Home: Issue 2 2009 › Lead Story › Compliance is crucial
Compliance is crucial
02/10/2009 | Channel: Packaging & Logistics, Retail
Richard Martin believes food and drink businesses are unprepared for new regulations
This year two new pieces of environmental legislation come into effect that will directly affect small and medium sized businesses operating in the food and drink manufacturing sector. At a time when the Environment Agency is stepping up its enforcement and companies are at increasing risk of being fined for non-compliance, food and drink businesses cannot afford to let these new regulations go unheeded.
Why are they relevant?
The food and drink manufacturing sector is the third highest producer of waste in the UK. It generated 3.4 million tonnes of waste in 2006 and has specific responsibilities under a range of waste regulations. With the Environment Agency tightening up its targets on environmental pollution and emissions, businesses in the sector must ensure they are in line with regulations or face penalties.
We believe that poor compliance often stems from a lack of understanding of relevant and applicable regulations. For example, the Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations came into force back in 2006, but our research suggests many businesses are still not compliant – perhaps due to a misconception that these laws do not apply to the food and drink sector. When asked by NetRegs as part of our last SME-nvironment study, more than two thirds (69 per cent) of small and medium-sized food and drink businesses could not identify any piece of environmental legislation unprompted – highlighting the poor awareness levels in this sector.
With environmental issues high on the business agenda, a company’s green credentials can play a central role when it comes to attracting and retaining customers. Not only can a proactive approach to addressing environmental issues bring commercial benefits but in many cases businesses can also save money. In 2007, SMEs were hit by fines of around £2.4million for pollution and environmental damage and this was largely caused by poor compliance. Regulations like the 2007 WEEE Regulations (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) actually put the cost of disposal of electrical equipment back on to the manufacturers – meaning significant cost savings for many end-users in sectors like food manufacture.
How will they affect me?
Two pieces of environmental legislation are expected to come into force during 2009 that will directly affect businesses in the food and drink sector.
The Waste Controls (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 which come into effect on 1 October will affect all businesses that produce waste, regardless of whether or not they are actively involved in waste management.
Under previous regulations, food and drink businesses which carry their own waste did not need to register with the Environment Agency but now they will have to do this if they regularly transport their own waste on a normal and regular basis. Many smaller food and drink businesses manage their own waste disposal so for these businesses, the new regulations are particularly relevant. Further details on this amendment are expected from Defra shortly.
The second important legislative change expected in 2009 is an amendment to the Environmental Damage Regulations which will make businesses financially liable for any environmental damage to land, water or biodiversity caused by their activities. It is hoped this will offer businesses greater incentive to be more sustainable in their activities but failure to comply could prove costly to food and drink businesses.
How can I comply?
Whilst we understand that many businesses struggle to keep on top of new environmental regulations, it is critical they understand and act on these new legislative changes. Many food and drink businesses in England and Wales will need to make changes to bring themselves into line with the new regulations – and they can find details on how to do this at www.netregs.gov.uk. This is a free environmental guidance website offering sector-specific information – ensuring organisations not only avoid penalties but also benefit from stronger green credentials.
Top tips for compliance
NetRegs.gov.uk recommends keeping up to date with regulations by following a simple three step approach - Check up, Wise up and Clean up:
Check up
Review your current processes. Look at what your business does and consider each part of the manufacturing process in turn to see what legislation may relate to each stage.
Wise up
Make sure that you understand the different environmental regulations so that your business can benefit from cost savings and improved green credentials. You can find out all you need to know by logging onto the website and accessing the sector-specific information on food and drink. You can also carry out a free self-assessment questionnaire to make sure that you are up speed on other environmental legislation that might affect your business and sign up for e-alerts to receive regular free up-dates.
Clean up
If you have not already done so, introduce a company environmental policy, building environmental regulations into your procurement procedures. If possible, appoint an environmental manager with responsibility for compliance and ensure everyone involved in your business knows what they have to do to comply. Lastly, look at your suppliers and contacts – and try to work with partners whose own green credentials tick the right boxes.
The Local Food Company
During the last two years, several legislative changes have been made to tighten up waste controls in the food and drink manufacturing sector and 2009 is no exception. One example of a food and drink businesses which regularly uses NetRegs.gov.uk to keep on top of changing regulations is the Local Food Company, based in Devon, which brings together local food producers from the South West and delivers their fresh produce to customers across the UK. Owners Dionne and Simon Rooney have introduced a range of measures aimed at reducing the business’ impact on the environment.
“Running a small business, we are often short on time, so I find NetRegs.gov.uk helpful as I can quickly access clear, fool-proof information about environmental legislation that is directly relevant to our business,” explains Dionne Rooney. “One example of a need to know piece of legislation for us, is the requirement to pre-treat waste. We always sort our waste in line with NetRegs’ recommendations and as a result end up sending only one bag of business waste to landfill each week.
“We re-use nearly all supplier boxes, we shred paper from the office for packing and compost any organic waste. Since the WEEE Regulations came into force, we also need to be aware of how to dispose of our electrical equipment when it no longer works. By being aware of new legislation, we can ensure we are not incurring unnecessary recycling costs ourselves and in the case of WEEE are actually saving money on waste disposed.”
