Winner: Portakabin

Finalists: Roof Revive; Wold Top Brewery

AN internationally recognisedmanufacturer has won another title in its quest for recognition as a leader in environmentally friendly processes.

Portakabin shone as the winner of the Think Green award with what the judges described as a comprehensive environmental policy and approach.

The judges said there is an excellent story to tell about the cultural shift that Portakabin has achieved. The company now sends no waste to landfill and has put a lot of thought into the production of its products, their durability and their future use.

Portakabin has invested heavily in its commitment to the environment and even has a team of three engineers whose job it is to focus on further improving the energy efficiency of its products.

Virtually every material used in manufacturing its portable buildings is re-used or recycled, whether it is steel, wood, plasterboard, plastics, concrete, vinyl flooring or adhesives.

Hazardous waste is re-used as furnace fuel once solvents are removed, while hot air from the woodworking plant is re-used to heat the buildings at the company’s Huntingtonsite.

Portakabin has a waste management committee which meets regularly to discuss all aspects of waste reduction, while staff are given monthly talks on recycling and sustainable working and success and good work in environmental waste management is encouraged and celebrated.

The company now produces an Energy-Saver range of its portable buildings to reduce energy usage by more than 60 per cent.

It has the capability to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating, putting it among the UK’s best-performing sustainable buildings and allowing building occupiers to meet more stringent environmental and carbon reduction targets.

Portakabin successfully achieved its objective of zero waste to landfill at its manufacturing centre in York a year ahead of its December 2013 target.

And the company has achieved national recognition for its commitment to waste management and recycling with two major national awards in 2013 – a Gold Award at the Zero Waste Awards, only the fifth time this accolade has been presented since the awards began, and a Zero Waste Platinum Award at the Awards for Excellence in Waste Management and Recycling 2013.

In a further commitment to the environment, the company works closely with City of York Council, the parish council and local councillors to promote cycling and road safety and to minimise car use for travelling to work.

It also provides extensive cycle storage, shower and changing facilities for its staff.

For the last two years, Portakabin has won City of York Council’s York Cycle Challenge in the 500+ business category in recognition of its initiatives to encourage staff to cycle to work. About 20 per cent of its workforce cycles to work.

Portakabin even uses an electric catering van for use on the site and works closely with its caterers to ensure food is sustainable and recycled.

Cooking oil is re-used to fuel food delivery vehicles.