This Award is for the company or operating unit that can demonstarte excellence in sustainability, through its policies, products, manufacturing processes and supply chain.
GSK’s solvent optimisation project exemplifies sustainability in action. Through data-driven analysis and a willingness to challenge entrenched processes, GSK has addressed one of its most significant environmental impacts. The initiative reduces reliance on virgin raw materials, cuts energy use and emissions, and boosts circularity—all while being low-cost, low-capital, and easily scalable across sites. Beyond operational improvements, GSK’s holistic sustainability strategy embraces biodiversity, employee engagement and long-term resilience. By cutting waste and boosting competitiveness, the project helps sustain UK industry and jobs. Their work is a model of best practice and accessible innovation that supports a more sustainable future for the chemical industry.
The Irvine site has been a leader with the GSK network since before 2010, initially focused on energy with efficiency improvements and the installation of renewable generation. More recently this focus has shifted to reducing solvent waste by challenging established production recipes, dedicating areas on site for biodiversity and using an employee group to champion small changes such as re-usable plastic containers for canteen takeaways and removing paper cups and paper towels.
On-Site Energy was founded to support energy intensive manufacturers to achieve their sustainability goals whilst minimising their energy costs. We have delivered over £17m of projects to date and are in construction or development on £80m of further projects.
Sponsored by Cogent Skills, this award is to recognise the employer who has done the most to contribute to the acquisition of skills by the company’s workforce through an active skills development work programme.
