VC Cooke Ltd

V C Cooke view responsible environmental management as our number 1 priority. Following a thorough review, we have started the journey of embedding sustainability into the way we do business, by making it an essential part of or strategic planning and monthly business review processes. This has been accompanied by the setting of clear corporate sustainability targets across the key areas where we can make a positive impact and add real value. Waste minimisation, sustainable resources, community investment and education to encourage best practice from staff, customers and the supply chain throughout East Anglia and the UK.

Environmental impacts of all operations and statement detailing sustainable practice are available

Closed-loop ethic

Wherever possible V C Cooke send all recyclables for processing within the UK and encourages customers to purchase these recycled products in order to assist the growth of the local (UK) marketplace.

Carbon mapping

In partnership with a carbon offset company V C Cooke is able to offer clients the opportunity to calculate the carbon footprint generated by their waste disposal operations and to take positive actions to offset the results.

Offsetting is essentially the "balancing" of CO2 emissions by avoiding an equal amount of emissions somewhere else. Greenhouse gases are emitted when fossil-fuelled energy is consumed. One tonne of carbon dioxide has the same impact on climate change wherever in the world it is emitted - or saved.

This service further raises awareness of the environmental impact of the client's waste disposal procedures.

V C Cooke's close proximity to it's customers is attractive when addressing the carbon mapping resulting from our partnership

The future: Ellough gasification waste-to-energy facility

Plans for a pyrolysis/gasification waste to energy conversion system on V C Cooke's 25 acre facility are in the hands of Suffolk County Council planning department. Backed by the community the zero landfill solution could be in place by quarter 3 of 2011.

Like incineration, pyrolysis and gasification are thermal processes but what distinguishes them is that no oxygen is used in pyrolysis and only low concentrations in gasification. Waste is "cooked" not ignited. The result is super-low pollution and electricity generation from far lower volumes of waste than is typically processed by incinerators.

Because pyrolysis/gasification plants are modular, they can be far smaller, so less obtrusive, and ideal for handling locally produced non-recyclable waste in line with the "proximity principle"

Energy from waste has many benefits including:

• Reduces the UK's reliance on landfill for waste disposal
• Helps local authorities meet government targets
• Waste used to produce electricity reduces the amount of methane and carbon dioxide produced by waste in landfill
• Reduces our dependency on fossil fuels to generate our electricity
• Using waste to produce electricity displaces carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels
• Retrieves metals to recycle
• Produces bottom ash that can be used as a replacement for quarried aggregate in the construction industry

This substantial investment will enable us to not only to completely eliminate landfill, but also to use municipal waste to create energy to supply the local area.

For updates on these and other projects please visit our news updates section

Community Impact

V C Cooke are pleased to support local events and charities and welcomes involvement in projects that benefit our environment. In 2009 our sponsorship of local events included provision of recycling and waste management services for; Beccles Carnival, Duck Race and Southwold Model Railway Exhibition

V C Cooke are keen to increase its work in the local community, with further schools projects and work with local charities already in the pipeline 2010.

This year we have already supported local organisations including removal of aggregate from Beccles Lido, topsoil for Clinks Care Farm and Beccles Brownies Centenary rose garden; tin can recycling for Loddon Scouts and auction items for Bungay Football Club. We are pleased to consider any local projects with which we may be of assistance.

Recognising young peoples environmental initiatives

Commissioning artwork as part of Ravensmere Primary School's recycling project supporting planned new building development.

Providing workshops and roadshows in other local schools to raise awareness of waste minimisation

Sponsorship of three categories in the 2010 Chamber of Commerce awards which are an excellent opportunity to involve young people in future planning

This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and schools across the Waveney area to show us their green streak. Protecting the environment has always been an important issue of ours and what better way to acknowledge our future green ambassadors than to reward them for their environmental contributions.

From recycling cans and paper, to energy conservation and travel to school schemes, if you have a "green" strategy in place, or have built a plan that you intend to implement over the coming twelve months, we want to hear from you. Entries are welcome from all young individuals and schools in the area.

Awards

Success in the 2009 Waveney Chamber of Commerce Awards in the categories for Sustainable Business Practice and Community Impact.

2010 winner of green apple trophy for environmental initiatives.