COP26: South West companies cutting carbon emissions to help the planet
The UN’s COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow is set to start on Sunday, with thousands of people expected to be in attendance.
The event will see world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, discussing how they plan to address the climate crisis.
There will also be businesses, NGOs, activists, lobbyists and protestors descending on the Scottish city during the summit, which is running until November 12.
The idea of COP26 is to bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“Securing a brighter future for our children and future generations requires countries to take urgent action at home and abroad to turn the tide on climate change,” said Mr Johnson.
“It is with ambition, courage and collaboration as we approach the crucial COP26 summit in the UK that we can seize this moment together, so we can recover cleaner, rebuild greener and restore our planet.”
Ahead of COP26 we spoke to businesses from across the West of England about the action they are taking to cut carbon emissions – and help the planet. This is what we discovered…
The Recycled Candle Company
![L-R: Sargon Latchin and Richard Hills-Ingyon of the Recycled Candle Company](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011096.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-recycled-candle-co.jpg)
(Image: Recycled Candle Company)
The Exeter business was founded by Sargon Latchin and Richard Hills-Ingyon who met in 2015. The pair melt down old candles that are destined for the bin, in order to recycle the wax and make new ones.
“While our business falls within the ‘eco’ sector, this of course doesn’t preclude us from making positive moves to reduce our own carbon emissions,” the pair told BusinessLive.
One of the major changes the company has made is to its packaging methods for sending candles to customers.
“In general there’s so much more packaging being used since the pandemic began and more people started ordering items online for delivery,” they said.
“We’ve always used old boxes and packaging materials like packing peanuts which are given to us by our neighbours Sea Salt and Chococo, but we also now work with a company that collects used cardboard boxes and flattens them ready for businesses like us to reuse them.”
The pair said the move has also helped with the company’s bottom line (as they no longer need to buy new boxes).
The Recycled Candle Company packaging only uses biodegradable bubble wrap and parcel tape made from paper. It has also recently put the hobs used to melt the recycled wax on timers to reduce electricity usage – and all its waste now goes to a zero-to-landfill company.
Superior
![Tim Brown is the managing director of Dorset-based Superior](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011189.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-tim-brown-superior.jpg)
(Image: Superior)
Dorset-based manufacturer Superior supplies its waste rubber products to other firms, which are then recycled into various items such as playground matting and soles for trainers.
The company’s managing director, Tim Brown, said the business is “pushing towards” the UK’s goal to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050 – and aims to operate in an “ethical, responsible and sustainable” manner.
The business minimises waste through its working processes and its packaging is reusable or recyclable.
“By improving our tooling, we are creating less material waste and when waste is inevitable we look to recycle wherever we can,” explained Mr Brown.
The firm’s new generation low-energy presses run water-free and can save up to 50 tonnes of CO2 every year, according to Mr Brown.
Even Superior’s buildings are sustainable. Its state-of-the-art apprenticeship training academy is designed to meet BREEAM sustainable building certification, which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation.
“Sustainability is becoming more important for all companies, and at Superior debating whether to incorporate sustainability into our business strategy is not an option,” Mr Brown added.
Womble Bond Dickinson
![Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) at the Law Society Awards](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22008480.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-wbd-sustainability-award.jpg)
(Image: WBD)
Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD), which has offices in Bristol and Plymouth, won the Sustainable Business of the Year award at the 2021 Bristol Law Society Awards.
The company was recognised for its continuous improvement to its environmental performance and for finding sustainable ways to enhance its environmental management.
Earlier this month, the firm announced it is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2030.
WBD already procures renewable energy in five of its seven UK offices, with nearly 50% of the energy used across the UK coming from renewable sources. It also recently reported a 39% decrease in emissions compared to the previous year.
WBD has also been recognised by EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings, and The Planet Mark, a sustainability certification.
The company is also a founding member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance, an inclusive movement of law firms working collaboratively to take positive action on climate change.
