Water Conservation
Our companywide target is to reduce water consumption continuously, year-on-year, by three per cent, and currently our energy champions around the group are achieving savings far in excess of this target. We have ambitious plans for further significant savings in the near future.
Achievements to April 2010
Twenty per cent reduction in total consumption in 2008
In 2009/10, a seven per cent reduction in consumption, year-on-year, from 5,600 to 5,200 litres per tonne of finished product.
We are currently spending 25 per cent less on water and effluent costs than we were two years ago, saving £1.5 million a year.
Target to April 2011
Fourteen per cent reduction in consumption, year-on-year, to 4,500 litres per tonne of finished product.
Longer-term targets
At least three per cent continuous reduction year-on-year in consumption per tonne of finished product.
Individual site initiatives
At our Cavaghan and Gray plant at Carlisle, a test was conducted on a process that blanches and steams potatoes to find out how much water was required as opposed to how much was used. It was found that 80 per cent less water was required, saving 51 million litres a year.
At our Pennine Foods site in Sheffield, where we make chilled ready meals, water usage was the highest of all sites and so tests were carried out to find out how it could be reduced. It was discovered that the water pressure from the mains was three times higher than normal. The pressure was regularised and then all outlets in the factory were fitted with shut-off valves or sensors so that water was only used when needed. Water consumption fell by 20 per cent in a year.
