Saint-Gobain Helping To Build A Better Environment

Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Ltd (SGBD Ltd) has launched an ambitious environmental policy which will consolidate the sound environmental practices its companies have developed over the years.

The policy is being implemented throughout all SGBD Ltd companies, including builders' merchant Jewson, and covers: waste minimisation energy usage emissions reduction on wastage and noise a timber procurement policy A new logo will be included on all SGBD Ltd literature about the environmental policy and products and services that adhere to 'best practice'.

SGBD Ltd is aiming to maximise recycling and to minimise landfill waste and its central office at Binley, near Coventry will be designated an environmental centre of excellence in early 2004.

In addition, Jewson Internal Timber Supply (JITS) offers third-party timber chain of custody and has the ability to differentiate between Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Pan-European Forest Council (PEFC).

These are increasingly important considerations for contractors involved in government and local authority projects, who need to be able to guarantee that the timber comes from sustainable, well-managed sources which have been independently certified.

"The policy will have a positive impact on the way SGBD Ltd companies do business and this will be passed on to all types of customers from government organisations and large contractors to small builders," said Steve Millward, environmental director for SGBD Ltd, who has overall responsibility for devising, implementing and facilitating best practice throughout the company.

"Suppliers will also benefit because the environmental policy will help to reduce costs and drive innovation." SGBD Ltd has demonstrated its commitment to ethical and sustainable environmental practice in three key ways: that the policy is visible and implemented that the environment management standard ISO14001 will eventually be implemented throughout the company and to be transparent about the number of branches that have attained the standard that it has a timber procurement policy "SGBD Ltd has worked towards reducing environmental impact over many years and this is now centrally coordinated and communicated.

It is a big challenge to roll the policy out through SGBD Ltd's branches and stores and amongst more than 12,000 staff, but the process has already started and is being enthusiastically received," continued Steve Millward.

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