Alara Wholefoods - Case study: Zero waste to landfill

Muesli specialist Alara Wholefoods is the first food manufacturer to be certified as a zero waste company thanks to its efforts to ensure nothing is sent to landfill or incineration from its factory in King's Cross, London.

The small producer has achieved this ambition by introducing systems for reusing and recycling cardboard boxes, paper sacks, office paper, plastic film, toner cartridges, other plastics, cans, bottles, electrical equipment, wood and fluorescent tubes. Even vegetable and fruit peelings from the company's kitchen are composted in bins and wormeries that are kept in a 'permaculture forest garden' behind the factory.

All staff are trained to use the recycling systems in their area and it has become part of their everyday working practices. It is Alara's aim to become Carbon Neutral by 2010. With further staff training, further modification of the recycling systems and the introduction of an anaerobic digester, the company believes that this ambitious target is achievable.

More Information