Fiona O’Kane, partner and head of WBD’s Bristol office, said: “Whether at work or at home, we all want to adopt more environmentally sustainable behaviours and here at WBD we aim to be at the forefront of the progress made.”
Falmouth and Penryn Primary Care Network
![Falmouth and Penryn Primary Care Network has become the first group of GP practices in the South West to introduce a fleet of electric vehicles](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22008499.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_HBBRI_291021-Falmouth-and-Penryn-Primary-Care-Network.jpg)
(Image: Falmouth and Penryn Primary Care Network)
The Falmouth and Penryn Primary Care Network (PCN) has become the first group of GP practices in the South West to introduce a fleet of electric vehicles into its day-to-day operations.
The PCN, which consists of Penryn Surgery, Trescobeas Surgery, Westover Surgery and Falmouth Health Centre, has invested in four Skoda Citygo-E vehicles which will be operated by GPs and healthcare professionals during routine home appointment visits and prescription deliveries.
The group received the funding for the vehicles from Lex Autolease – part of Lloyds Banking Group Finance and Leasing.
Cornwall-based Penryn Surgery will control and manage the use of the fleet of vehicles across the PCN which in all supports over 48,000 patients across the region.
The sustainable switch to electric vehicles replaces the PCN’s business mileage scheme, which saw practitioners operating private, heavy-diesel vehicles for business use before being reimbursed for their travel. The 100 per cent reduction in CO2 vehicle emissions forms part of the surgery’s long-term drive to lower its overall carbon footprint.
Ryan Ohly, managing partner at Penryn Surgery, said: “This is a huge step forward for the surgeries across the PCN and our commitment to operating more sustainably. GPs and healthcare practitioners make relatively short journeys of up to 30miles a day to visit our patients, so it appeared a no brainer to explore switching to low-emission vehicles.”
Yeo Valley
![Yeo Valley is based in the South West](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22009071.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_gm280119yeovalley_03.jpg)
(Image: western daily press)
Organic family farm Yeo Valley is investing in a new five-year carbon soil programme.
The Somerset-based dairy brand has for the past year been measuring its farm-to-spoon greenhouse gas emissions – from raising and milking cows to distributing pots of yogurt and bottles of milk – to the fridge door.
It’s now in the final technical stages of its carbon footprint assessment of its farms and dairy operations with the Research Institute of Sweden, with the aim of being certified by the Carbon Trust next month.
Yeo Valley Organic believes carbon sequestration in soils – the process in which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil carbon pool – through regenerative organic farming, offers “enormous potential” to reduce atmospheric carbon levels.
The brand has already started working with expert partners and farmer-led social enterprise the Farm Carbon Toolkit (FCT) to begin the soil measurements of 20 of its supplying organic dairy farms.
Working with the FCT, the project aims to help farmers manage their soil in a more sustainable way.
Tim Mead, owner of Yeo Valley Organic, said: “Yeo Valley has been a pioneer in organic dairy since we first launched the brand over 25 years ago and started farming here in the Yeo Valley 60 years ago. We’re now looking to continue pioneering by measuring carbon sequestration and sharing the benefits of regenerative organic farming.”
Stride Treglown
![The team at Stride Treglown](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22009088.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-stride-treglown.jpg)
(Image: Ferla Paolo Photography)
The South West firm is one of the first architectural practices the UK to be certified as carbon neutral as well as a registered B Corp.
The company employs 350 staff and has been implementing measures to reduce its carbon footprint for a number of years.
The firm achieved its carbon-neutral status through a culmination of changes made to working practices and offices.
Significant reductions in energy consumption – including refurbishment of offices with the incorporation of renewables, changing to low-energy lighting and lower-energy office equipment – have been implemented, and it has transferred most of its utilities to green tariffs.
The data has been independently verified by The Future Economy Network and the firm has signed the United Nations’ Climate Neutral Now Pledge which is an ongoing commitment to measure, reduce, contribute to, and report on future progress.
In the run up to COP26, Stride Treglown has been running a series of events across the country under the banner ‘Climate Action Relay’ and, has launched an art installation (with collaborators) in Pulteney Weir in Bath.
