Best foot forward to save the planet
Jun 30 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal
Investigating the issues about the tissues
A DAY in the life of Stewart Begg, environmental manager for SCA Hygiene Products UK Ltd.
Stewart is based at SCA’s Prudhoe Mill in Northumberland which employs 430 people and is home to the popular Velvet brand of toilet tissue. Stewart and his family live in Tynedale.
Q What is your role at SCA?
A I am the environmental manager for SCA’s European tissue business. My responsibilities include ensuring that SCA is fully aware of all current environmental legislation. I also sit on a number of UK and European trade association bodies and I oversee the implementation of the company’s European tissue business wood sourcing policy.
Q What does your role involve?
A One of the three main aspects of my role is that I represent SCA on environmental matters to external organisations. Ensuring that information on environmental issues is fed back into the organisation is another key part of my role.
There are many different pieces of UK and EU legislation which impact on our business and our manufacturing facilities. I have to keep on top of this legislation and interpret its impact on the business. I also need to ensure that our systems and processes are working correctly to enable us to retain the accreditation of various ‘eco labels’ such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Q What is a typical day like?
A There is no such thing as a typical day. I could be discussing operational issues with the management of one of our five UK sites one day and explaining our environmental policies to a major customer the next.
Q What major items are in your in-tray at the moment?
A The company has recently relaunched our Velvet brand of toilet tissue, produced here at Prudhoe Mill, with a Three Trees initiative. This means that we ensure that for every tree we use, we replant three. I’ve been heavily involved in launching this new initiative and it’s given me a great deal of satisfaction.
Today I’m looking at new tree planting projects to support the Three Trees initiative in addition to this.
Another major item in my in-tray is that I’m working on developing training material which will support our organisation to better understand the company’s environmental activities.
Q How do you justify your own impact on the environment given the amount of travelling you do?
A I have started to measure my own carbon footprint in order to reduce it if I can. Sometimes there is no alternative to travelling. However as far as possible we have internet meetings and video conferences.
Q How did you come to have your present job?
A I started at Prudhoe Mill just over 30 years ago as an operator on the converting lines. I developed an interest in safety, so when new legislation was introduced about the use of chemicals I became co-ordinator for chemical safety assessments. As the link between chemicals and the environment became more apparent, I was asked if I would also look after the environmental issues for Prudhoe Mill. This role has grown over the years and I’m now a chartered environmentalist and environmental manager for the whole of Europe.
