Find out what’s been going on

Worksop Galvanizing Ltd, based in Nottinghamshire, has been recognised as the most sustainable plant within Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd’s 15 UK-wide plants, achieving an overall sustainability performance score of 94%.

Based on internal tracking of its entire network of 15 plants, the milestone is a huge step towards achieving the objectives set out in Wedge Group Galvanizing’s Sustainability Commitment, which boasts a triple bottom line focused on People, Planet, Profits (referred to as its 3Ps).

Each plant is assessed against strategic sustainability priorities, with sites implementing a range of initiatives and investments designed to reduce environmental impact and improve operational efficiency. These include the introduction of smart flux regeneration systems, rainwater harvesting, low-flume fluxes, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric fleet vehicles, and the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel.

David Nobes, Technical Services Director at Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, who also leads on the company’s sustainability direction, explained: “We’re making huge improvements, not just at Worksop Galvanizing but across the whole Group.

“New investments and developments are ongoing to ensure each continues to make improvements across all of our categories. These include our overall environmental responsibility such as energy efficiency, supply chain, emissions, and waste management, as well as social equity covering employee wellbeing, community engagement and social responsibility.”

Some of the specific aims have already been fully achieved at all plants, including the complete removal of chrome and lead from the galvanizing process, installation of LED lighting, EV charging facilities, and rainwater harvesting systems.

“We’ve still got a way to go of course but the fact that we embarked on this journey years ago means that we’ve already marked off some huge improvements that have not only benefitted our people and the planet, but our customers and community too.

“As such a large group it’s often challenging to ensure the ‘buy-in’ of an idea and strategy from the entire workforce and at plant-level, but we’ve made progress and have the support and backing, as well as the great strategic direction of the management and board, to help continue to drive forward our goals.”

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