Pro Installer June 2018 - Issue 63 | Page 3

JUNE 2018 | 3 News Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk NATIONAL PROPERTY DEVELOPER SWAPS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CUPS FOR REUSABLE BOTTLES Wates Residential is swap- ping single-use plastic cups for reusable bottles in a bid to tackle the plastics crisis. The national developer is demonstrating its leadership in the construction sector when it comes to reducing single-use plastics waste and has committed to roll- ing out the change across every one of its sites. A pilot scheme is already taking place at its mixed-use Abbey Area redevelopment in Camden, where Wates is building 141 homes as well as additional retail and com- mercial spaces. On this site, the reusable bottles have been bought from a social enterprise and dis- tributed to the entire workforce, who can use fresh water stations to fill them up. Previously, the Abbey Area redevelopment used an estimated 120,000 cups per year, which cost just over £1,300. Over a 10-year period, Wates estimates that swap- ping to reusable bottles could save approximately £4,350 per site, as well as reducing landfill by around 5,000kg and helping to reduce litter and marine pollution. Wates is also hoping the change will help encourage employees to cut down their use of single-use plastic bottles. The white, blue and green reus- able bottles are also being used to spread the word of Wates’ ‘We’re Safer Together’ campaign, a long- term strategy that aims to achieve zero harm across the Wates Group by 2020. The decision to move to reus- able bottles follows the BBC’s documentary Blue Planet II, which highlighted the severe effects plastic pollution is having on the marine environment. Wates has made this commit- ment following a proposal put forward by Denise Southard, a document controller and commu- nity champion for the company, who looked at how the Abbey Area team could reduce their plas- tic waste. Wates Residential, which aims to build lasting legacies for commu- nities as well as much-needed new housing, will continue to look at ways that further plastic reduction can be implemented, with the aim of spearheading positive change across the sector. www.wates.co.uk D E S I G N // M A N U F A C T U R E // D E L I V E R Y 0191 455 8866 [email protected] 0191 447 6618 Mon-Thu 8:00-16:30 Friday 8:00-15:15 // R O O F L A N T E R N S // C O N S E R V A T O R Y R O O F S www.premierroofsystems.co.uk TECHNICAL SUPPORT FREE NATIONWIDE DELIVERY QUICK QUOTE TURNAROUND Unit 8 Tyne Point Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury Avenue, Jarrow, NE32 3UP PREMIER ROOF SYSTEMS LIMITED // Company No. 07584655 // VAT No. GB109652217