Business in Brief – 17/12/21
Racing championship collaborates with waste firms to divert food waste
Tidy Planet and Eco Sustainable Solutions have announced a new collaboration with Extreme E, in which they will convert the off-road racing championship’s food waste into electricity at its upcoming Jurassic X Prix.
For the final leg of the race, which will take place this weekend (18-19 December) at the Bovington British Army military base in Dorset, organic waste solutions firm Tidy Planet will provide the Extreme E crew with food waste drying technology. This will remove moisture and sterilise the material so it can be stored safely over a long period and transported without decaying.
The material will then be taken to 12 miles northwest of Bovington to local organic waste processor Eco Sustainable Solutions’ anaerobic digestion plant in Piddlehinton, where it will be turned into biogas and converted into renewable energy.
Huw Crampton, Sales Manager at Tidy Planet, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be supporting Extreme E with their Dorset event,”
“We’re experienced in providing this kind of equipment to remote locations all over the world – from oilfields in Azerbaijan to luxury island resorts in the Maldives – we know that food waste is tricky to store and treat in such challenging environments, particularly those with high temperatures. And due to the lack of infrastructure to process it in such remote places, it’s better to have a product that you can store safely and wait until it’s possible to move all the material in bulk.”
Tristan Dampney, marketing manager at Eco Sustainable Solutions, added: “Being a part of this pioneering sporting event is a great fit for us, as we process waste to create the energy source the Extreme E vehicles require – electricity.
“We’re passionate about the environment and creating sustainable solutions that reduce landfill and have a positive impact on our planet.”
DS Smith makes progress removing problem plastic
DS Smith has announced strong progress against its plastic replacement targets within its Half Year Financial update to the market.
The company has reported that 170 million pieces of problem plastic have been replaced with paper-based solutions for its supermarket and online retail clients since the launch of its Now and Next Sustainability strategy last year.
Over 1000 wholly recyclable fibre-based packaging solutions have been created by the company, intended for both traditional and e-commerce retailers. Following its Circular Design Principles, key solutions include replacing plastic sealing tape with self-locking cardboard flaps and swapping plastic labels with direct print on cardboard.
DS Smith states that its plastic replacement work is underpinned by a £100 million Circular Economy R and D programme to support the company’s pledge to offer all its customers 100 per cent recyclable packaging within the next two years and for all its packaging to be recycled or reused by 2030.
Miles Roberts, Group Chief Executive at DS Smith, commented: “We are working with our customers to replace more than one billion pieces of problem plastic with fully recyclable, fibre-based packaging solutions by 2025. Consumers are increasingly demanding less waste from their products, and we are embracing this agenda for change to protect the planet and create a more sustainable future.”
UKCM provides rugby club with refurbished waste containers
UK Container Maintenance (UKCM) has announced the expansion of its services into new sectors in the supplying of modified and refurbished waste containers to professional rugby league club, Castleford Tigers.
UKCM has delivered the range on behalf of Premier Waste Recycling, converting the containers from blue and green to orange and black, in order to coordinate with the colours of the club.
Emma Elston MBE, CEO of UKCM commented: “We are delighted to be extending our offering into new sectors, and to be working with Castleford Tigers Rugby Club through our robust working partnership with Premier Waste Recycling, helping the club to maintain its corporate image through such important company assets.
“Waste containers are at the forefront of businesses and in the public domain, so it is essential for them to be maintained to the highest of standards and consistent with the brand essence of the business, organisation or club. Professional sports clubs are often recognised for their powerful brand identity which is conveyed across all marketing assets and channels – something that waste containers are a big, yet often overlooked, part of.”
