From Trash to Cash with Cool Green Business Support at Fresh Logistics

Fresh Logistics has turned a waste problem into a money saving solution by working with Investors in the Environment. Through an innovative partnership the company has saved about £1,000 per year and prevented a significant volume of waste from going to landfill.

A sterile medical products company approached Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Investors in the Environment with a waste disposal problem. They had hundreds of catering approved sterile cool packs to get rid of. These had been used in their deliveries, but they had no further use for them. Their supplier would not take back the cool packs and the company would have had to pay every year to dispose of half a tonne of the reusable products.

How did we help?

Quick thinking staff at Investors in the Environment contacted Andrew Collinson at The Food and Drink Forum who put them in touch with Fresh Logistics, a temperature controlled logistics company that could make use of the packs.

The Food and Drink Forum is a not-for- profit and industry led organisation established to support the food and drink sector. “We are working closely with Investors In the Environment and were very happy to see the environmental benefits arising from connecting these companies together. It is an example of good practice that will improve the environmental credentials of our industry.”

Fresh Logistics will now benefit from around 2,000 cool packs a year to help protect temperature sensitive deliveries. This will lead to a reduction in waste to landfill and save Fresh Logistics about £1,000. The supply company will also save in waste disposal costs.

Investors in the Environment said: “The Food and Drink sector is one of the largest parts of the local economy. Rising food costs and managing environmental impacts in the food supply chain are huge issues. An efficient and sustainable local Food and Drink sector is essential to both keeping jobs and money in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire economy and protecting our environment.”

The not for profit programme works in partnership with businesses, local authorities and universities, finding creative ways to cut businesses’ overheads and demonstrate their green credentials.

Any business, from any sector looking to save money and gain recognised green credentials can contact iiE for support. Currently the team are looking particularly for Food and Drink sector businesses who would like to get some great PR and highly subsidised support, through a high profile international summer school programme in partnership with Nottingham Business School.

Key achievements

• 2,000 cool packs a year are being re-used rather than going to landfill.
• Fresh Logistics are saving around £1,000 per year by re-using the cool packs.
• The supplier of the cool packs also save money in waste disposal costs.