Since November 2021, I have worked at Cranswick as Environmental and Sustainability Manager. I have a background spanning quality management, behavioural based safety, and in more recent years environmental management. Sustainability and managing our environmental impact have always been a true passion of mine, so being able to focus my career primarily in this area has been an important and exciting progression for me.

My role allows me to identify opportunities and deliver effective changes that support the business and individuals within it to create a positive impact for our planet and people.

We all share the same home, and whilst individually we are only here for a relatively short time, the legacy we leave from the decisions we make today can have a profound and lasting impact on future generations, and the ability of the planet to sustain the needs of an ever-increasing population.

Through my role, I am very keen to tackle the waste we generate on site through ascending the waste hierarchy – my aim is to:

· Reduce the waste that is created where possible.

· Find routes to effectively reuse materials that would be destined to become refuse.

· Make recycling simpler and accessible for people on site.

I am proud to have set up a site Sustainability Committee with a keen group of like-minded individuals from each site department. So far, we have set up several projects across the site to identify where materials are being wasted and the ways we can reduce this at source. From simple changes to processes, to finding ways to minimise the amount of plastic used in production.

We are working with the Plant a Tree Today (PATT) Foundation to effectively divert certain materials that would otherwise go to waste, such as timber from our wooden pallets and plastic cores from our film rolls. Through this partnership we have been able to support the charity, Veteran’s Woodcraft, and the local community with materials being donated to be reused for woodcraft workshops and courses that help rehabilitate individuals suffering with mental or physical health issues, providing an outlet to learn, create, and connect with the community.

Changing small habits and making recycling accessible to people is key. So, alongside our waste reduction projects, I have implemented an improved recycling system on-site, with clear and inclusive signage (in three languages and with clear symbols), as well as intermediate centres to break down the sorting process - providing more allocated bins in more locations across the site. These small changes make it easier for everyone to do better and we have seen a big increase in recycling since rolling this out.

I see great value in how the Second Nature initiative has provided a foundation of senior level commitment, focused governance, and group wide support to really embed sustainable ways of working into how we do business and prompt us to consider the environmental impact of our activities.

David, Environmental & Sustainability Manager