At The P & M Group we are passionate about securing better outcomes for people and planet. Between September 2nd and 6th we are using Zero Waste Week as an opportunity to raise money, increase awareness and challenge thinking about one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Responsible resource management is a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy, and we are developing cross-Group initiatives to keep resources in the value chain.
Founded in 2008, Zero Waste Week is an award-winning, grassroots awareness campaign. It has become a key feature of the sustainability calendar and provides advice and resources to help participants save money, preserve resources and protect the environment.
Waste is a major environmental threat. The United Nations Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 states that municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Consigning waste to landfill is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and results in pollution which causes significant damage to ecosystems.
Taking responsibility
We want to use Zero Waste Week as an opportunity to demonstrate our Group’s commitment to responsible resource management. For the second year running, we have organised a P & M cake sale to fundraise for local Community Interest Company (CIC) Beach Guardian. In 2023 the sale raised £252 and we are committed to continue helping fund their work organising community beach cleans and inform people about the importance of tackling waste.
Beach Guardian has a mission to engage, empower and educate about the impact of pollution. Since launching its Facebook page, the organisation has conducted more than 200 beach cleans and in excess of 100 visits to schools and community groups. In The P & M Group’s last Sustainability Survey staff told us that the impact of climate change they were most concerned about was the deteriorating ocean environment and we are committed to helping protect our precious Blue Planet by addressing the waste crisis.
Strategic Thinking
A commitment to developing a robust waste management reduction plan is at the heart of P&M’s sustainability strategy. We have already made significant progress in collaborating with supply chain partners to minimise waste generation and promote recycling and reuse. Allstone, our waste management partner, is using its recycling expertise to help us meet our Zero to Landfill ambition. We are also investigating in clever design of our installation projects to ensure we minimise waste generation wherever feasible.
Current management initiatives include:
- ISD Retail and Maintenance waste audit – This project will assess the waste produced by this division of ISD UK in detail. It will identify what are the most common materials to enter our waste streams and give us the information we need to focus our waste reduction efforts in the areas that will have the biggest impact.
- Sealant tube waste – We use a lot of sealants in our work and the empty cartridges must be disposed of safely due to the residues left inside them. We are undertaking an audit of all the sealants we purchase and assessing how we handle the waste. Although our waste management processes are in line with manufacturers recommendations, we want to ensure harmful chemicals are not polluting the environment.
- Data collection – We need access to reliable data to drive sustainability improvements. We are working with our waste management partners to improve the quantity and accuracy of the data they provide us so that we have a clearer picture of the waste the Group is producing.
Individuals and businesses alike should use Zero Waste Week as an opportunity to reset and follow the waste hierarchy of prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and the last resort of disposal. At The P & M Group, we are working hard to adopt more responsible practices and change mindsets. We are keen to work with all our stakeholders, so come and join us on our journey.
For more information about Zero Waste Week visit: www.zerowasteweek.co.uk
Top tips to reduce waste
Zero Waste Week has come up with 8 simple ways to reduce your waste at home:
- Stop buying bottled water – A million plastic bottles are sold every minute around the world, and only a small percentage are recycled. Buy a reusable water bottle.
- Compost your scraps – Food waste is fuelling the climate crisis and costs you money. Use it to provide nutrients for your garden plants.
- Re-purpose jars and containers – Use them for storage, as drinkware, or simply to organise items within your home.
- Rethink leftovers – Instead of reaching for the food bin at the end of a meal, use them to in your next one. Leftover veg is great in soup or create burritos with leftover cooked rice.
- Shop bulk bins – Some shops now let you purchase items without packaging from bulk bins, from nuts to cleaning products.
- Stop using paper towels – Instead cut up old cotton items such as holey bedding or stained t-shirts as rags that can be washed again and again
- Take part in World Refill Day on June 16th – The organisation behind the campaign maps all the locations where you can access refill and reuse options on their free Refill App.