St Austell Brewery has launched a recycling scheme to reduce the general waste in its managed pubs by 80%.
The initiative will see the introduction of a streamlined waste system across 45 pubs in the company's estate. The Cornwall-headquartered business is aiming to hit its target by the end of this year.
The brewery is working with waste management firm Biffa on the scheme.
READ MORE: {}
Helen Sprason, area manager and member of the Sustainability Steering Committee at St Austell Brewery, said: “We recognise that given our scale we have a huge opportunity to really make a difference.
"Last year, we successfully reduced total waste in our managed pub estate by 40%, and we are now aiming for an even greater impact. We’re confident this is one of the biggest waste management schemes to be undertaken by a pub company.”
Following the launch of the new waste scheme in the managed pubs, the company is now planning to extend it across its two breweries (St Austell and Hare, near Bath) and its head office and depots across the South West.
Emily Coon, sustainability manager at St Austell Brewery, said the brewery is hoping to create a "culture of sustainability", where staff feel "confident and engaged" in the process of reducing and recycling waste.
Biffa, which has waste deposits across the South West, will undertake regular audits to track the success of St Austell Brewery’s initiative; this data will provide insights into where improvements can continue to be made.
Most Read
Paul Tregunna, account director for Biffa’s Cornwall head office, added: “This is a substantial undertaking, particularly in the hospitality sector, and we are proud to be supporting St Austell Brewery with this important initiative."
Over the last three years, St Austell has undertaken initiatives aimed at tackling its carbon footprint, including reducing emissions from the drays which transport beer across the country and partnering with a food waste platform to redistribute leftover food from managed pubs to local communities.