Green Foundation participant case studies

More than 250 forward-thinking business men and women have completed Eden's Green Foundation training course, taking back with them the inspiration, know-how and contacts to make changes and efficiency savings.

These previous participants tell us how they and their businesses have already benefited from the programme.

Steve Wright

Facilities Manager, Fifteen restaurant, Newquay
‘We’veFifteen Cornwall is part of a global social enterprise, founded by Jamie Oliver to empower those who deserve a second chance in life. Their restaurant, where budding young chefs complete apprenticeships, is based in Cornwall’s beautiful Watergate Bay.

Since completing Green Foundation, Steve has championed energy use and waste management at Fifteen, installing a bio-digester, which converts 100% of the restaurant's food waste to bio-fuel for use in their hot water systems. Steve says it has significantly reduced landfill as well as Fifteen's energy bill.

He is now conducting an energy audit at the restaurant, and working other businesses based in Watergate Bay to develop better waste management processes.

He says of the course: ‘You come back to work with renewed vigour. And that filters down slowly through all the other staff.’
Louise Nicol

Accounts Administrator, Ocean BMW, Falmouth
‘We’veLouise encouraged her employer to participate in Green Foundation, after stumbling upon the website. ‘Obviously we are a car company; we sell big cars that use fuel… I didn’t know how I would be perceived on the course by other people who are probably smaller companies’.

Louise found the course atmosphere to be open and relaxed: ‘It really put me at ease and I was able to share my information from the company I come from and also find out that everyone is in the same boat... we are all trying to make things better really’.

Ocean BMW has now developed an environmental policy and office lights have been replaced with modern reactive fittings, providing an improved quality of light as well as better efficiency. They've taken steps to reduce heat wastage by installing switches on workshop bay doors and reviewing company recycling policies.

On a personal level, Louise has grown in confidence when it comes to talking about sustainability: ‘I am actually a lot more knowledgeable now than I ever was before, and so I can speak with confidence to anyone. I have officially taken on the extra role of Environmental Programme Co-ordinator at Ocean BMW, giving me the opportunity to influence staff and customers in making positive changes.'
Steve Brown

Partner, Advertees, Truro
‘We’veSteve Brown took part in Green Foundation to get sustainability guidance and generate ideas for his 30-year-old t-shirt and embroidery business.

After the programme Steve installed a meter to measure electricity use, which highlighted a surprisingly energy-hungry pressure washer. Steve has now replaced this with a lower energy unit and the company has saved £150 on their electricity bill within six months.

He has also found ways of using fewer materials during printing. Overall he thinks the return on investment will easily be had within two years.

Steve says: 'Green Foundation has given us a real insight in to the challenges our business might face in the near future. It has helped to change the way we think, and given us some tools to prepare… The results are simple, logical time- and energy-saving solutions.’
Mod Le Foy

Company Director, Global Boarders, Penzance
‘We’veHead of a Cornish-based surf school, Mod Le Foy already had a keen interest in sustainability, having completed a BTEC in Sustainable Tourism. But she says she found the chance to get ‘behind the scenes’ at Eden really beneficial.

Since her local business exchange with an environmental consultant and a permaculture expert, they are collaborating to develop new Global Boarders offers that combine surfing with science education.

Mod says the number one benefit for her business was the opportunity to take time out to reflect on its future. ‘I’m more decisive about the direction in which we want to go – which isn’t always a money-making direction, but is part of a long-term strategy.’
Malcolm Castelow

Director, MK Associates, Bodmin
‘We’veOriginally from Australia, Malcolm runs a marketing support and training company based in Cornwall. He says he recognises how important ‘going green’ is in business today, and is proud to have been ‘part of something which is important and growing.’

As a result of the programme, MK Associates has not only saved £300 on energy and fuel, but now has a pool of contacts to draw upon.

Since taking part, Malcolm has developed a marketing workshop for his clients all about using sustainability as a competitive advantage. He tells us Green Foundation has spurred him on to begin another project, too, but that it remains top secret for the moment!
Sherry Boocock

Director, Plough to Plate, Pensilva
‘We’ve 'We've come away with lots of tips to improve our business, and we also have exciting plans for collaborating with other businesses,’ says Sherry Boocock of Plough to Plate.

The food distribution company ‘buddied up’ with catering company Chaffins Foodservice for Green Foundation’s two-day business exchange. The two companies are now sharing space in delivery vehicles, reducing both their fuel consumption and carbon footprints.

