Pub chain targets waste minimisation with integrated approach

The hospitality chain, which comprises 789 pubs in total, has entered into a multi-million pound partnership deal with Specialist Waste Recycling (SWR) to develop better waste minimisation activities across its business and supplier base.

The agreement builds on other projects that both parties have been working on together in recent years and will see SWR manage the waste collections, including residual general waste and glass, from all Spirit managed pubs.

SWR’s operations team is migrating all pubs across to its service in an intensive five-week project.

The partnership involves other companies in Spirit’s supply chain working together to help Spirit achieve its operational and environmental goals.

The majority of recyclable material produced in pubs is backhauled by Kuehne + Nagel, Spirit’s food logistics provider, to central hubs where it is bulked up and then managed to best effect by SWR.

This arrangement enables SWR to garner a holistic view of Spirit’s waste for detailed reporting and analysis, and will provide the ability to identify further improvement opportunities down the line.

Spirit has also installed SWR’s Smash & Grab glass crushing machines into the majority of its London pubs where space is at a premium.

Having the volume of glass bottles reduced has facilitated the backhaul of glass from these pubs, resulting in significant savings and freeing up floor space back of house.

Commenting on the partnership arrangement, Spirit’s head of supply chain Vance Fairman-Smith said: “Having already achieved a great deal in the area of waste and recycling we needed a partner that was innovative and flexible in approach in order that we can continue to develop and improve our sustainable practices.”

Maxine Perella