FDBusiness.com

Following the unveiling of its £5.4 million anaerobic digestion plant in 2015, Stowmarket-based Muntons has further improved its environmental credentials by achieving zero waste to landfill. Muntons is a leading global player in the supply of malts, malt extracts, flours and flakes and many other malted ingredients relevant to the food and drinks industry exporting around half of its production. In addition Muntons also manufactures an extensive range of beer, wine and cider making kits, which are also sold globally.

As of May 2016 Muntons has now managed to divert 100% of its non-hazardous waste away from landfill – all waste is recycled or recovered.

Last year Muntons reported that just 29kg of its waste went to landfill. A feat in itself achieved by either treating, reusing, recycling or recovering over 99.999% of the non-hazardous waste generated on site.

The zero landfill figure this year was achieved using a number of tactics – initially by trying not to create waste in the first place. Where this was unavoidable, the wastes being sent to landfill were clearly identified and alternative ways sought to recycle or recover these using physical and biological processes.

Manufacturing and Sustainability Director Dr Nigel Davies comments: “We have worked hard over the past decade to reduce year on year the levels of total waste produced and waste disposed of via landfill. We are proud to announce a figure of zero to landfill which we feel is an achievement worth publicising, however we also believe there is more that can be done and in the coming years we will strive to get even more value out of waste streams.”

He continues: “We are keen to further demonstrate our commitment to the circular economy and show that sustainability can bring in revenue and offset other cost for our business, our environment and society.”