The joint venture led them to think about how excess packaging impacts on fuel and waste costs, too, and Plough to Plate has decided to include this as one of their supplier assessment criteria.

Taking part in Green Foundation also highlighted for Sherry just how many sustainable things the company already does that they should be talking to their suppliers, staff and customers about.

Sherry says: ‘It’s great to feel ahead of the game, saving the company money and contributing to saving the planet!’
John Marriott

Assistant Production Manager, Nationwide Print, St Austell
sd‘Green Foundation was very insightful and made me think about the many components within our supply chain,’ says John Marriott of Nationwide Print.

The company had already made operational changes including insulating the factory and moving to vegetable-based inks and Forest Stewardship Council accredited paper. But coming on Green Foundation helped John realise that more could be done and that a key area of focus should be to reduce power consumption.

The business has since decided to go ahead with a photovoltaic solar installation, which will see Nationwide Print save 13 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – the equivalent to the annual electricity use of four houses.

John’s ambitions don’t stop there: ‘I am starting to look into other energy saving ideas now such as turning the vending machine off at night. Deliveries are being grouped more often, which helps to cut down the mileage and in the forthcoming year I hope to look into changing the oil heating in the factory.’
Steve Mobbs

Co-director, Bude Meats, Bude
sdSteve Mobbs got involved in Green Foundation after hearing about the programme at his local Chamber of Commerce. He says ‘it’s been a great opportunity to interact with people of various business backgrounds, but who all really care about what they are doing.’

Since completing the course Steve has found innovative solutions to managing his business waste, for example by processing leftover meat for resale as pet mince. Steve has also realised the importance of selling locally sourced produce and has been inspired to promote his rare breed Cornish pork more effectively.

Together with another Green Foundation participant, Steve has created an online retail outlet to market local meat and vegetables and provide his customers with an alternative to the supermarket.

‘Without the impetus of Green Foundation, I don’t think I’d have gained the extra enthusiasm. It has had a very positive effect on not just myself and the business, but also the local businesses I source from.’
Jo Major

Quality Assurance Development Manager, Worlds Apart, St Columb
sd‘Green Foundation was fantastic and the enthusiasm that Eden portrayed during those 10 days really gave it a buzz’, says Jo Major of toy manufacturer Worlds Apart.

‘Meeting other people from different organisations and establishing links with those who could provide further advice has been invaluable.’

Jo is currently obtaining quotes to fit photovoltaic panels, low-energy lighting and green IT solutions at the business. She also got the inspiration and contacts to make changes at home; a fellow Green Foundation business is installing photovoltaic panels on her own home.

‘The course made me realise that there is a lot more we can do. It has focused my thinking on where the priorities could be and where some more quick wins are.'

One of those quick wins is that Worlds Apart has already reduced transport costs by processing product returns at their central warehouse facility in the Midlands, rather than transporting them to Cornwall for further handling and processing.
Dominic Boothroyd

General Manager, National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow
‘'Green Foundation has given me the opportunity to see how simple changes within the business can make our businesses more environmentally sustainable, while at the same time reducing on-going costs,’ explains Dominic Boothroyd.

Working at the National Lobster Hatchery, Dominic is no stranger to high utility bills. But thanks to his time on Green Foundation, he has introduced low-cost changes which are already reducing water and energy consumption at the centre several months on.

His team has adopted the ‘traffic light’ colour coding of switches used widely at the Eden Project, so that lights are only turned on when needed. The Hatchery is also planning to introduce water-efficient pumps and is looking for funding to install a solar water system to replace their old immersion heaters.

Dominic says the Green Foundation course has helped him to question other aspects of his business, too, and they're now looking at introducing an ethical retail policy for the products stocked in the Hatchery gift shop.
Gerald Ward

General Manager, Trevanion House Holidays, Wadebridge
sdGerald Ward says he felt ‘truly inspired’ on joining Green Foundation. ‘You have challenged my lifestyle and business values. So much has happened and this is down to your course, which helped us understand that we can make a change – and that we need to.’

The company, which runs holidays for adults with learning disabilities, has brought in small but effective changes to drive down fuel consumption, including a staff car share scheme, satellite navigation for the buses and the thorough care of all vehicles.

Staff education on recycling has seen a real reduction in the amount they throw away, while a full energy audit and the purchase of a smart meter has led to the decision to outsource their laundry – good news for guests, the local laundry business and the company’s electricity bill.

Gerald says the course has also given him food for thought at home, where he’s made himself a vegetable planter out of recycled planks to grow salad and herbs for the family.