IT IS well known that industrial and residential sites do not always live side by side in harmony. The CPC Stroud Flexibles factory, in Wotton-under-Edge, has had its fair share of accusations surrounding pollution and harmful emissions. The company has recently spent a substantial amount of money to make the factory more environmentally friendly. Reporter JULIA CAUSTON visited the factory to see how it is using friendly bugs to become a better neighbour.

SITUATED in Potters Pond, in Wotton-under-Edge, CPC Stroud Flexibles is a factory that at first glance reminds you of a famous line in Roald Dahl story.

Similar to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, you could be mistaken for thinking that no one ever goes in and no one ever comes out.

From the unassuming grey exterior it is unclear what actually happens in this business right in the heart of Wotton.

So I was surprised to hear that flexible packaging we see on famous brands such as Twinings teabags and Cadbury's chocolate could quite possibly have been printed there.

It is the solvents used in the printing process that have caused the main concern about emissions.

Since taking over the factory in 1996, CPC has been working towards cleaning up its emissions.

But, this concern should now be a thing of the past. The factory has spent £500,000 in the last twelve months installing a new plant to ensure the factory complies with new European Union legislation governing solvent emission.

Commercial director Mark Turner explained: "The EU directive means we needed to limit the solvent emission to a certain level. With the help of Stroud District Council, we explored different methods of reducing these emissions and meeting the environmental needs of the surrounding community.

Prior to the EU directive solvents had been emitted into the atmosphere.

"We concluded a biological process was the best option," added Mr Turner. "The alternative would have been an incinerator - which would have produced more noise and is not as environmentally friendly."

The new plant - called Biovox - has taken three years to install. It uses a biological technique involving natural and harmless bugs - microorganisms. These eat the solvents presents in the factory's emissions, making the waste air produced from the factory far cleaner.

Independent company ABC Environmental has installed the plant.

Director Bruno Erasin explained the process: "The solvent-laden air emissions produced during the printing process are passed through the plant, which converts the solvents into carbon dioxide, water vapour and harmless biomass."

The factory used to emit 150 milligrams of carbon per cubic metre of waste air, since the plant has been installed, these emissions have reduced by half now varying between just 15 and 75 milligrams.

Dr Erasin added: "In the past the waste has been emitted into the atmosphere. Now it is all passed into the unit for treatment."

The factory employs 56 people, many of whom live within walking distance.

Plant manager Les Shoebridge said working conditions inside the factory have also improved with the new plant.

"The working environment is a lot more pleasant since the plant has been installed," he said. "The improved extraction within the factory, which takes all the emissions to the plant, means the concentration of solvent in the air inside the factory has been greatly reduced."