Sustainability
Sustainability is central to everything we do at Kingsland and is driven by our Thirsty Earth program which ensures a full understanding of how our global supply chain impacts the environment, the economy and communities, both here in Manchester and around the world.
Towards Net Zero for Carbon & Setting Science Based Targets (SBTi)
Like all businesses, we are aware of their carbon footprint, and the need to reduce this in line with current scientific projections on the effects of climate change.
But we want to go further. Understanding total emissions is essential, but is meaningless without a concrete plan for reduction. Kingsland Drinks have now committed to the Science Based Targets Initiative and Net Zero emissions by 2030.
Bulk wine importing and UK packing
We were the first UK company to bring wine into the UK in bulk flexi-containers, a method that is now industry standard. With over 120 million litres packed last year alone, this represents an enormous carbon saving on bottled at source products, removing the need to transport glass and other packaging materials around the world.
Per bottle, there is approximately 40% less CO2 emissions by shipping wine in bulk rather than in heavy glass around the world.
Did you know?
A standard 20 foot/6 meter container will hold 10,584 litres of bottled wine. The same container will hold 24,000 litres of wine in a flexi-tank.
The emissions from mechanically recycling a 24,000 litre flexibag equate to just 6.75Kg of CO2e, compared to 7.27Kg for a rigid metal ISO tank, which also requires 2,500 litres of water and 2.5 kg of detergent per cleaning!
Lighter Weight Glass
In 2010, working in partnership with Tesco, the Co-operative and one of our glass suppliers, we launched the world’s lightest screw cap bottle, weighing just 300g. Manufacturing lighter glass requires much less energy than standard, heavier bottles and thus produces much lower carbon emissions.
Since that launch, we have worked with retailers, contract pack customers and on our own brands to ensure that we continue to reduce the weight of glass bottles wherever possible. Our average glass bottle now weighs around 350g compared to a market average of 550g.
Solar Panels and renewable energy
During 2012, we invested nearly £300,000 in 250Kw of solar panels on two of our largest warehouse roofs. Working at peak output, the array can meet nearly 70% of the site’s demand. In 2022, these panels saved in the region of 1100 tonnes of CO2
We purchase all additional energy from green suppliers – hydroelectric, solar and wind.
Looking to the future, the business has big plans to utilise more locally generated renewable electricity — watch this space!
Hydropower
We are working with a supplier to bring a further 3500MWh of renewable electricity onto site from a local hydro-electric plant.
Irlam Locks is situated on the Manchester Ship Canal, less than 250m from Kingsland, and bringing its output online will enhance our commitment to using as much local renewable energy as possible
Embodied Carbon
Our commitment to sustainable manufacturing mean when you visit Kingsland Drinks, you will see a contrast of old versus new.
We have best in class production facilities however where appropriate, we have refurbished existing buildings, some dating back to the 1800s. Refurbishing rather than demolishing and rebuilding uses fewer new materials, conserves resources, decreases the amount of waste to landfill and significantly reduces the amount of embodied carbon in buildings.
Environment Officer
Our Environment Officer, Shannon Appleton, plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development at Kingsland Drinks and and advocating for policies that protect the environment.
Shannon is responsible for the management and maintenance of our environmental management system to ISO14001 standards, monitoring waste, water, energy and effluent releases and continually identifying opportunities for us to improve. She is also tasked with internal training and communication of environmental issue, and maintains our periodic internal audits for ISO14001 and the environmental legal register to ensure compliance with environmental legislation.
ISO14001 Environmental Management System
Our ISO14001 accreditation is the bread and butter of our day-to-day management of environmental impacts. From employee training to communications, the EMS helps the business keep on top of its legal requirements, and stay abreast of upcoming changes.
Society
The way we treat our people and our community is crucial to our long-term sustainability.
We are proud to be a major employer in our community in Irlam, Manchester, and as an employee-owned business are committed to acting in the long term interests of our Members and their families.
We have implemented a Voice Group to allow our Members to have a say in decisions that affect them and have appointed and trained eight Mental Health Champions across the business.
We are also partners with The Drinks Trust and through the latter’s ‘Develop’ initiative, we have funded five Level 2 WSET course for people in the industry who wanted like to upskill themselves and enhance their career prospects within our industry.