The UK arm of French manufacturer Saint-Gobain Pam has reported a 13.3% drop in carbon emissions since 2010 as it moves towards its target of a 50% reduction by 2025.
The energy-intensive company, which supplies ductile iron and cast iron products to UK infrastructure, saved over 4,000 tonnes of carbon after implementing a systematic carbon reduction programme.
In particular the company reviewed and took targeted action at its foundries, where it believed the most impact could be made. Several million pounds of investment at its Holwell site has resulted in waste heat being fed back into the process, an upgraded exhaust system and a new auto pour system to improve yield.
Both the Holwell and Telford foundries have also had variable speed drives fitted to compressors and pumps.
Other actions by Saint-Gobain PAM UK include a replacement programme of all of its internal and external lighting to more efficient LED fittings.
The manufacturer’s efforts were awarded in November by a gold certificate from the Carbon & Energy Management and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) following an independent audit showing it had achieved year on year reductions.
Paul Minchin, managing director of Saint-Gobain PAM UK, said: “We are hugely proud to be one of the few UK businesses to achieve the gold certification for CEMARS. The award is testament to the amount of work and commitment invested by various teams across our business over the last six years.
“If as a country we are to achieve our carbon reduction targets, then it is about time that measures like CEMARS are made mandatory for all organisations. As a socially responsible business, Saint-Gobain PAM UK looks beyond our immediate commercial needs and constantly questions how we can contribute to a sustainable future for our wider community.
In addition to its manufacturing process improvements, Saint-Gobain PAM increased its use of recycled materials at its Telford plant by 11% from 2013 while the Holwell plant has an increase of 29%, with up to 98% of waste recycled.
There has also been a reduction of environmental impacts at the Telford plant due the closure of the internal landfill site. Measures like these have led to an 81% reduction in waste to landfill compared to 2010.
