This article is from page 95 of the 2009-10-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 95 JPG
THE management and staff of Pac- Net Services Europe Ltd. is celebrat- ing their joint success in meeting early targets toward absolute carbon neutrality, a plan they shared with the press and other businesses in May of this year.
Since the May launch of their Car- bon Neutral Challenge, meant to inspire other Shannon companies to enter into a little earth-friendly competition, the organisation has at- tained a healthy 20 per cent reduc- tion in its carbon footprint. They have eliminated over 50 tonnes per year. The success of the programme so far is largely attributed to a well planned, comprehensive waste re- cycling program, along with a con- centrated effort to decrease mileage in the air travel undertaken through their subsidiary, PacNet Air.
Through a well executed recycling plan, PacNet has reduced the amount
of waste going into a landfill by a minimum of 75 per cent, and the fu- ture only looks greener for the emer- ald isle, as plans are now underway to further reduce carbon output, in- cluding an overhaul of the heating system in the PacNet offices.
Another area targeted for positive change is car travel; PacNet plans to purchase a hybrid vehicle for use as a company car, and will continue with a staff commuter scheme, which re- wards staff members who choose alternate forms of travel, such as car pooling, bicycle and public transit. With environmental concerns top of mind, the staff at PacNet have iden- tified another use for the stationery and office equipment they no longer need; instead of sending it off to a landfill, they are distributing the ma- terial to local schools.
“This is a fantastic start; we are buoyed by the initial results, and we will maintain a steady pace toward our end goal of being carbon neutral
by 2011,” says R Paul Davis, spokes- man for the PacNet Services Group of Companies, “Like any long term change, this initiative requires a sus-
tained effort in order to be success- ful, and the PacNet team is prepared to meet the challenge. Everyone is on board”’.