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Universities Sustainability Event Attracts over 40 Local Businesses
Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:14:00 GMT
A free event to help Welsh businesses save money by becoming more sustainable took place yesterday (Wednesday 18th November 2009), and attracted a number of top South Wales companies.
The Decrease Waste and Increase Profit event, organised by the Dragon Innovation Partnership and held in the Technium Sustainable Technologies building in Baglan, Port Talbot, aimed to help businesses beat the credit crunch, increase their profits and save the environment.
The Partnership, a collaboration between Swansea Metropolitan University, Swansea University and Trinity University College, enlisted the help of Environmental Law specialist, Professor Karen Morrow, who discussed how changes to legislation and predicting future trends in environmental law could save businesses money; Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship team representative Jan Morgan, who ran a workshop to show how organisations can benefit from following several sustainable principles; and Mark Blackmore, a sustainability expert from the South West Wales Higher Education Partnership, who’s workshop focused on ten top tips to beat the credit crunch.
Swansea-based Pitstop Automotive, who have won several awards for their sustainability, were one of the first businesses to sign up and shared their experience and best practice with the companies at the event.
Jeremy Thorne, Director at Pitstop Automotive, said: “Whilst setting up our company and discussing the impact that car washing usually has on the environment it made good sense – in both business and sustainable terms – to ensure that Pitstop was different. We wanted to share our success with other businesses and help demonstrate how being sustainable can increase profitability and additionally create new marketing opportunities and revenue streams.
“This event was a great opportunity to do that and also for us to find out what other businesses in the area are doing. It also opened our eyes to the research that is constantly carried out in local universities that’s extremely beneficial to industry.”
Dragon Innovation Partnership Communications Officer and event organiser, Rachel Williams, said: “The event was a chance for businesses in Wales to benefit from industry and academic expertise. It was great to see such a diverse range of businesses and organisations together, from radio stations and stationery suppliers to construction companies, taking responsibility for their carbon footprint and sharing their expertise.
“We were also lucky enough to have had support from several environmentally focussed businesses including Track You, Footprintmatters2u, Natural Power Wales and Gregory Environmental.
“Today was a great success and very well received by delegates. Due to this, and the overwhelming demand for places, we are already beginning to organise a repeat event for the very near future.”
Anyone wishing to register their interest in a future Decrease Waste and Increase Profit event should contact Rachel Williams on 01792 606060 or r.williams@swansea.ac.uk.
