PEERLESS Plastics and Coatings Ltd of Thetford specialises in the manufacture of protective coatings for plastics. The company has recently joined the Green Growth Programme and marketing manager Mark Scott (left) describes the experience.
How integral do you see sustainable business practices to the future of your business?
We see sustainable business practices as being very integral to what we do as a company moving forwards. The fact that we are in an industry that is viewed (incorrectly) as a problem area (plastics) makes us want to push hard to show that not all plastics are the issue they are portrayed as in the media. We want our staff, customers and everyone that we communicate with, to know that we’re doing all we can to help the environment, reduce waste, reduce costs and make a better environment for us all moving forwards.
To what extent does your approach to sustainable business set you apart (in your sector)?
The fact that we primarily apply hard coatings that improve the life span of plastic, helping to cut down on the carbon footprint, means that hard coated plastic is a more sustainable option over its prolonged lifespan. We strictly monitor all our processes to cut down on the amount of wastage we produce as a manufacturer. We also try to source our materials from companies with a similar ethos to ours.
What are the advantages to doing business sustainably?
The advantages of doing business sustainably are numerous. Not only does it have the ‘feel good’ factor that you’re doing all you can to preserve the environment for future generations, but it also means that you can reduce waste, helping to cut costs and making you more efficient. Closely monitoring all your processes helps to develop an agile attitude. This makes you an easier company to deal with and everyone knows what standards to achieve.
How have you engaged your team members/ supply chain/ other stakeholders around the Green Growth Programme, if at all?
It is still early days for us regarding the Green Growth Programme and is part of a larger green initiative that we’re implementing across the entire company. As each process changes/evolves we’ll highlight the requirements both internally and externally. We plan to spread the word internally with regular updates and staff meetings and externally via our social media channels and case studies posted on our website (www.peerless-coatings.co.uk).
What advice would you give to Made in Britain members as they progress on their sustainability journeys?
Our advice would be to start small, implement small incremental changes that are achievable across the board, get everyone on board and up to speed on the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’, have regular meetings and take all staff members' input on board as each department will have different issues and procedures. Also, ask for advice and check out forums online in your relevant field of industry. See what others in your industry are doing, talk to them and see if what they’re doing will work for you and can even be improved upon. If we all share our experiences and knowledge it will make it easier for everyone to implement and we can all make a long-lasting change quickly and efficiently.
If you would like your business to join the Green Growth Programme, the journey starts here: https://green.madeinbritain.org/
For more information about Peerless Plastics, see the company’s member profile page here.
By Made in Britain 2 years ago | By Made in Britain