Sustainability expert Envirowise is encouraging food and drink manufacturers to put three golden rules for resource efficiency high on their agenda during 2010.

The result for companies could be cost savings of as much as £1,000 per employee per year, says Envirowise - not to mention enhanced reputation and improved competitive advantage.

The following golden rules are supported by free, practical advice at www.envirowise.gov.uk - highlighting the best opportunities for saving money and lowering environmental impact in the year ahead:

• Step back - take a step back from your day-to-day operations and assess your raw material use in particular. Are you missing opportunities to reduce product and packaging waste at source?

• Team up - invite your workforce to get involved in managing the environmental impact of your business. Often the best ideas come direct from the shopfloor so set up a forum of environmental champions who can share ideas with the management team.

• Build links - work more closely with your supply chain to assess products and services on an environmental as well as cost basis. Wastage may be identified in areas including water use, transport or packaging.

Matthew Rowland-Jones, Envirowise food and drink specialist, says: “Companies should not underestimate the potential for resource efficiency to help them cut costs and future-proof their business for the years ahead. We know from experience that companies taking action to reduce waste for the first time can save up to £1,000 per employee per year, meaning small actions can be multiplied into big results.

“Actions taken as a result of following these three golden rules could include simple yet highly effective measures, such as modifying the way waste is segregated and recycled. It may also prompt wider-ranging efficiencies such as re-designing products and packaging, using fewer raw materials, requiring less energy to manufacture and helping reduce product waste.”

Envirowise is a government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.