Sinking House is a message of warning, and hope, to communities across the world, according to Stride Treglown, to address the issues, reach for lifelines and act now against the intensifying threat of climate change.
Eco Mirage
![Eco Mirage is a renewable energy company](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/article22011286.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Screenshot-2021-10-27-at-115753.png)
The Gloucestershire renewable energy company has installed solar panels and uses the energy generated to power the office, computers and drone batteries.
The Stroud-based business has also cut down on plastics, with most of its products being delivered using cardboard boxes and wooden pallets.
The transportation of products has also been reduced from articulated lorries to small vans for fewer than two-pallet items, according to commercial projects director Colum Ryan.
“The business has all the equipment delivered to the site directly without third handling, contributing to lower transport emissions,” he said.
Eco Mirage recently took part in COP26 Gloucestershire at the Active Building Centre – a centre of excellence working to accelerate the UK’s drive towards net-zero carbon.
It was challenged to display “affordable renewable living” and developed a system called ‘Hybrid Living’ without gas or heat pumps.
“[Our system uses] solar generation, heat and lithium storage and heated plaster boards for radiators,” explained Colum. “This proved the concept was cost effective with and has off-grid capability.”
Bradfords Building Supplies
![Bradfords Building Supplies is based in Yeovil](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011111.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-bradfords-building-supplies.jpg)
(Image: Bradfords Building Supplies)
The UK’s oldest builders’ merchant was one of the first 15 businesses in the construction industry to achieve CO2nstructZero Business Champion status.
The Yeovil-based company, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2020, also won the inaugural Builders Merchant Federation Sustainability Award in September.
Since the latter end of 2020 the company has been focused on how it influences its supply chain to achieve maximum impact from a carbon perspective.
It has already introduced an engagement and education programme for teams and customers and, on November 24, it will host its first environmental sustainability event.
The firm’s Sustainable Homes Centre in the Glastonbury branch – one of the first of its kind in UK, according to the firm – also provides a focused centre for suppliers to demonstrate sustainable solutions.
The company chairs the Builders Merchant Federation’s Sustainability Forum and is on the Green Construction Board. Last year, Bradfords achieved a 16% reduction in its absolute CO2 emissions against 2019.
Giles Bradford, Bradfords’ head of sustainability, said: “We are proud of the journey we have taken so far regarding environmental sustainability, but modest in the knowledge that we are still very much at the start.”
Wild Hare Group
![A ready meal from The Wild Hare Group's product range.](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article21982069.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_AA_BRI271021wildhare.jpg)
(Image: The Wild Hare Group)
The Gloucestershire ready meal brand has announced a new tree-planting partnership with a Cotswold reforestation project in a bid to achieve carbon-neutral status.
The company is using technology, developed by Reewild, to track the level of carbon it needs to offset.
Using the Greenhouse Gas Equivalents Calculator, Wild Hare has calculated it needs to plant 100 trees to offset its CO2 footprint to date.
The brand, which is based in the Cotswold village of Aldsworth near Burford, said it would be planting an average of six trees for every 2,000 units sold to maintain carbon neutrality. All of the information will be displayed in the Reewild app, with everything fully traceable for customers to access and track.
Dominie Fearn, founder of the Wild Hare Group, said: “Carbon neutrality is a huge milestone for Wild Hare and it’s something that underlines our dedication to sustainability, while effectively being a by product of our main goal – that of achieving genuine net zero.
“We work with some incredible regenerative farmers who share our passion for the environment, and it’s in large part thanks to them that carbon neutrality is an attainable aim at this stage.”
The Holcombe
![The Holcombe Inn has a garden poly tunnel](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011133.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-holcombeJPG.jpg)
(Image: The Holcombe)
The Holcombe in Somerset is owned and run by Alan Lucas and Caroline Gardiner, both trained chefs who are passionate about growing food, sourcing local produce and protecting the environment.
After 30 years running London-based catering and event companies, they decided to “escape to the country” and bought The Holcombe Inn in November 2019.
