Steelite International's position as one of the UK's leading environmental champions has been reinforced this week.

The company - based in Stoke-on-Trent and the UK's biggest manufacturer of tableware - was selected by the European Forum on Eco Innovation to speak at their 10th annual conference in Birmingham this week.

The forum, at Birmingham's prestigious ICC, brought together key players in business, academia, finance, policy and green groups. It shared best practice on sustainable materials management as well a highlighting innovation and Government/EU priorities. 

Pat Griffin, Health, Safety, Environmental and Training Manager for Steelite International was invited to address the conference.  He explained: "The forum is the highlight of the European environmental agenda and attracted a vast number of high profile speakers and delegates.

"We were honoured to be invited to tell our story to the delegates and it proved an excellent opportunity to show that Steelite International is at the very forefront of tackling environmental issues, harnessing new technology to make us more productive, competitive and ecologically responsible. 

"Environmental efficiency is one of the cornerstones of our business's 'Made for Life' ethos."  

Pat's presentation to the conference highlighted the innovative Lamella project which has seen the company invest £85,000 in cutting edge technology to reduce waste and chemical usage at the same time as recycling raw materials. 

In 2010 a world leading 94 per cent of waste leaving Steelite's site was recycled thanks to a unique partnership with local businesses and the Lamella system has enabled them to increase efficiency by producing 15,000 cups and saucers a week from materials that they have recycled.

Steelite's commitment to a more sustainable future is also clearly mapped out with plans to develop a low temperature glaze to reduce energy usage and significantly alter its carbon footprint.