Earth Hour 2008

In 2008, 24 global cities participated in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.

Earth Hour Commercial, click the play button to view.

SPC Ardmona encouraged all employees to take part in Earth Hour by turning off lights at home and reminding them that there are lots of things we can all do to make a difference to the environment, every day at home and in the office. Here are just a few ideas;

At home;

• Change to energy efficient bulbs
• Turn off unused lights
• Turn appliances off at the power point when not in use
• Switch to greenpower
• Use less hot water by washing clothes in cold water and keeping showers short
• Recycle and compost.

At work;

• Switch off computer monitor when away from your desk for a prolonged period of time (screensavers are not energy savers)
• Turn off unused lights
• Recycle
• Don’t print off emails unless absolutely necessary.
• Lights in our East Hawthorn office were also turned off.

Speaking of emissions and lighting, we also produced a humourous SPC Baked Beans skit to help bring attention to Earth Hour which was shown on ‘You Tube’ and selected Pay TV channels.

If you would like to find out more about Earth Hour, please log on to www.earthhour.org and www.wwf.org.au

Education and training

SPC Ardmona has and continues to provide extensive training for employees through a "Waste Management" module included in a Certificate for Food Processing. In addition, regular training sessions are conducted at all levels of the organisation to convey updates with regard to environmental issues.

SPC Ardmona is extending education efforts to incorporate suppliers, customers and the general community, through liaison, newsletters and interest groups.

Packaging and Recycling

SPC Ardmona has adopted a colour coded recycling system for paper/cardboard, plastic, steel cans, organic material and metal. This program has resulted in the diversion of large quantities of waste from landfill.
We are actively encouraging suppliers to provide recyclable materials and minimise the amount of packaging material required. This is evident through SPC Ardmona's commitment to the National Packaging Covenant.

SPC Ardmona is a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant (NPC), a framework to manage the environmental impact of packaging through its life cycle from design to disposal. The company has prepared a detailed action plan focused on recycling systems, education (internal and external clients), product development and research, resource utilisation and support systems.

SPC Ardmona seeks to continuously improve environmental performance through product design, production efficiency, waste reduction initiatives and employee awareness. Therefore, many of the Covenant requirements will be built into normal business practices.

Download a copy of the National Packaging Covenant Action Plan

Water

SPC Ardmona operates to a Trade Waste Agreement with Goulburn Valley Water, which identifies targets for trade waste reduction. SPC Ardmona will be making significant expenditure over the coming years to reduce flow, organic material and sodium content of SPC Ardmona's effluent.

SPC Ardmona work closely with regulatory bodies in this area to identify areas for improvement and best practice methods of effluent treatment. Using these improved water treatment methods, SPC Ardmona is working towards meeting stringent international water quality standards to enable land-based reuse.

To read about the savewater! award presented to SPC Ardmona for the ‘Regional Sustainability – Business’ category click here

Energy

SPC Ardmona is working cooperatively with the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria to implement energy reduction actions associated with heat recovery, control systems and system efficiencies.

SPC Ardmona also participate in the Greenhouse Challenge, which is a voluntary program focused at reducing emissions to air. We are currently developing an action plan focused on strategic energy reduction opportunities such as waste to energy production, co-generation, improved efficiency of service supply and reduced emissions from landfill and effluent treatment.

The Goulburn Valley Food Industry Environment Group

SPC Ardmona has initiated an industry based working group, focused on improved long term environmental outcomes within the region, through waste reduction, greater efficiency and the promotion of sustainable production.

The partnership is known as the Goulburn Valley Food Processing Environmental Group. Participating organisations include SPC Ardmona, Campbell's Soups, Unilever Australia, IXL, Heinz-Watties Australia and CEDENCO Australia.
The partnership has the full support of EcoRecycle and the Environmental Protection Authority, who have provided a $20,000 contribution.

The Group aims to reduce waste to landfill and the risks associated with production and disposal of the wastes. It also aims to achieve significant improvements in resource efficiency through value adding of by-products, waste avoidance and re-use.