While it was closed they took the opportunity to renovate and rebrand as The Holcombe.
The duo, along with their team, try to reduce food waste by using as much as they can of everything they purchase. They buy free range and locally, and work with suppliers to reduce as much of the plastic packaging as possible and encourage everything to be packed in paper.
The key focus of The Holcombe is the kitchen garden and poly tunnel.
“Our passion has always been to grow more and deliver a fantastic garden-to-plate experience,” they said.
Time Finance
![Carol Roberts, director of asset at Time Finance](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011143.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-time-finance.jpg)
(Image: GRAHAM FLACK)
Bath-headquartered financial business Time Finance has said it is committed to doing “as much as we can” to reduce our CO2 emissions.
According to the AIM-listed company, it has been “applying pressure” to its landlords to use renewable energy resources and has requested that charging points for electric vehicles are installed at each of its offices.
Carol Roberts, director of asset at Time Finance, said: “The pandemic drove a record reduction in global carbon emissions and we want to keep driving that change, and avoid the Covid-19 ‘boomerang’ back to our old ways.”
Ms Roberts said the company is encouraging staff to “take advantage” of virtual and remote facilities where possible to reduce travel. It is also monitoring employee mileage, and turning paperless wherever it can, she said.
In an attempt to offset the impact of petrol and diesel vehicles, and the carbon emissions they produce, the company is also donating money to The Woodlands Trust, to plant a tree and pay for its upkeep, for every petrol or diesel vehicle that it leases.
Pentire
![Pentire is a non-alcoholic spirit brand based in Cornwall](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011260.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-pentire.jpg)
(Image: Pentire)
The North Cornwall non-alcoholic spirits company is working towards becoming a B-Corp – and is cutting its emissions to boot.
All of Pentire’s packaging is plastic free, all of the cardboard used is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable, and the business uses paper tape. According to the company, any carbon that is created by delivery is offset.
It has also partnered with Parkland Press and its paper collateral is printed using waterless technology; this process eliminates water consumption and the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere, raising the bar for environmental standards across the print industry.
To add to this, its two spirits, Seaward and Adrift, use local coastal botanicals. Wherever possible, the ingredients used are Fair Trade, Organically Certified, accredited by the Soil Association and extracted naturally.
Alongside the changes Pentire has made to limit its impact upon the planet, a varying percentage of each sale is donated to the Blue Marine Foundation and other charities that strive to protect the oceans.
When in Rome
![When in Rome is based in Stroud](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011195.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-when-in-rome.jpg)
(Image: When in Rome)
The Gloucestershire-based sustainable wine brand has partnered with tech platform CarbonCloud to quantify the carbon footprint of its products, including its bag-in-box wines.
The analysis scopes a Life Cycle Assessment of the wine, analysing the greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of the production (cradle-to-shelf), from agriculture to distribution, right up until the point the product is placed on the shelf.
The first wine to be assessed, the Sauvignon Bianco, yielded a climate footprint of 0.69kg CO2e/kg, the business said.
When comparing this with the same wine packaged in a single-use glass bottle, a score of 1.18 kg CO2e/kg was produced, meaning a reduction of 41% in carbon production compared to the less eco-friendly alternative.
Rob Malin, chief executive of When in Rome, said: “This is a great start of our commitment to radical transparency on the climate impact of our business activities – but it is only the beginning. Going forward, we will work with our producers as well as CarbonCloud to minimise the climate footprint of all of our products.”
Oltco
![Oltco's directors Tom Stringer and Johnny Pearce](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011201.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_291021-oltcojpeg.jpg)
(Image: Oltco)
The Newquay-based company lays resin surfaces on driveways, footpaths and patios – including at the Eden Project.
The business has been tackling the issue of plastic waste, and cutting carbon, through the creation of its ‘Recycle Bound’ product, which is made using waste plastic such as straws, plastic drink bottles and food packaging.
It uses recycled plastic, which is sorted and then crushed into a more manageable size. This is then granulated and mixed with Oltco’s resin blend to create the product.
