A medical products supplier has taken a major step towards shrinking its carbon footprint, thanks to the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan’s) Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) project.
Blackburn-based BMS Critical Care worked closely with MaCaW’s expert advisers, whose recommendations are expected to reduce the company’s energy usage by around 20 per cent.
The measures follow the government’s recent announcement of a new plan to tackle climate change, which aims to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050.
BMS, established in 1984, has a nine-strong workforce and supplies disposable medical products to hospitals.
MaCaW worked closely with BMS to produce a detailed analysis of data and a carbon assessment audit, before calculating the business’ carbon footprint and detailing how best to reduce its energy usage and overall carbon emissions.
As well as cutting energy costs, the changes will help BMS to be more competitive in public sector procurement tenders, many of which now ask for evidence of carbon cutting measures.
BMS Financial Controller Carrie Taylor said: “The MaCaW team were great to work with and they made things as simple and efficient as possible, providing us with the findings in a clear, easy to understand format. They then supported us in understanding and implementing the findings.”
Mark Nelson, Business Engagement Officer for MaCaW said: “By going through this process, BMS has been able to gain a competitive advantage when tendering for public sector contracts. The team can show that they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint, meeting certain corporate social responsibility (CSR) elements of tenders and being able to demonstrate that they have been through an accredited project”.
The MaCaW project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to help Lancashire SMEs to move towards a low carbon future. Lancashire SMEs are encouraged to take advantage of this free service whilst the investment is still available.
