allowing companies to realise cost savings, reduced risks and improved competitive advantage through improved environmental management, assured compliance with legislation and product and market development assistance.
The Environmental Placement Programme is one of the BEP's highest profile and most successful projects. It aims to improve environmental practice amongst businesses by linking them with enthusiastic students who undertake specific environmental projects. These projects have the objective of helping the company realise cost savings through improved resource efficiency and the reduction of unnecessary waste.
By 2008 596 students had been placed in participating companies on 8-week vocational placements aimed at implementing environmental recommendations, resulting in total cost savings of £7,028,000, as well as the associated educational benefits
Blinkbonny Quarry
Blinkbonny Quarry produced a large quantity of rock dust as a by-product of quarrying and sand production costing a considerable amount of money each year in disposal costs. Blinkbonny took Aimee Weatherburn on a placement to carry out a number of tasks: to research the possible uses for the product, establish a product name, run trials on the product, research potential legislation that may hinder the marketing of the product, develop a marketing plan for the product, and finally to identify the costs involved in setting up the new product.
Aimee established that the best use for the rock dust was as a soil improver and she labelled the product 'Biodust'. Trials showed that rock dust remineralises soil and also helps the environment through carbon sequestration. In terms of marketing the product, those on the small-scale end of the spectrum, e.g. allotment owners/gardeners, are more likely to choose the product because of its environmentally friendly properties. Since the Scottish Borders is an area abundant in agricultural practices, it made sense to use a natural product available to the local area, reducing transportation costs and fuel consumption.
With a use found for the dust created through the quarry's new sand production system, a saving of £4-6,000 a month was obtained. In addition, a successful business was set up, estimated over a period of 3 years to bring in a profit of £251,000 on the basis of 800 tons of Biodust being sold annually.
Caradale Brick Ltd.
Matt Rogers undertook his project at Caradale Brick. He investigated the possibility of improving production efficiency through improved work practices or technology to eliminate or reduce the levels of waste generated.
The purpose of Matt's project was to:
- Identify procedures, practices, production methods and technology where waste efficiency could be improved.
- Cost / benefit analysis of the identified improvements and prioritisation of options
- Contact suppliers / contractors that could implement the recommended measures and provide guidance / cost estimates.
Three main waste streams were identified: unused processed 'green' clay; damaged brick from stacks and water. For the unused 'green' clay, conveyors were to be added to re-introduce the material back into the process. At a cost of approx £15,000 Caradale would save £10,000 in the 1st year, and £25,000/annum thereafter. The damage sustained by the bricks whilst on stacks and being transported throughout the site, could be resolved by an innovative pallet design, saving the company £5,000/annum. The installation of a PIR detector device in the urinal would allow flushing only when necessary. At a cost of £200, Caradale Brick would benefit from a saving of £3500/annum. This amounted to a total saving of £29,000 per annum for the company.