Saint-Gobain Pipelines Hits Environmental Target

Saint-Gobain Pipelines has hit a key environmental target an impressive eight years ahead of schedule.

A new document detailing the environmental performance of the UK's leading supplier of ductile iron pipes, fittings, valves, access covers and gratings and cast iron above and below ground drainage systems, reveals that the company met its energy reduction targets within the first target period.

The Climate Change Levy, introduced in 2001, charges UK businesses a new energy tax based on their energy bills.

As a result of this, Saint-Gobain Pipelines entered into an agreement with the Government to save energy, particularly fossil fuels, for which the company would receive a discount on the tax if it met the agreed targets over a 10 year period.

The target was actually met a year and a half into the programme, resulting in a significant surplus.

Any energy savings made in excess of the target can be converted into carbon credits which can be sold or banked for future use.

Energy saving is not the only area that the company has made impressive progress in meeting its environmental obligations.

It spent £2.75 million in investment and operational costs in 2002 improving environmental measurement and controls across its UK manufacturing sites.

The environmental document also sets out other achievements by the company, including a reduction in the amount of water used at its Ilkeston site from 350,000 cubic metres in 1992 to 141,000 cubic metres in 2002; an increase in the amount of reclaimed, rather than original, sand used at its Staveley plant, from 54% in 2002 to 68% in 2003 and a reduction in zinc emissions at the Stanhope plant, from 360 milligrams per cubic metre in January 1995 to 4.9 milligrams per cubic metre in February 2003.

Managing Director Paul Hubbard is delighted with the progress: "I believe that Saint-Gobain Pipelines is taking a lead in its environmental work.

We are very much aware of our responsibilities as a manufacturer and that meeting environmental targets is only one part of our duty to the areas we operate in.

The company also works at local level with environmental organisations such as Groundwork Trusts to develop initiatives that benefit communities.

"Everyone at Saint-Gobain Pipelines is committed to delivering all these targets and supporting the various initiatives, which will improve not just the company's efficiency but also the lives of our people and their communities.".

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