A PAPER mill's efforts to save money by going green has been seen at first hand by a Government minister.

Chapman Industries is one of hundreds of East Lancashire firms which have been helped by the environmental organisation Groundwork.

MP Angela Eagle, a junior minister in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions visited the Darwen site to see how it has reduced its impact on the environment and become more cost-effective. The Groundwork organisation, which operates the Business Environment Association in East Lancashire, works to promote economic regeneration through improvements to the local environment.

"Too many people in industry view environmental improvements as a cost and not a benefit," said Groundwork chief executive Tony Hawkhead.

"This view is particularly apparent among small and medium sized firms which have greater impact proportionately on the environment."

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