FDBusiness.com

Five of Produce World’s sites have received accreditation from the national green scheme Investors in Environment (iiE), and the English company has picked up two prestigious awards as a result of its excellence in this area. In order to qualify for iiE’s top Green level of accreditation, companies have to demonstrate a two per cent improvement in resource efficiency, and have plans in place for recycling, travel and reducing their carbon footprint. Produce World received the Green level for its Yaxley, Chatteris, Sutton Bridge, Isleham and Lynchwood sites.

The Produce World Group grows and supplies quality fresh vegetables. It is the largest supplier in the UK, providing produce into major retailers, food service and food manufacturing customers.

Investors in the Environment is a nationwide environmental accreditation scheme, originally launched by the charity Peterborough Environment City Trust. It is designed to help businesses save money and the environment by improving their energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In addition to providing accreditation and support to companies which want to make their businesses greener, iiE holds an annual awards event to celebrate the best green practice.

Produce World received the prestigious Overall Achievement Award for a Large Business. David Knight, Senior Business Support Officer at iiE, said: “Produce World Group is an exemplary example of a business that has taken its commitment to minimise resource use and waste very seriously. Itsenvironmental officers have excellent knowledge of the business and the company’s systems, and are taking pro-active steps to continually improve.

“Produce World Group’s CSR portfolio is very impressive and its engagement with staff is outstanding. They actively seek to encourage ownership across all levels to truly embed their values across all sites.”

Highlights of Produce World’s environmental activity mentioned at the awards ceremony included:

• A 555,011 kWh reduction in electricity usage between July 2013 and June 2015.
• 800 solar panels installed at Produce World’s Yaxley site which will reduce the site’s carbon footprint by 10 per cent.
• The company’s ‘Patchwork Project’ which involved planting over 1,800 native shrubs and trees at its Yaxley site.
• Its work with 5,500 children at Kid’s Country’s 2015 ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’ and ‘Food and Farming Day’ events, teaching them about vegetables and where their food comes from.
• Weekly donations of produce to FareShare which have resulted in vegetables being contributed to over 500,000 meals.

iiE is also collaborating with the Green Organisation and its Green Apple Environment Awards scheme. This annual international campaign recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world. It was launched in 1994 and has become well established as one of the most popular environmental campaigns in the world. All winners at the iiE awards were automatically entered for the Green Apple Awards, and the two Overall Achievement winners, which included Produce World, received a Green Apple Award on the night.

CAPTION:

Nigel McConachie, Health, Safety & Environment Manager, and Guy Thallon, Head of Research, Development & Innovation at Produce World.