Northumbrian Water is one of over 40 Waste to Wealth Commitment signatories along with Sky, The Co-operative Bank and Marks & Spencer.
The Waste to Wealth Commitment means a great deal to the company, with some of their own ambitious environmental goals to be industry leading in the sustainable use of natural resources.
By signing the Waste to Wealth Commitment, Northumbrian Water recognise the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) challenge that we only have 12 years to change our relationship with the resources we use to avoid catastrophic climate change and restore the health of our environment. The Waste to Wealth Commitment signatories are committing to set targets, work collectively, redesign, collaborate, reconvene and report.
The event, held today at Veolia′s integrated waste management facility in London, will be attended by the HRH The Prince of Wales where he will deliver a keynote address. The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will also deliver a speech in which he will detail how the government will support businesses which are stepping up to this challenge.
Chief Executive, Heidi Mottram will be joining the panel discussion and talking all things innovation at the summit today. Northumbrian Water has a stand at the exhibition, where they will be showing visitors, including HRH The Prince of Wales, the LEGO ‘Power from Poo′ model.
Visitors will be able to drop LEGO "poo" bricks into the model′s toilet, lighting up a street scene and reflecting the Power From Poo process from start to finish.
Northumbrian Water is the only water company in the UK to use 100% of its wastewater sludge in this way at facilities in Howdon, in North Tyneside, and at Bran Sands, on Teesside.
Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive for Northumbrian Water Group said: "We are proud and delighted to be part of this landmark commitment today.
"Our goals for the future are ambitious, innovative and resilient and the environment is a big focus for us. We aim to be achieving zero avoidable waste by 2025 and become carbon neutral by 2027. We also aim to have zero pollutions as a result of our assets and operations.
"Our annual Innovation Festivals, where ideas like Power from Poo are born, push through innovative ideas at scale and speed, and promote innovation within the company. The festival has been held two years running with thousands of attendees. In line with our aspirations on waste and the environment, the 2018 festival was a zero waste event."
Gudrun Cartwright, environment director at Business in the Community, said: "Northumbrian Water has demonstrated leadership and commitment to tackle systemic challenges by signing up to the Waste to Wealth Commitment.
"2030 is a critical year if we are to ensure we have an environment in which business and communities can flourish. The risks of inaction are enormous, but so too are the opportunities that could be created from a prosperous and resilient, low carbon economy. We must make the most out of precious resources, waste as little as possible and find ways of turning the waste we do create into new wealth.
"We welcome other organisations to sign up to the Waste to Wealth Commitment and take action to solve this critical problem."
To find out more about Northumbrian Water′s commitments and plans for the future visit www.nwgourplan.co.uk and follow them on social media @Northumbrianh2O / @northumbrianwater #NWOurPlan