Commitment to sustainability

The Press Business Awards celebrate the achievements of businesses across York, North and East Yorkshire and are open to businesses that consciously strive to improve the environment. The judges based their decision on a number of aspects including how Portakabin had raised environmental awareness in its workforce, what challenges it had overcome to become greener and ways in which the local community had been enhanced or protected.

Derek Carter, CE, said, "This is very welcome recognition for our energy-saving and environmental programmes.  Our sustainable initiatives require a team effort from everyone across the business and together we have made tremendous progress over the last few years in the area of recycling and waste management.”

"As a Group, we have invested heavily in our commitment to the environment and we also support our customers’ sustainability objectives by providing them with modular building solutions designed to reduce waste, energy, carbon emissions and conserve natural resources.  We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and will continue to find new ways to further improve our environmental performance.”

Portakabin achieved the Think Green Business of the Year award for its many recycling initiatives, including:

Succeeding in its objective of zero waste to landfill at its manufacturing centre in York a year ahead of its target

A Waste Management Committee which meets bi-monthly to discuss all aspects of waste reduction and encourage every part of the business to continually improve

Plasterboard off-cuts re-used as soil conditioner

Cooking oil waste used to fuel food delivery vehicles

Increasing awareness among staff of the importance of recycling and waste minimisation, and the use of ‘tool box talks’ to encourage new ideas; internal newsletters; monthly staff briefings; and training to instil the discipline to recycle

Actively encouraging and celebrating success and good work in environmental waste management among employees

Introducing a number of initiatives to improve the sustainability of its food service at its York site including the use of an electric catering van for hospitality deliveries around the 60-acre site

The recovery of extracted air from the wood working unit and its re-use for heating

Collecting and bagging sawdust and chippings for direct re-use as animal bedding and chipboard production

Using new materials in the manufacture of Portakabin buildings that have a recycled content of 35%.

Applications for Portakabin modular solutions are diverse and include open plan office accommodation, security buildings, canteens, training suites, showers and changing rooms, health clinics and ward buildings, teaching blocks and even complete schools, for both interim and permanent applications.