WHEN presenter Dianne Oxberry announced that Senator International had won the Environment award loud cheers went up from the company’s table as staff celebrated their achievement.

The Altham firm, which employs more than 1,000 people across East Lancashire, has made a massive commitment in recent years to improving its environmental record.

Clutching the award and a bottle of champagne, a smiling Dave Cullis, Senator’s group services manager, said they were delighted to be recognised by the Lancashire Telegraph.

He said: “This award means everything to us.

“We employ a lot of people in the area so for them to see this in the Lancashire Telegraph will be fantastic. A big thank you must go to all our staff for making this happen.”

This award followed the firm’s success at the same event two years ago when it was named Business of the Year.

Since then it has embarked on an environmental drive to cut waste from its manufacturing site.

As part of the drive it also helps recycle office furniture which has been used and become redundant.

Senator now brings back old office furniture to East Lancashire when it delivers anything new within the UK and the furniture is donated to charitable causes where it can be reused.

Mr Cullis said: “We have met the environmental concerns on a domestic and commercial level.

“Because our trade is selling office furniture and a lot of it is Government based it means if we don’t present an environmental package we could lose out. We have to make sure we cover all aspects of the business package. What we have done is not difficult and it’s common sense really.

“We have just tried to reduce landfill and up our recycling levels which we have been successful in doing.

“We do have a long way to go though because the environmental challenge is never ending and we are committed to it.”

This outright commitment to environmental issues resonated with judges who were impressed by the company’s desire to drive down wastage.

An example of their commitment and innovation regards the company’s biggest waste by-product – off-cuts of board. Senator has installed a major wood burning boiler which incinerates the off-cuts and turns them into useful heat which saves the company over £100,000 per year in reduced gas and landfill costs.

It has also embarked on a programme for recycling its used packaging and is on course to recycle 500 tonnes of packaging this year alone.