The Environment Agency has launched a new environmental management toolkit to help the food and drink manufacturing industry to improve environmental performance.

In partnership with the industry trade associations, the Environment Agency has developed a set of simple template forms with embedded guidance.  The toolkit will be particularly useful for smaller businesses and will help them comply with environmental legislation, reduce risks of pollution and improve their sustainability credentials. 

The toolkit is not an environmental management system but it will be a practical help to companies that are developing or renewing their EMS procedures.  It will help environmental managers to review and develop their procedures and enable them to efficiently and pro-actively manage the environmental aspects of their operations.

The food & drink manufacturing industry accounts for around 17% of UK manufacturing, employing 440,000 people at about 6,000 sites.

In 2008, the industry produced 2.5 million tonnes of waste, of which around 80 per cent was sent for some form of recovery. It is estimated that for every tonne of food waste prevented has the potential to save 4.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

In 2008, 6% of all serious pollution incidents recorded by the Environment Agency originated from food & drink manufacturing businesses.

The toolkit will help food & drink manufacturing businesses to:

- Improve sustainability and reduce costs

- Achieve and maintain compliance with environmental legislation

- Reduce the risks of pollution

- Improve and develop their environmental management system

To find out more visit:  www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/113738.aspx