In addition to recycling the raw material itself to produce the product, Bandvulc strive to reduce environmental waste. The following results have been realised through a few months of effort being put in by all staff.

• We now have 10 more paper recycling bins distributed around the offices. We also buy our paper in paper, rather than plastic, packets so that it is all recyclable. 

• All paper and shredded paper is taken away by Severnside recycling.

• Drinks cans and plastic bottles are now collected in the canteens and offices.

• All card and plastic packaging is baled and taken away for recycling.

• Cured scrap rubber trimmings are now collected in the factory and recycled along with scrap tyres instead of being thrown in the skip. There were around 5 black bin loads thrown in the skip every 24 hours previously.

• Scrap metal tool parts are collected from the buffing bays in the Camelot building and taken away to a scrap yard for recycling.

• All of these new or improved recycling systems have saved room in the skip. We therefore now fill only one skip per week as oppose to two! This means that we have halved our waste going to landfill and also halved our disposal costs; saving Bandvulc around £5000 per year.

• All PC equipment no longer required is donated to Plymouth's College of Further Education. 

• Political and public pressure is being put on the manufacturing industry to reduce their energy usage, review their waste and to be more aware of the impact their activities have on the environment. If ever increasing energy costs and a Climate Change levy imposed by the government are also taken into consideration, it is clear that a real focus has been put on every company's structure as far as energy saving initiatives and waste management are concerned.

In order to address these pressing issues, Bandvulc has set about creating an energy team. Formed by localised energy champions, who have been selected from the main areas of the company, the team will be focusing on developing an energy policy & strategy as well as various methods of raising awareness within the company concerning current energy monitoring and saving initiatives, thus promoting good energy saving practices within all departments of the Bandvulc Group. The energy team will also be responsible for undertaking energy audits to identify and quantify energy usage and losses, along with proposed actions to address these.

Saving energy of course has a direct impact on a company's profitability, but also on the environment. As a tyre retreading company, Bandvulc feels very strongly about environmental issues and is extremely keen to promote its green image.