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[May 2003]
Green Guidance for Ceramic Manufacturers
New guidelines have been launched on the NetRegs website to help smaller
ceramic manufacturing companies understand their environmental obligations.The guidelines - which can be viewed at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs - offer advice on good environmental
practice and clearly detail the regulations covering the manufacture of
ceramics, as well as glass and glass products, the cutting, shaping and
finishing of stone and also the manufacture of plaster and concrete
products.The website, which is a joint initiative between the Environment Agency, the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Environment & Heritage
Service (NI) in conjunction with the Small Business Service - is free to use
and there is no need to register.The launch of the guidelines follows research commissioned for NetRegs which
revealed that awareness of environmental regulations among SMEs in the UK
remains low. Of those questioned, 86% did not think their activities harmed
the environment despite the fact that SMEs generate about 60% of the
nation's commercial waste and are responsible for as much as 80% of
pollution incidents.When prompted with a list of potentially damaging practices, nearly 60% said
they conducted at least one of them, yet only 18% could name any
environmental legislation affecting their business.Environment Agency Chairman Sir John Harman said: "Our research suggests
that many SMEs which manufacture ceramics may not be fully aware of their
environmental obligations. This is why we have launched these NetRegs
guidelines to help them comply with the legislation covering the work they
do."The site takes visitors through complex legislation using plain language -
it is easy to use and is completely free and anonymous."
ENDS