Carbon reduction with MaCaW a 'no brainer' says Lancashire catering supplier

A Morecambe-based catering supplier is exiting the pandemic a more efficient, effective and low carbon business than it entered it, thanks to a carbon audit by the University of Central Lancashire’s Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) project and a grant part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Whitewells Catering Supplies Ltd has been supplying restaurants, schools and businesses in Morecambe and across Lancashire with fresh produce and catering goods since 1942.

In March 2019, the family-owned company asked MaCaW to carry out a free audit of its business to identify ways of reducing its carbon footprint. But then, with the audit complete and major opportunities identified, the pandemic struck. “Virtually overnight our industry went from supplying lots of customers to having shelves of stock and almost no one to sell it to,” explains Whitewells’ sales and marketing manager, Jamie Wright. With the realities of pandemic survival to face, carbon reduction was put on hold but as the picture improved, Jamie returned to his carbon assessment. 

The carbon report

Due to the nature of the site the auditors were able to provide in depth analysis of all energy using equipment “The level of detail was impressive,” Jamie explains. “The project shared with us an itemised report detailing every lightbulb and piece of office equipment and it tells you exactly how much electricity each item is using and what carbon is being generated. "I was impressed with the precision and depth of that. It’s quite surprising – and sobering -  to see just how much carbon even a computer screen can generate in a year, and every gramme and kilogramme of carbon equates to money you’re spending.” The report identified two key areas for improvement: the company’s refrigeration and lighting. “Our fridges and lights are on all day so we knew those would be the most energy intensive parts of the business.”

Grant-supported business efficiency

By completing the carbon saving analysis with MaCaW, Whitewells were able to access the MaCaW grant process. Through it, the company could apply for a grant of up to £15,000 which they could match fund 50% . MaCaW supported the business with its application for 50% funding of an £8,800 project to replace ageing lighting and consolidate refrigerator space. Funding was approved in summer 2020. The equipment purchased utilising the MaCaW  grant will generate emissions savings  totalling 4.39 tonnes of CO₂e per year, with a reduction in energy costs of approx. 10-15%. Perhaps the biggest difference of all has been the pace of change enabled by the assessment and grant. “We would have had to make changes relatively soon, if only from a business efficiency perspective,” Jamie clarifies, “but it may well not have happened for a couple of years yet. The grant has enabled us to move faster – and that has meant we’ve become a more efficient, more effective business faster than we would have done. "It’s not just the money we’ve saved with the grant that counts. The grant has also enabled additional years of efficiency savings we wouldn’t otherwise have had.” The changes have meant Whitewells is well-placed to respond to the return of something closer to business as usual.

A 'no brainer'

Jamie doesn’t have to think hard about his recommendation. “Everyone at MaCaW has been great,” he says. “It’s been brilliant from a commercial point of view because we’ve trebled our chilled storage and effectively only paid for half of that. As a result we’ve increased the quality of our operation, also for half the cost. And as a result of that we’ve reduced our carbon footprint. It really is a no brainer.” To explore how MaCaW could help make your business more efficient while supporting your carbon reduction activities, contact us.

MaCaW is a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) project, an industry and academic collaboration funded by the ERDF alongside UCLan, and supported by Boost; Lancashire’s business growth hub.