Univar’s carbon footprint in the UK was calculated in 2005, and subsequently in 2008, by which time its CO2 emissions had reduced by 23%
Mark Askew, Safety, Health and Environmental Manager at Univar
The business case
As one of the UK’s leading sales, marketing and distribution companies for chemicals and polymers, Univar serves industries from engineering to pharmaceuticals. With 12 sites and 640 employees across the country, the company’s annual energy bills had reached £500,000 by 2005.
Since then, as a result of Carbon Trust recommendations, it has cut its annual CO2 emissions by over a fifth and made similar financial savings.
The approach
From limiting the choice of company car to those below a given level of CO2 emissions, to rethinking the heating and lighting arrangements at each site, the changes have looked at the business as a whole, make significant improvements without compromising productivity.
Find out more about our on-site Carbon Surveys (available for businesses in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales).
See carbon saving advice for the chemicals sector, or call the Carbon Trust advice line on 0800 085 2005.