Arla saves baths' full of water

With stark warnings of water shortages hitting the headlines, dairy company, Arla Foods is doing its bit for the environment saving over 137 million litres of water - equivalent to almost 900,000 baths' full of water - over the last twelve months alone.

This water saving is a direct result of Arla Foods' proactive environmental policy, which has seen the leading dairy's six UK sites undertake an ongoing environmental challenge.

"The environmental challenge is a site-based scheme, which has led sites to run competitions, develop newsletters and provide awareness courses for their teams. Individual sites have also given recognition and reward to employees who suggest workable ways of making the company more environmentally friendly," explained environment co-ordinator, Karin Hansen.

"We've had a fantastic response since the challenge began back in October 2002. It has really focussed people's mind and made them more aware of areas where potential energy and water savings can be made." Karin added.

Many of the water saving schemes, which have resulted from general awareness of water leaks and running water, have been relatively easy and extremely cost effective to employ.

Initiatives include: attaching trigger guns to hose pipes so that the water is only released as and when needed, installing sensors on water basins preventing taps from being left on, recycling water for use in different areas plus general staff training on environmental issues to raise awareness.

"The reductions in water and energy usage that we have seen this year clearly demonstrate what the environmental challenge is all about - an efficient and well maintained plant as well as trained and motivated staff," said Karin.

Considering that so far 2003 has been the driest year since 1921 across most of the UK and with continued warnings of severe water shortages, Arla Foods' water saving policy is doing its bit to support the environment.

Arla Foods UK plc is home to some of the UK’s leading dairy brands including Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor. Processing approximately two billion litres of milk a year Arla continues to be one of the UK’s leading dairy companies and a supplier of fresh liquid milk and cream to the top seven retailers.

Over 2,500 daily deliveries are made directly to stores nationwide and Arla brands can be found across the dairy category. As well as the leader of the butter, spreads and margarine sector, and a major supplier of other added value products including flavoured milk and cheese, Arla continues to build working relationships with Arla Foods Milk Partnership, a unique group of dairy farmers, which supplies around 90 per cent of Arla's total milk requirements.

Behind this leading business is a team of circa 2,800 people across the UK located at our dairies, distribution centres and head office.