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Sainsbury’s Food Waste Recycling- Scaling Sustainability, Releasing the Power of Food

tonnes of food not fit for human consumption collected
tonnes of food not fit for human consumption collected
tonnes of bio-fertiliser produced
tonnes of bio-fertiliser produced
Enough Electricity is produced to potentially power 170 homes
Enough Electricity is produced to potentially power 170 homes
The gas produced can heat up to 122 homes per year
The gas produced can heat up to 122 homes per year
acres of land fertilised from Sainsbury’s product
acres of land fertilised from Sainsbury’s product
Sainsbury's logo

Bio Collectors run an excellent facility and produces a great digestate for farmers, which makes our job easier. We have been working with Paul Killoughery, Managing Director, for over a year and the business is growing in the south-east area. He is expanding and we are expanding with him and generating a lot of interest in the local area

Feedback from our customers is always positive – the only issue that ever arises is that the farmers want more digestate than can be produced. Area-wise, we currently cover in the region of 40-50 hectares a week and that is increasing. We started with around 300-400 tonnes and now we’re spreading between 800 and 900.

Simon Williams, Trade Effluent Services

How Sainsbury’s Are Reducing Food Waste

Overview

Sainsbury’s is one of the largest supermarkets in the UK, operating around 280 stores in London, and it has made a number of sustainability commitments to reduce its impact on the environment and to help customers make more sustainable choices.

Sainsbury’s is working to reduce food waste across its operations, from its supply chain to its stores and customer’s homes. The supermarket has set a target to halve its food waste by 2030 and has implemented a range of measures to achieve this.

The company has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, ten years ahead of the UK Government’s target.

Overall, Sainsbury’s push for greater sustainability demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices throughout its operations and supply chain.

Background

In 2019, Sainsbury’s began working with Bio Collectors to collect food waste from its stores in London and recycle it into renewable energy.

The collaboration began with 99 sites in London with each store having its own individual collection schedule based on their unique needs. In Jan 2023 Sainsbury’s expanded the partnership to include further 123 stores across London. Bio Collectors now collect on average 151 tonnes of food waste each month from a total number of 222 stores.

The food waste is collected in 240ltr wheelie bins and transported on specialist CNG trucks powered by the food waste collected from Bio Collectors customers, including Sainsbury’s.

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Carbon Neutral Food Collections – The Solution

The use of CNG vehicles powered by bio-gas is helping to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and the reliance on fossil fuels, making Sainsbury’s collections one of the most sustainable and unique in the market.

The food waste is transported to Bio Collectors’ anaerobic digestion plant in London, where it is processed into renewable energy. The bio-gas produced from recycling the food waste is fed directly to the National Grid and used by local homes and businesses helping to reduce the U.K’s reliance on less sustainable sources. Bio Collectors also create electricity which is used to power their plant and AD process making for a perfect example of the circular economy.

The process also produces a nutrient rich fertiliser, called Digestate, which is spread on local farms in Surrey. By providing this to farmers, Bio Collectors are helping to rejuvenate the soil and improve the quality of the crops without the need for damaging and environmentally unfriendly, chemical alternatives.

Bio Collectors & Sainsburys – A partnership

The partnership between Sainsbury’s and Bio Collectors has had several positive impacts. Firstly, it has helped Sainsbury’s to reduce its food waste and divert it from landfill. This has not only reduced the environmental impact of the supermarket but also saved money on waste disposal costs.

Secondly, it has created a sustainable solution for food waste recycling. Bio Collectors’ anaerobic digestion plant generates renewable energy and fertiliser, contributing to a circular economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Finally, the partnership has had positive impacts on the local community. The renewable energy generated by the plant is used to power local homes and businesses, reducing their reliance on non-renewable energy sources. The fertiliser produced by the plant is used to support local agriculture, improving soil quality and reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.

In conclusion, the partnership between Sainsbury’s and Bio Collectors demonstrates the potential for businesses to work together to create sustainable solutions for food waste recycling, and contribute to a more circular economy.

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