OPRL rebrands to appeal to ‘corporate audience’

To mark Recycle Week 2015, the On-Pack Recycling Label (ORPL) has been rebranded to ‘appeal to a more corporate audience’.

The label, a universal logo that tells consumers how likely it is that their local authority will accept specific packaging materials for recycling, was rebranded by design company Brave to appeal to a more corporate audience.

On-Pack Recycling Label Ltd, which delivers the labelling scheme, has said it hopes that rebrand will help double membership over the next three years. The company has also now officially adopted the OPRL acronym, which has been used by industry for the past few years.

Commenting on the rebranding, Jane Bevis, Chair of OPRL Ltd, said: “This is the most public aspect of the changes we’ve been putting in place over the last 18 months as part of a major growth strategy for OPRL. We have over 160 loyal members, many of whom have worked with us in engaging consumers in recycling since we launched in 2009. Over the next 12 months, we will be rolling out further improvements to member benefits and support with the aim of doubling our membership by 2018.

“This new website, www.oprl.org.uk, and our new branding will help us deliver for our members, and support consumers as they search for help in understanding recycling.”

Find out more about ORPL.

Accent Wire acquires Penistone Wire

Accent Wire, a global supplier of specialist machinery and wires to the waste and recycling industry, has announced that it is acquiring UK-based rival company Penistone Wire.

Currently in contract finalisation, the acquisition is expected to be completed by 30 June 2015. All staff are expected to move to the Accent UK team once the deal has been finalised.

Bill Sims, President and CEO of Accent Worldwide, commented: “Our company is very pleased to add Penistone to the Accent family portfolio. The move enhances our ability to maximise on both existing and future sales opportunities. One way we will do this is through globally sourcing the highest quality products at the best possible prices, which is already one of the key strengths of our group.”

Find out more about Accent Wire in the UK.

Glasgow Life becomes Green Champion

Glasgow Life, which manages culture and sporting events and facilities across Glasgow, has become the latest organisation to take part in Zero Waste Scotland’s Green Champions training.

The training – delivered by Resource Efficient Scotland – covers energy, water and waste reduction with the aim of ‘providing the skills and tools necessary to successfully improve the resource efficiency and environmental performance of an organisation’.

Around 50 staff members from sports centres, museums, libraries and community facilities across Glasgow took part in the training day in March.

Bobby McQueen, Energy Officer at Glasgow Life, stated: “The Green Champions training was an enjoyable and informative day. It’s always been a pleasure to receive assistance from Zero Waste Scotland, and this was no different.

“The 50 energy champions returned to their places of work and passed on this useful information from the workshops to their colleagues, ensuring that good energy-efficiency practices and awareness [are] high on the agenda at all facilities. It was also really useful to learn about recycling and waste – Glasgow Life was at an early stage of getting energy champions involved in this area but the workshop has assisted us to make huge inroads to improving this.”

Marissa Lippiatt, Head of Resource Efficiency for Zero Waste Scotland, added: “Green Champions training is designed to provide organisations with the information they need to inspire and involve staff, leading to real improvements in the organisation.

“It’s great to see Glasgow Life taking advantage of the training and ensuring that resource efficiency is considered across their facilities. I’d like to congratulate them, and all the organisations which have completed the training, on their success.”

Find out more about Green Champions training.

Coca-Cola launches annual festival recycling scheme

Drinks manufacturer Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has reintroduced its festival recycling scheme, Happiness Recycled, for the third year running.

The recycling campaign aims to encourage consumers to recycle by ‘engaging and educating’ festivalgoers on the benefits of recycling. This is done through a range of interactive bins, performances, and ‘fun’ games, such as ‘The Recycling Loop’, which asks participants to navigate a metal wire puzzle without touching it. The game follows the journey of a bottle being recycled.

Happiness Recycled was in place at the South of England Agricultural Show in Haywards Heath (11-13 June) and the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh (18-21 June), and will also feature at several regional shows around the country, including The Willow Festival in Peterborough and World Curry Festival in Bradford, over the coming months.

Giustina Diana, Recycling Manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises GB, said: “Happiness Recycled is one of our most popular recycling initiatives, offering a fun and memorable experience whilst also educating consumers along the way. We are dedicated to improving recycling rates across Great Britain and know the importance of engaging with consumers in unusual ways to help encourage positive behaviour change. With two successful years behind us, we look forward to bringing the feel-good factor back to recycling again this summer.”

Find out more about Happiness Recycled.

Charles Gaisford joins SLR Consulting

Energy specialist Charles Gaisford (pictured) has joined SLR Consulting as Team Principal of Carbon and Energy Management.

With over 12 years’ experience across both the private and public sector, Gaisford specialises in energy-efficient applications of electric motor driven systems. He was previously Principle Consultant at consultancy company Jacobs.

His previous projects include informing environmental performance assessments of competing technologies, energy auditing, implementing energy sub-metering and management systems, as well as developing energy best practice guidance and training materials.

Gaisford will be based at SLR Consulting’s Aylesbury office, and is tasked with helping to extend the carbon and energy management services the company offers. Initially, he will be supporting clients in achieving compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), which takes effect in the UK later this year.

He commented: “I was attracted to SLR due to its excellent reputation and the chance to join a growing team that is expanding the broad range of services it offers.

“We can help clients to meet energy targets and compliance, from reporting carbon emissions and developing strategies, to reducing emissions and setting out corporate policies or implementing energy management standards such as ISO 50001.”

Find out more about SLR Consulting.