Each square metre of Recycle Bound consists of the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws. Therefore, if Recycle Bound was laid on a standard 50 square metre drive, the equivalent of 150,000 plastic straws would be recycled in the process. In total, Oltco said it had recycled more than 150 million plastic straws.
The company has also launched Recycle Base – a ground reinforcement system made using stone and low-grade plastic, including waste ocean plastic.
The grid used in the base product is made using 100% recycled plastic and has a load-bearing capability of up to 800 tonnes per square metre, according to the firm. Recycle Base can also be re-recycled at the end of its life.
Trewithen Dairy
![Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article22011207.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0__Y2A7995.jpg)
(Image: MIKE SEARLE)
The Cornish dairy farm is working towards becoming carbon neutral and climate positive.
Trewithen Dairy has two farms pioneering regenerative farming techniques to increase biodiversity and sequester carbon into their soils.
They regularly monitor on-farm carbon emissions by measuring soil health and have adopted techniques such as planting herbal lays, crop rotation and diversity, and minimal tilling.
Managing director Francis Clarke said: “At Trewithen Dairy, we have a long-term vision to protect pastures and planet for generations to come.
“The environment and biodiversity is key to taking care of the land here in Cornwall. That’s why we’re focussing our attention on the soil beneath the cows hooves, working with our farmers to maintain high standards for animal welfare and stewardship of the Cornish environment. “
Other benefits alongside reducing the farms’ carbon footprint, said Mr Clarke, are a reduction of fertilizer use and in bought-in proteins (no palm, no soya), and improved wildlife and biodiversity on the farm.
Trewithen Dairy founder Bill Clarke has also commissioned a bumblebee research project that was taken up by scientists at Exeter University. A model is being trialled that predicts the best places to target land management changes to increase bumblebee populations.
Tica Lily
![Some of the team at Tica Lily with director Carole Champion (second from left)](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article21462815.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_HBBRI_020921-tica-lily.jpg)
(Image: Tica Lily)
The Somerset textiles business sells sustainable linen products, including bath robes, aprons and tableware, that are handmade by a small team of seamstresses.
Not only are its products made of 100% sustainable flax linen, the packaging used is also environmentally friendly.
The card packaging is printed with vegan ink, the tissue paper used in shipping boxes is compostable, the company has moved towards the use of seed paper where possible, and the tape used to seal boxes is zero plastic.
Tica Lily, which recently rebranded and relaunched, has installed two electric car charging points, as staff are switching to greener vehicles which reduces their emissions. All staff pitch in and deliver products if a delivery address is nearby.
“Its environmental ethos is at the heart of all day-to-day operations and every member of the team is well versed in turning off lights around the building, conserving heat on-site and saving water, which is something large scale industrial businesses often struggle with,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Grundon Waste Management
![A fully-electric collection vehicle that Grundon Waste Management has been trialling.](https://i2-prod.business-live.co.uk/incoming/article21959793.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_AA_BRI251021grundon.jpg)
(Image: Grundon Waste Managment)
The waste management company is converting two of its collection vehicles in Bristol from diesel to electric in an investment worth more than half a million pounds.
Grundon Waste Management will make the move within the next few months after trials found the e-One refuse collection vehicle was able to cover more than 150km in a day.
The e-One vehicle is a joint initiative between truck dealer Refuse Vehicles Solutions and EMOSS, a Dutch manufacturer that specialises in parts for heavy electric vehicles.
According to Grundon, the commitment is part of a £5m investment programme to improve its road-going vehicles and efforts to reduce its carbon emissions.
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Company director Bradley Smith said: “Having proved that the vehicle is more than capable of operating a full day on just one charge, we have every confidence that, as we retrofit this clean technology onto two of our own vehicles, local residents and customers will see the increased benefits of our zero emission and zero noise collections.”
The retro-fitting will make Grundon, which is based in Oxford but has locations in Bristol and Cheltenham, the latest business in the West Country to add all-electric vehicles to its operations
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