Protecting the environment improves the bottom line
Wrigley Australia, which manufactures a broad range of chewing gum and bubble gum products at its Asquith plant in Sydney, has entered into a joint training arrangement with TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute, Ryde College to conduct Environmental Awareness Training Sessions for all Wrigley associates.

As a multinational company, Wrigley recognises that environmental responsibility is a global concern and it applies sound environmental practices as an integral part of daily business.

With support from TAFE NSW trainer, David Hodgson, three modules of environmental training were developed. The first focused on environmental compliance requirements, resource conservation and waste reduction initiatives, while the second and third focused on function-specific training for various groups of associates within the company.

In addition, Wrigley has taken an active approach to resource conservation by forming closer alliances with stakeholders such as Sydney Water and the NSW Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA). Working with these organisations, TAFE NSW and Wrigley developed a training program for water conservation, pollution prevention and energy efficiency. Both Sydney Water and SEDA praised Wrigley's approach to staff involvement.

Drew Thornton, Wrigley's Supply Chain Training Coordinator, said 'we have provided more than 650 hours of environmental training to our associates and this has increased our staff's awareness of ways to contribute to a better environment.'

'This bottom-up approach has encouraged all our employees to integrate environmental awareness into daily activities and to drive innovation for environmental improvement,' commented Kushan Fernando, Environmental Supervisor for Wrigley. 'The training program has also helped us to build a conservation culture within the organisation. Everybody is now interested in saving water and energy, reducing waste, and eager to enhance the organisation's environmental performance.

'Just as our business maintains competitive advantages by delivering new products and ideas to the right markets at the right time, it is equally important to do this via the quality of our relationship with the natural environment in which we operate.'

As a result of the staff awareness training program developed by TAFE PLUS, Wrigley has been able to achieve significant reductions in water and energy consumption and improvements in recycling initiatives, which ultimately help the bottom line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STORY
CONTACT: PETER HENRY
TAFE NSW– NORTHERN SYDNEY INSTITUTE
TEL: (02) 9942 0549

OR TO FIND OUT HOW TAFE PLUS CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS
CONTACT: THE TAFE PLUS ENQUIRY SERVICE

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