Greenvale has been recognised for its bold measures to save water and switch to renewables, winning ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the annual BusinessGreen Leaders Awards.
Having launched an updated environmental strategy in 2015 called Green20, the potato supplier was rewarded for a range of wide-reaching green initiatives at the awards ceremony in London on 28 June.
Foremost among these was the installation of ‘Cascade’ water recycling plants at the company’s two main packing sites in Cambridgeshire and the Scottish Borders.
These have reduced water usage by 70 per cent by cleaning and recycling the water used to wash potatoes; reducing the total volume of water taken from the waterways; and filtering out sand, soil and stones.
Greenvale’s other key initiatives include the installation of over 2,000 solar panels at its sites across the UK; the erection of a 110m wind turbine at its Cambridgeshire site; and the ongoing replacement of traditional lighting with LEDs.
By 2020, the company aims to reduce its water usage by a further 35 per cent, its carbon usage by 30 per cent and to generate 35 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.
Marketing director Leon Mundey, who collected the award with group HSE manager Jo-Anne Baptie, said: “I am delighted to collect this award and it is an honour for the business to be recognised for the achievements of our environmental strategy.
“This is a collective effort. We have over 600 staff working for the business and it is a reflection everyone’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact that we have achieved this.”
