Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why and How Duncan Fishwick Of Shorrock Trichem Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Grow your own fruit and vegetables to gain a better understanding of where food comes from. If you don’t have enough room to grow your own food, then visit a local farm that allows you to pick your own.
As part of my series about what we must do to inspire the next generation about sustainability and the environment, I had the pleasure of interviewing Duncan Fishwick.
Duncan Fishwick is a business owner with over 30 years’ experience working in the Cleaning & Hygiene industry across the North West of England. For the past 20 years, he has successfully run his own business, Shorrock Trichem, with the help of his fellow Directors. Recently, his individual passions for business and the environment have come together with the launch of several new and innovative commercial cleaning ranges.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born in Preston, UK, where I grew up as part of a small family. We had a very simple life but we were all loved and took care of each other. Now that I have my own children, this is something I’ve tried to replicate in my own family.
I wasn’t particularly successful at school and after leaving without any qualifications at 16, I’ve spent most of my life proving to myself that I’m capable of more than what other people expected me to become.
I’m passionate about the outdoors and spend my free time walking and cycling around North Lancashire and the Lake District.
Was there an “aha moment” or a specific trigger that made you decide you wanted to become a scientist or environmental leader? Can you share that story with us?
I’ve always been a keen walker and cyclist, so like many other people, I found myself taking refuge in the countryside during lockdown. One of the walks I found myself doing was Beacon Fell, only 10 minutes away from where I live, but I was regularly shocked by the amount of rubbish that people were leaving behind and in some cases, even tipping in a country park.
Having been in the Cleaning and Hygiene industry for over 30 years, I felt I had a responsibility to make a change in my business as well as at home. In early 2020 we launched our EnviroShot range, the first line in our new range of products designed to reduce single use plastics, eliminate packaging waste and lower transport emissions. Since then, we have partnered with new manufactures and released products that utilise circular economies and invest in sustainability programmes.
Is there a lesson you can take out of your own story that can exemplify what can inspire a young person to become an environmental leader?
I would always recommend that people try and spend as much time outdoors as possible. By learning to appreciate the beauty of the nature we have in this country, we have a better chance of preserving it. Many jobs now require us to spend more time in front of screens and we all find ourselves juggling increasing hectic work/life commitments. Learning to enjoy time in nature can not only help raise awareness around the challenges our environment is facing, but also provide people with an opportunity to recharge and find refreshed outlooks on life.
Can you tell our readers about the initiatives that you or your company are taking to address climate change or sustainability? Can you give an example for each?
As mentioned, we are continually looking to offer our customers sustainable alternatives to their everyday products. Our feeling is that by working together with our customers, we can provide them with the best service.
More and more frequently, we find our customers challenging us around sustainability, and in turn we do the same with our suppliers. We are now working with one manufacturer, Tetrapak, who are converting old beverage cartons into washroom paper products and dispensers. It’s pretty cool.
In 2018 we invested in an in-house recycling scheme, which has enabled us to reduce our annual landfill burned by 80%. Since we developed the scheme, we have recycled more that 200 tonnes of cardboard, polytene wrap, batteries and old equipment. It’s been incredible to see how our staff have seized the initiative with this project — without their commitment we wouldn’t have seen half the results.
Can you share 3 lifestyle tweaks that the general public can do to be more sustainable or help address the climate change challenge?
Use more environmentally friendly cleaning products: Every household has them, but a lot of the time we pick up single use bottles and triggers. Look for reusable containers that come with refill options to help reduce your plastic consumption.
Try to be more conscious about the journey you are making and how you travel: The rise in the cost of living is a concern for everyone at the moment, so practice tying multiple journeys together or take advantage of opportunities, such as walking or taking public transport wherever possible.
Always keep a spare shopping bag in your car, your desk at work or on your person: Even with the plastic bag charge in the UK, it’s easy to sometimes still forget when you’re making that impromptu visit to the shops to pick up a missing ingredient.
Ok, thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview: The youth-led climate strikes of September 2019 showed an impressive degree of activism and initiative by young people on behalf of climate change. This was great, and there is still plenty that needs to be done. In your opinion, what are 5 things parents should do to inspire the next generation to become engaged in sustainability and the environmental movement? Please give a story or an example for each.
- Lead by example. We should never expect someone else to do something we aren’t prepared to do or at least try — this is especially true when it comes to our children. We should all ask ourselves if we are behaving in the same manner that we expect our children to.
- Get your kids involved with your household recycling. Involving them in the process can help build self-esteem and it gives them a chance to see the impact we have as people and what is needed to help protect the environment.
- Go on walks with family members and friends. Sharing your enjoyment of the outdoors with other people is beneficial for everyone involved.
- Grow your own fruit and vegetables to gain a better understanding of where food comes from. If you don’t have enough room to grow your own food, then visit a local farm that allows you to pick your own.
- As an employer, I find that it’s our staff that have the best ideas and drive to improve our sustainability. Whether you’re in school or at work, don’t be afraid to put forward ideas about how things can be improved.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Aligning your business objectives with your values will always stand you in good stead. I am extremely passionate about the environment, and I make a point of sharing that with our staff and customers at every opportunity. I firmly believe that any business looking to be successful has to take environmental challenges head on, and anyone that fails will eventually fall by the wayside.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I consider myself very fortunate, because there have been so many people that have helped me along the way. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved learning and that has allowed me to continually develop and adapt. We all need self-drive and determination, but I believe that we should always be looking to take one thing from every person we meet.
You are a person of great influence and doing some great things for the world! If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
This is a huge question and certainly one that I’m qualified to answer… I’d simply say be kind. it might not change the world but if we all tried to do one more kind gesture a day; for our planet, for each other then I think we could all enjoy life a little more.
Do you have a favourite life lesson quote? Can you tell us how that was relevant to you in your own life?
The parable of the three sons. I believe it teaches us to make the most of the opportunities we are given, even if we don’t succeed.
A father had three sons who he decided to split his money evenly between, and send them out into the world. After many years, all of the sons returned home. The eldest had invested his money and had become incredibly wealthy, the youngest son had gambled his away and had nothing left, and the middle son had hidden his money under a rock where it remained to that day. After hearing their stories, the father embraced his sons with the exception of the middle son.
Not understanding why he was left out, and that even his brother who had lost everything was being hugged, he questioned his father. His father explained that he had given him the opportunity and the means to do anything they wanted with their lives.. and even the brother who had lost everything had used the opportunity to learn something. He, on the other hand, had done nothing.
What is the best way for people to follow you on social media?
You can connect with me on LinkedIn or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
This was so inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why and How Duncan Fishwick Of Shorrock Trichem Is Helping… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.