An organic farm estate has been hailed as a role model for its “incredible” work to become carbon neutral – taking a top award alongside two other North Wales firms.
Under Lord Newborough’s leadership, Rhug Estate, near Corwen, has pioneered a sustainable eco-friendly approach.
Livestock range freely on clover-rich pastures free of sprays and artificial fertiliser, while packaging in the farm shop, drive-thru and takeaway are fully compostable or recyclable.
The estate produces its own power through solar, hydro, wind and geothermal schemes, which all contribute to minimising its carbon footprint.
Earlier this year, it appointed a low carbon project manager, Mared Williams, to develop a climate action plan with the aim of reducing carbon emissions even further.
This saw them last month named as one of the winners of the inaugural Net Zero Leaders’ Awards organised by the North Wales and Mersey Dee Business Council.
Rhug, which produces award-winning organic meat products which are sold wholesale, online and in its highly successful farm shop, cafe, takeaway and a drive-thru alongside the A5, was honoured in the category for medium to large businesses.
The awards were organised as part of the Business Council’s Net Zero 2021 online conference which was designed to encourage private sector and not-for-profit organisations across the Wirral, Cheshire and North Wales to reduce their carbon footprint.
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The other winners were Mold-based Celtic Financial Planning, which scooped the prize in the micro business category, and Anglesey Sea Zoo, which was crowned in the small business category.
The awards were presented by the Business Council’s Commercial Director, Ashley Rogers.
Lord Newborough said: “Everything we’re doing is aimed at sustainability and it doesn’t matter whether it’s farming, the meat business, the farm shop or even the skin care products, we’ve arrived in the right place at the right time.
“Now we have found a new asset in the form of carbon.
“By doing what we do here, organic farming, we have taken the harmful carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and trapped it in the ground. We’re not using artificial fertiliser, we’re not using sprays which enables carbon sequestration to happen in our organic clover-rich pastures.
“This is complemented by the trees growing on the estate, the hedgerows that we’ve planted and the responsible management of the mountain terrain where the peat acts as an enormous reservoir of carbon.
“It is well known that 333 acres of organic grassland is equivalent to taking 117 cars off the road every year, so when people go and buy our meat, they are also helping the environment.”
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Ashley Rogers said: “The judges were blown away with the incredible amount of work that has already been done at Rhug over a significant number of years to reduce its carbon footprint.
“Rhug is a perfect example for others to get ideas from on how to work towards being carbon neutral. They are an ideal role model.”
According to Rob Lewis, the co-founder of Celtic Financial Planning, being committed to tackling climate change has been at the heart of everything they do.
The firm’s decision to specialise in ethical investments has seen it grow spectacularly by 733 per cent since it was established in 2018.
A year later, it moved to larger premises on the Bromfield Industrial Estate where the insulation and LED lighting have helped reduce heating costs by 60% and electrical costs by 40%.
There are now plans for a dozen solar panels on the roof and an electric car charge point outside.
Even before Covid, staff were encouraged to work from home and this has reduced travelling costs by half and in future they are planning to continue holding 70% of meetings online.
Celtic are founding members of Mold’s Plastic Free campaign and for every new client they plant British native trees to offset the carbon footprint.
Rob said: “This approach is the golden thread running through everything we do, from looking at our paper usage to the investment funds that we pick for our clients, to how we operate as a business in the processes we have.
“It’s integral to everything, from the milk deliveries that we get from the local dairy where we reuse the glass bottles, all the way up to using recycled paper.
“The next thing is electric charger points for visitors and then we’re looking to get a couple of electric cars for staff to use to be able to see clients and nip out if we need to.”
Since Frankie Hobro took over Anglesey Sea Zoo in Brynsiencyn 14 years ago, it has gone from strength to strength, with marine conservation at the heart of all its activities.
In 2017 it became the 海角视频’s first solar-powered sea zoo, with two car charging points, and it’s now within striking distance of becoming a fully net zero operation.
Frankie has unveiled plans for an ambitious £1million expansion project which will double the size of the existing facility.
The sea zoo had already changed to all British exhibits using natural sea water with seasonal temperatures, which reduced running costs from heating and recirculating its water.
They created a composting area and started recycling waste – with 95% of waste on site being recycled or composted.
There are recycling facilities across the whole site for visitors and the sea zoo produces virtually no landfill waste.
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They introduced a refill scheme and bought in a bespoke branded range of novel reusable products and dropped single use plastics.
Frankie also introduced a social, sustainable, ethical and Fairtrade policy for sourcing of goods for the gift shop and café.
She said: “Being green wasn’t fashionable for a long time, it was a little bit hippy, a little bit way out, perhaps, but it’s finally paid off.
“More and more people are coming round to the idea and recognising that it is vitally important to operate sustainably.
“I am proud of what we have achieved but there is an awful lot more that needs to be done in future.”