Benefits & Impact

Why use Elixir, the question is why not? With the multitude of benefits both social and environmental, the impact of our service is huge.

Environmental Benefits

Elixir actively seeks to consistently be a considerate and good neighbour and to protect and preserve the environment. We recognise the role of business in delivering on the UK’s commitment to reduce energy consumption under the Kyoto Agreement and are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling wherever possible to minimise the business’s carbon footprint. As a business we are aiming for a waste figure of below 3% of all production.

We are constantly looking to use the latest technology to reduce noise pollution, light pollution and reduce the amount of natural resources we use and we have a long-standing commitment to reducing pollution. This work is now being developed and included in our NOCN training and qualifications.

Working alongside the regions largest window manufacturers and installers, we can currently recycle approximately 1000 old windows a week or 25 TONNES per week saved from landfill.  This will increase to 75 tonnes per week by November 2010. During year 2 we anticipate an increase to 100 tonnes per week in year 3. Recycling plastic makes economic and environmental sense.  Every tonne of product recycled is a tonne of product saved from landfill.

We aim to help divert over 350 tons of green waste from landfill or burning in 2000/10. We will build our own compost bays from recycled wood (which would of gone to landfill / burning). Elixir Foundations also supports community projects and interest in and use of shared spaces, assists community schemes by providing expertise, advice on grants, equipment and a team to work with local volunteers.

Community Impact

By helping employees to develop valuable skills and rebuild their lives, we deliver social benefits to the community, for example by assisting in reducing re-offending and therefore breaking the cycle of crime and fear of crime. As volunteers become productive members of society they become role models to their peers within the community, setting an example for other to follow.

Government review estimates that individuals involved in active addiction and criminal activity costs the economy more than £800,000 over their lifetime, for example through criminal justice, poor health and lack of earnings. However, this could be cut by more than £730,000 if they successfully recovered by the age of 21.

By providing those on the margins of society with the skills and opportunity to find paid employment, we can contribute towards significant savings to the local economy through:

• Increased disposable income to spend in the local community
• Reduction in cost to public services (i.e. benefits, justice system, NHS)

Through our business activities Elixir s is committed to supporting other local businesses through buying locally and providing a best value grounds maintenance and waste management proposition to local businesses.

We will also demonstrate support for local communities by offering advice; support and practical help wherever possible and will begin a local community fund to support local communities with community initiatives around recycling actively involving our team in all initiatives to develop community cohesion and pride in the community.

Through our established private sector client list we also bring in money from other areas of the UK into the local communities where we serve.