Premier Foods Serves up Environmental Improvement

CASE STUDY

Premier Foods serves up environmental improvement with ISO 14001 In April 2010, Premier Foods’ Ashford Corporate social responsibility (CSR) Environmental targets Premier Foods’ Ashford plant Latest ISO 14001 assessment and plant passed its triennial ISO 14001 certification Premier Foods has developed, adopted Premier Foods’ company-wide One of the largest dry foods plants in Environmental Management System and published CSR policies in areas such Five Star Environmental Award Europe, Premier Foods Ashford produces To carry out its independent, external (EMS) audit for the third time since 2001. as health and safety, ethical trading, Programme (FSEAP) helps it to meet its powdered and dry foods such as ISO 14001 assessment, Premier Foods Richard Giles, Premier Foods Ashford’s responsible marketing, employee environmental objectives. Developed Cup-a-Soup, Pasta ‘n’ Sauce, Batchelors selected United Kingdom Accreditation Safety & Environment Manager, says: welfare and community involvement. internally to address the specific Savoury Rice, Paxo, Bisto Service-accredited certification “Regaining ISO 14001 certification The company monitors all its sites to needs of its own business, but fully and McDougalls. body, SGS. is a big plus for us, mainly in terms constantly raise performance and ensure compatible with ISO 14001, FSEAP Richard Giles says: “We chose SGS of protecting the environment and Since 2007 Premier Foods Ashford has standards are upheld. provides the broad framework through on the recommendation of the demonstrating our commitment to more than tripled production to around which environmental improvements are environmental manager at one of our environmentally responsible production.” Premier Foods’ policy on carbon dioxide 50,000 tonnes a year. During this period it managed, encouraged and delivered. other sites. When they arrived here on includes measures such as: increasing has also doubled its workforce to 378. FSEAP’s benefits include the site the SGS auditors made the whole energy efficiency; setting targets for First achieved in March 2001, Premier identification and dissemination of best process easy and gave us helpful About Premier Foods reducing CO and monitoring progress; Foods Ashford’s ISO 14001 certification 2 practice, active engagement of all staff, advice in the Pre-Assessment Audit and and encouraging suppliers to reduce their covers its own site and the provision The UK’s largest food producer, Premier fostering of good relationships with local the audit itself. Everyone at SGS was CO footprints. Similarly, the company’s of utilities to a nearby plant owned by Foods manufactures and distributes a 2 communities, and cost and risk reduction. professional, keen to help and ready environmental policy includes: fragrance and flavour producer Givaudan. wide range of branded and non-branded Premier Foods met or exceeded five of to advise on improvements and best As before, Premier Foods Ashford’s foods. Its well-known brands include Mr • minimising environmental impacts its six environmental targets for 2009. practice. All in all, SGS was excellent.” current ISO 14001:2004 EMS is based Kipling, Ambrosia, Batchelors, Hovis, such as waste and noise, and the During the year it reduced its: energy on a target-plan-do-check-review cycle of David Glenister, International Sales Branston, Sharwood’s, Hartley’s, Quorn risk of harmful incidents consumption by 5.2%; CO emissions 2 continual improvement. Manager at SGS, says: “Premier Foods’ and Oxo. In 2009, 99.4% of British • ensuring employees are aware by 7.7%; waste to landfill by 37.7%; Richard Giles was involved in establishing Ashford plant manages its environmental households bought at least one Premier of, and trained to meet, their packaging by 2%; water usage by 6.1%; the site’s original EMS. He helped to impact extremely well. There’s a strong Foods brand. environmental responsibilities and delivery mileage by 3.5%. identify environmental aspects and awareness of, and long-held commitment • producing environmental impact Buoyed by this success, Premier Foods In 2009 Premier Foods’ sales totalled impacts and build the EMS, which to, environmental responsibility, assessments for capital projects has set new environmental targets £2.7 billion. It employs around 16,000 includes: waste and pollution control compliance and improvement across the • maximising efficiency at every for 2010. people at over 60 sites across the UK procedures, incident/complaint site. I’ve also seen strong innovation, opportunity, for example by ensuring and Ireland. These include: Rogerstone In recognition of its achievements, at procedures, the management review particularly regarding waste and energy plant and machinery are properly Park, Leicester, the largest chilled the 2009 Food and Drinks Federation process, and regular inspections management.” maintained ready meals facility in Europe; Histon, Community Partnership Awards, Premier and audits. Using both ISO 14001 and FSEAP • using renewable raw materials Cambridgeshire, one of the largest jam Foods won an award for its approach to processes, Premier Foods Ashford’s goals whenever possible Richard says: “Since 2001 we’ve used factories in the world; and Long Sutton environmental management. for 2010 include: and Wisbech, two of Europe’s • ensuring raw materials are ethically ISO 14001 to make big improvements, sourced and legally compliant such as increasing our recycling rate largest canneries • boosting waste recycling from 60% from 9% to 60%, and cutting our water to 80%, cutting waste disposal costs consumption by 36% in 2009; we’ve by £50,000 also improved our relationship with • investigating energy generation from our neighbours because we have the incinerating remaining landfill waste processes in place to respond quickly • reducing energy consumption and to any concerns; and, among other therefore costs by £114,000 benefits, our processes ensure staff are environmentally aware and encourage them to provide feedback and ideas.” Further Information Other environmental initiatives at Premier Foods Ashford include annual For more information please contact: perimeter noise surveys, performed by a trained factory operative, and the recent SGS United Kingdom Ltd appointment of a full-time safety and 217-221 London Road environment assistant. Camberley Surrey In addition to holding ISO 14001 GU15 3EY certification, Premier Foods Ashford has United Kingdom a Food Safety Management System audited and certified to the British Retail Tel: +44 (0)1276 697999 Consortium Grade A standard. E-mail: [email protected] www.uk.sgs.com www.UK.sgs.cOM