Smart science

We are constantly seeking out new ways of working – looking at everything from ‘what’ we are making, to ‘how’ we do it.

When it comes to the environmental agenda, we believe that investing in technology can help reduce our impact on the environment and give us a business benefit. We think that seeking out new ways of working will support sustained business growth.

Exploring sustainable technology

Northern Foods provides guidance and assistance on key research projects. This includes being a member of a project funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) LINK initiative, which is working on the development of starch based biodegradable packaging. The research is currently being undertaken by Brunel University and as a potential end user, Northern Foods has been active in helping to shape the research to reflect industry needs.

Renewable energy

We are part of a joint project, with other food businesses and INETEC, to support and build a network of waste-to-energy plants in the UK. The plants will convert food waste, such as vegetable peelings and other trimmings, and used food packaging, to biofuel. This waste-derived biofuel will be used to generate electricity for export to the UK national electricity grid. We believe this pioneering project will help Northern Foods to recycle approximately 30,000 tonnes of waste each year into energy and will place us in a unique position to divert almost all of our waste away from landfill to productive use and, at the same time, reduce our carbon footprint.