savewater! award® helps SPC Ardmona create a water friendly culture

SPC Ardmona is elated that the splash created by its win at the 2003 savewater! awards® has created ongoing ripples, assisting the regional food manufacturer in its efforts to educate and inspire staff, farmers and the broader community on the issue of water conservation.

In 2003, SPC Ardmona won the ‘Regional Sustainability – Business’ category and also took out the overall Award for Excellence. Their win was based on implementing an education campaign for staff to help minimise water usage at their Shepparton plant (famous for products from pears, plums and peaches to baked beans and spaghetti).

The savewater! awards® were established to recognise and reward innovation and achievement in water sustainability by Victorian businesses, community groups, individuals, schools, government departments and agencies.

Since their win, the SPC Ardmona water conservation program has been extended across all of its three Victorian sites in Shepparton, Mooroopna and Kyabram and staff awareness of water conservation is high.

“With many growers suffering from the drought, the company was acutely aware of the need to save water and began an education campaign to reduce water use and, where possible, reuse waste,” says SPC Ardmona Managing Director, Nigel Garrard. "We found that the greatest impact in water conservation was made through behavioural change, by simply changing the way we do things – employing dry clean up methods or turning off hoses when they’re not in use.”

With more than 750 permanent staff and up to 3,500 seasonal staff, the water saving impact created by SPC Ardmona staff is significant; 70 per cent of the water the company saved during 2002 was associated with cultural change.

“That’s why winning the savewater! awards® had such a positive impact for our company; we won based on cultural change. Being recognised for our achievements showed our employees that small, basic improvements can make a difference,” Mr Garrard says. “Consequently, the win motivated our employees to continue using water conservation practices. It also helped to create a culture where water conservation is always considered when developing new projects.”

SPC Ardmona is currently conducting water and salt trials on select processes. They’re hoping to identify further opportunities in which to reduce water use and contaminants. They are also running a program to educate employees on how to minimise water use and wastage where possible.

The awareness derived from SPC Ardmona’s win in 2003 has also assisted in building new relationships with external businesses.

SPC Ardmona, EPA Victoria and Goulburn Valley Water have since established a partnership to undertake a Cleaner Production Project at SPC Ardmona’s Shepparton and Mooroopna Plant. The project is aimed at identifying and evaluating options to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and trade waste flows. The project is funded by all three partners.

Water authorities, in particular, have also been interested in the cultural change aspect of SPC Ardoma’s water saving achievements, and have approached them with a view to use their experiences as a case study for other industries.

“SPC Ardmona considers water conservation as another step in the move toward sustainable manufacturing. Given today’s climate it is essential to reduce our reliance on potable water supply and maximise reuse and recycling opportunities. Water is integral to the economy of our region so it’s pertinent that SPC Ardmona contributes,” says Mr Garrard.

“SPC Ardmona would strongly encourage other businesses to participate in the savewater! awards®. Aside from the external recognition, it rewards the efforts of employees and staff, providing ongoing motivation - it is definitely worth having a go.”