Richard Martin is programme manager for environmental guidance website NetRegs.gov.uk. NetRegs was launched in 2004 to provide SMEs in the UK with free guidance on complying with environmental legislation without the need to register. Businesses can opt to receive free monthly email alerts from NetRegs to keep up to date on forthcoming legislation or any changes to current environmental regulations.
For further information visit: www.netregs.gov.uk.
Why are they relevant?
The food and drink manufacturing sector is the third highest producer of waste in the UK. It generated 3.4 million tonnes of waste in 2006 and has specific responsibilities under a range of waste regulations. With the Environment Agency tightening up its targets on environmental pollution and emissions, businesses in the sector must ensure they are in line with regulations or face penalties.
We believe that poor compliance often stems from a lack of understanding of relevant and applicable regulations. For example, the Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations came into force back in 2006, but our research suggests many businesses are still not compliant – perhaps due to a misconception that these laws do not apply to the food and drink sector. When asked by NetRegs as part of our last SME-nvironment study, more than two thirds (69 per cent) of small and medium-sized food and drink businesses could not identify any piece of environmental legislation unprompted – highlighting the poor awareness levels in this sector.
With environmental issues high on the business agenda, a company’s green credentials can play a central role when it comes to attracting and retaining customers. Not only can a proactive approach to addressing environmental issues bring commercial benefits but in many cases businesses can also save money. In 2007, SMEs were hit by fines of around £2.4million for pollution and environmental damage and this was largely caused by poor compliance. Regulations like the 2007 WEEE Regulations (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) actually put the cost of disposal of electrical equipment back on to the manufacturers – meaning significant cost savings for many end-users in sectors like food manufacture.
How will they affect me?
Two pieces of environmental legislation are expected to come into force during 2009 that will directly affect businesses in the food and drink sector.
The Waste Controls (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 which come into effect on 1 October will affect all businesses that produce waste, regardless of whether or not they are actively involved in waste management.
Under previous regulations, food and drink businesses which carry their own waste did not need to register with the Environment Agency but now they will have to do this if they regularly transport their own waste on a normal and regular basis. Many smaller food and drink businesses manage their own waste disposal so for these businesses, the new regulations are particularly relevant. Further details on this amendment are expected from Defra shortly.
The second important legislative change expected in 2009 is an amendment to the Environmental Damage Regulations which will make businesses financially liable for any environmental damage to land, water or biodiversity caused by their activities. It is hoped this will offer businesses greater incentive to be more sustainable in their activities but failure to comply could prove costly to food and drink businesses.
How can I comply?
Whilst we understand that many businesses struggle to keep on top of new environmental regulations, it is critical they understand and act on these new legislative changes. Many food and drink businesses in England and Wales will need to make changes to bring themselves into line with the new regulations – and they can find details on how to do this at www.netregs.gov.uk. This is a free environmental guidance website offering sector-specific information – ensuring organisations not only avoid penalties but also benefit from stronger green credentials.
Top tips for compliance
NetRegs.gov.uk recommends keeping up to date with regulations by following a simple three step approach - Check up, Wise up and Clean up:
Check up
Review your current processes. Look at what your business does and consider each part of the manufacturing process in turn to see what legislation may relate to each stage.
Wise up
Make sure that you understand the different environmental regulations so that your business can benefit from cost savings and improved green credentials. You can find out all you need to know by logging onto the website and accessing the sector-specific information on food and drink. You can also carry out a free self-assessment questionnaire to make sure that you are up speed on other environmental legislation that might affect your business and sign up for e-alerts to receive regular free up-dates.
Clean up
If you have not already done so, introduce a company environmental policy, building environmental regulations into your procurement procedures. If possible, appoint an environmental manager with responsibility for compliance and ensure everyone involved in your business knows what they have to do to comply. Lastly, look at your suppliers and contacts – and try to work with partners whose own green credentials tick the right boxes.
The Local Food Company
During the last two years, several legislative changes have been made to tighten up waste controls in the food and drink manufacturing sector and 2009 is no exception. One example of a food and drink businesses which regularly uses NetRegs.gov.uk to keep on top of changing regulations is the Local Food Company, based in Devon, which brings together local food producers from the South West and delivers their fresh produce to customers across the UK. Owners Dionne and Simon Rooney have introduced a range of measures aimed at reducing the business’ impact on the environment.
“Running a small business, we are often short on time, so I find NetRegs.gov.uk helpful as I can quickly access clear, fool-proof information about environmental legislation that is directly relevant to our business,” explains Dionne Rooney. “One example of a need to know piece of legislation for us, is the requirement to pre-treat waste. We always sort our waste in line with NetRegs’ recommendations and as a result end up sending only one bag of business waste to landfill each week.
“We re-use nearly all supplier boxes, we shred paper from the office for packing and compost any organic waste. Since the WEEE Regulations came into force, we also need to be aware of how to dispose of our electrical equipment when it no longer works. By being aware of new legislation, we can ensure we are not incurring unnecessary recycling costs ourselves and in the case of WEEE are actually saving money on waste disposed.”
Richard Martin is programme manager for environmental guidance website NetRegs.gov.uk. NetRegs was launched in 2004 to provide SMEs in the UK with free guidance on complying with environmental legislation without the need to register. Businesses can opt to receive free monthly email alerts from NetRegs to keep up to date on forthcoming legislation or any changes to current environmental regulations.
For further information visit: www.netregs.gov.uk.
