The installation of over 1,000 solar panels on the roof of our UK manufacturing facility in Somerset is a positive step towards greater sustainability – but it’s only part of our strategy. Find out how we are taking action to close the loop across our entire business.
Covering over 2,000m2 of roof space, the recently installed solar panels are expected to generate around 60% of the energy needed to power our production site every year. They will also reduce annual carbon emissions by 89,347kg, which is equivalent to taking 53 cars off the road.
The recent completion of this four-week installation project is a major milestone, as our plant and operations manager Nigel Davies, explains:
“By shifting the balance firmly in favour of renewable energy, we are significantly reducing the carbon footprint of our business. We know this is a priority for many of our customers, but we also believe that it’s our responsibility to ensure Atura is doing as much as possible to lower the environmental impact of production. That means looking at every aspect of our operation and investing in new initiatives to support this goal.”
Waste Management – We have achieved Zero landfill
When it comes to recycling, we are proud to report that the company now sends zero waste to landfill. By partnering with resource and waste management specialist, Veolia, we have established a green collection route for two key waste streams; dry waste is recycled while diverted waste is incinerated to produce energy.
In addition, we have recently put a system in place to recycle the polypropylene sacks used to deliver raw materials. This plastic packaging makes up by far the largest volume of waste but we now have new machinery on site that converts it into compressed bales, which are then sold for recycling.
Water wise – Rainwater recycling system installed
At the same time, there’s been a concerted effort to further improve water management. The recent installation of a new underground tank will enable us to capture and hold up to 100k litres of rainwater from the roof. This will then be cleaned, softened, and used for production rather than virgin water, with any excess gradually released in a controlled manner into the river network.
Clear commitment – Race to Zero
This programme of activity clearly demonstrates we are committed to embedding sustainable practices across our business. We want our customers to see that we not only care about doing the right thing from an environmental perspective but also have the evidence to back it up.
As a signatory member of the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, our company Deltagen UK has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050. We intend to keep that promise and are doing everything we can – but we will do more, so watch this space.