Green apple award for Gatwick

In a national campaign to find Britain’s greenest companies, councils and communities, Bio-Productions, in partnership with OCS and Gatwick Airport Ltd, have won a Green Apple Environment Award for helping to reduce the environmental impacts of cleaning Gatwick, the UK's second largest airport. The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

The award ceremony was held in the House of Commons on November 14, 2011 and representatives from OCS, GAL and Bio-Productions were present to receive their Green Apple awards. The companies were also invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, and will also be considered to represent their country in the European Business Awards for the Environment. The introduction of Bio-Productions biological cleaning products at Gatwick has resulted in a recognised improvement in washroom air quality.

The airport’s environmental impact has also been reduced in a number of ways.

A reduction in chemical use has led to fewer deliveries and less on-site stock movement, with an anticipated saving of approximately 100 truck miles a year. Bio-Productions biological urinal blocks have been introduced in all the washrooms, bringing an annual reduction in water usage of around 100,000 litres per urinal, per annum as well as energy savings on pumping and moving water to the airport’s effluent treatment plant.

The cleaning products are also stored in a smaller area resulting in lower energy consumption.

Adrian Shuker, Sustainability Director for OCS who provide cleaning services in the airport’s public areas, commented: “It has been one of our top priorities to enhance the passenger experience, especially in the washroom, and to add value for the client through environmental efficiencies. Our partnership with Bio-Productions has helped us achieve this goal.”