Environmental impact Medium
Employer/employee ranking 32/16
Staff numbers 120
Energy reduction 20%
Recycling 16%

Visitors to one of the largest shopping centres in the country are being encouraged to take a few minutes off from bargain hunting to do their bit for the environment. One innovation at thecentre:mk in Milton Keynes is a reverse vending machine, a device that accepts empty plastic bottles.

Carol Wakelin, the centre’s cleaning manager, sings its praises. “We are always looking for ways to show our commitment to environmental issues and reducing landfill, and this is a brilliant way to recycle,” she says. “We provide vending machines which give our customers easy access to drinks and we will be encouraging them to be green by using the reverse vending machines.”

When an empty plastic bottle is inserted into the machine a voucher is dispensed, offering a free hot drink on certain food purchases. The firm also recycles polythene, coat hangers and plastic. Employees agree that bosses are open to suggestions on environmental improvements, giving an 81% green score. They also feel the organisation does a lot for the environment, giving an 84% result, and they know where to put waste for recycling (93%).

The shopping centre runs a climate challenge awareness week, which involves an exhibition with the National Energy Foundation to encourage individuals and businesses to reduce their CO2 emissions. And the introduction of liquefied petroleum gas-powered vehicles has reduced the business’s carbon footprint by 50%.

The firm encourages employees to switch off all appliances when not in use, has introduced light sensors in service areas and air-conditioning has been updated to be more efficient. This resulted in the centre exceeding its energy reduction target of 15% last year by 5%.

Environmental awareness training is included during company inductions. However, employee survey scores suggest that refresher training would be welcomed. For receiving regular communications on environmental issues staff gave the firm a modest 67% green score and not all the workforce seems to fully understand what the organisation’s carbon footprint is, giving just a 57% green score.

Nevertheless, the shopping centre is working towards achieving the ISO 14001 international standard for environmental management. Employees feel that the environment is an everyday consideration in the workplace, giving an 81% green score.