The climate crisis is at the forefront of public discussion. The UK government is working towards a
pledge to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To do this, the
government has presented the Ten Point Plan for the Green Industrial Revolution. This plan will
allow the private sector to thrive in a way that is beneficial for the environment. By 2030, the
government will invest £90 billion and support 44,000 jobs within green industries.
Manufacturing accounts for a huge amount of carbon emissions. According to the Office for National
Statistics, manufacturing was the fourth highest industry contributing to greenhouse gas emissions
between 1990-2020.
The UK has seen a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. However, despite the Ten
Point Plan, there is still a long way to go if the United Kingdom is to achieve net zero by 2050.
Thankfully, companies in the manufacturing industry are working towards combatting the climate
crisis.
Here, with some insights from David Taylor at the commercial LPG division at Flogas, we explore how
manufacturing companies are reducing their carbon emissions and helping to lead the UK towards a
net zero future.
Taylors of Harrogate: carbon-neutral Yorkshire Tea
Taylors of Harrogate is a family-owned business based in Yorkshire, England. The company produces
a number of products, including a wide range of teas and coffee. Its most notable product is
Yorkshire Tea, which was voted the best cup of tea by Brits in 2021. As a company, Taylors prides
itself on prioritising people and the planet. Following this ethos, they build lasting relationships with
their suppliers and sustainably source their ingredients.
Taylors combats the climate crisis in many ways. The company aims to make all of its plastic
packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. As well as this, Taylors began reducing its
carbon emissions in 2015 and has since announced in 2020 that the company is completely carbon
neutral. In order to achieve this, the business measured the average volume of carbon dioxide that
was emitted into the earth’s atmosphere at every stage of its production line.
This technique allows companies to calculate how much carbon offsetting they need to achieve to
balance out the emissions they cannot avoid. Companies that use this method make up for their
day-to-day greenhouse gas emissions by contributing to offsetting projects. These projects can
encompass work such as forest conservation and renewably energy expansion. In collaboration with
the Kenya Tea Development Agency, Taylors has encouraged over 7000 farmers to plant almost 2
million trees. This is carbon offsetting, as the trees absorb carbon dioxide and balance greenhouse
gas emissions.
Siemens UK: zero waste in Newcastle and wind turbine energy
A manufacturing company founded in the UK; Siemens has sites across the country. This includes
Electrum manufacturing sites in Wythenshawe and healthcare manufacturing facilities in Swords.
Siemens manufactures a number of integral products and systems, such as traffic lights, gas
turbines, and medical scanners.
Siemens recycles 92% of its materials and has an amazing 0% landfill waste capacity in Newcastle.
The company has also spearheaded multiple national projects, including the Keele University Smart
Energy Network Demonstrator. This is the largest grid in Europe. The project positively affects 350
buildings on campus and reduces 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
As well as this, Siemens is committed to expanding the use of renewable energy. The company
created a wind turbine blade factory in Hull, which is the nation’s largest offshore wind
manufacturing facility. The UK government is said to be investing £160 million into the blade factory.
The investment will double the factory’s size and provide a total of 1200 jobs across the whole
facility. The company’s current project, the 1.4GW Hornsea Two, powers the equivalent of 1.3
million homes. Siemens’ turbines are utilised in the North Sea and around the world, powering a
future free from harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Quorn: recycled packaging and reducing the use of plastic
Quorn is a manufacturing company based in Stokesley, Yorkshire. The UK company, which produces
meat-free food alternatives, is committed to tackling carbon emissions one bite at a time. In fact,
switching just one meal to Quorn mince is said to save the same amount of greenhouse gases as it
takes to charge a phone for three years.
The food manufacturing industry is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Livestock farming accounts for 14.5% of all emissions alone. In an effort to reduce its carbon
footprint, Quorn calculates its carbon emissions from farm to fork. This includes the ingredients,
factories, packaging, and transport it uses during the process. Quorn pieces produce a minuscule
0.22kg of carbon dioxide per serving. To put meat-free products into perspective, UK chicken
produces 5kg of carbon dioxide per serving.
Moreover, Quorn has committed to reducing plastic waste within the food manufacturing industry.
As of 2019, Quorn has removed all black plastic from products. Additionally, the company has
created ready meal PET trays made of 80% recycled material. However, plastic packaging is
important to the hygiene and safety of a food product, so it cannot always be avoided. To ensure it
minimises its impact on the environment, Quorn collaborates with RECOUP and WRAP UK Plastic
Pack.
There is a long way to go before the UK can achieve carbon neutrality. Whether the nation achieves
net zero by 2050 is down to the government’s cooperation with UK companies. Manufacturing
companies are an important part of this. Now, corporations are responding to the climate crisis
more than ever. Companies are achieving carbon neutrality, expanding turbine power, and recycling
plastic waste. How will your business continue to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing?
