Biomass from our BRCGS AA graded Prepared facility based in Newport, Shropshire is producing 10,500 kilowatts of energy each day from our prepared plant waste.
We are consistently working towards our vision of supply chain transparency, and are pleased to share our UK natural energy output, just weeks after the launch of our Prevented Ocean Plastic™ punnets in partnership with packaging supplier Sharpak Aylesham.
Natural waste energy
We produce 25-30 tonnes of fresh fruit waste from our Prepared fruit facility each week, which is collected by a local farming operation to be converted into power via biomass digesters.
Fruit that doesn’t pass our strict quality tests, alongside the rind, skins, stems and tops are collected each week to be transformed into energy for around 2,000 local homes.
The fresh fruit waste is processed through an anaerobic digester on a farm local to our headquarters where bacteria breaks down the fruit in the absence of oxygen and naturally produces 10,500 kilowatts of energy each day, with 8,000kw exported to power homes close by.
The energy in biogas can be used like natural gas to generate electricity, provide heat and power cooling systems, amongst other uses.
In addition to utilising the biogas produced from the anaerobic digester, the heat from the engine is also utilised to produce kiln dried logs.
Anaerobic digestion is a fantastic alternative to landfill as for every tonne of food waste recycled by the process, it prevents between 0.5 and 1.0 tonne of CO2 entering the atmosphere [1]
Business as a force for good
Alongside our recent announcements around green energy and our reduction of virgin plastic use, we are also proud to have invested in gender parity in the fresh produce industry.
In a bid to address the so-called she-session in South Africa seeing three-quarters of youth unemployed due to the pandemic, we have this month welcomed a group of female students on to our citrus farm to complete their practical hours required for their Farm Management studies at a local agricultural college.
To read more on our developments, visit the news section of our website or keep an eye on our social media accounts.
[1] Biogen. www.biogen.co.uk/Anaerobic-Digestion/What-is-Anaerobic-Digestion