top of page

St Austell Brewery To Reduce It's Pub Waste By 80%


St Austell Brewery has launched an ambitious recycling initiative to reduce the general waste in its managed pubs by 80%. The new initiative, in partnership with leading waste management company, Biffa, includes the introduction of a streamlined waste system across St Austell Brewery’s 45 managed pubs.


Teams across the company’s South West pub estate are aiming to double the amount of waste being recycled as part of the plan, with a goal of hitting the 80% target by the end of this year. From educating and engaging colleagues on correct recycling, through to minimising food waste, St Austell Brewery is aiming to reduce its environmental footprint whilst also rewarding teams for hitting their targets.


All of St Austell Brewery’s managed pubs now have colour-coded bins which are divided into three sections:


  • dry mixed recycling for tins, cans, paper, dry cardboard, foil, magazines, plastic containers and metal lids

  • food waste for tea bags, coffee grounds, bones and uneaten food

  • general waste for anything else

 

In addition to making waste segregation easier, St Austell Brewery is rolling out a supporting employee encouragement plan to help drive engagement and participation. This includes a leaderboard for pubs, where the team with the highest reduction in waste overall will be rewarded with online vouchers to spend every quarter.


Helen Sprason, Area Manager and member of the Sustainability Steering Committee at St Austell Brewery, said:

“One of the first things we did when we started the project was to engage our pub teams about proper recycling. For some team members this involved a trip to Biffa’s Redruth MRF (Mixed Recycling Facility) to get a first-hand look at the importance of thorough recycling."

"We recognise that given our scale we have a huge opportunity to really make a difference. Last year, we successfully reduced total waste in our managed pub estate by 40%, and we are now aiming for an even greater impact. We’re confident this is one of the biggest waste management schemes to be undertaken by a pub company.”


Emily Coon, Sustainability Manager at St Austell Brewery, said:

“Reducing general waste by 80% is a bold target, but through our partnership with Biffa and a steadfast commitment to proper waste segregation, the initiative is already making a big difference.”

Emily added: “We’re excited about how we can scale the waste management scheme in the future. The goal is to create a culture of sustainability, where colleagues feel confident and engaged in the process of reducing and recycling waste. Whilst we are committed to minimising food waste across our business, where surplus does occur, we’re proud to partner with Olio. Powered through an app, this relationship ensures that good food is shared with local communities rather than going to waste.”


Following the launch of the new waste scheme in the managed pubs, the company is now planning to extend it across its two breweries (St Austell and Hare, near Bath) and its head office and depots across the South West.


Since the launch of the general waste reduction campaign in 2025, St Austell Brewery has seen encouraging progress across its managed pubs, with average reductions ranging from 5% to 15%. Leading the way is Haveners in Fowey, which has shown exceptional improvement. At the start of the year, general waste made up 46% of their total waste, but they've impressively reduced that figure to just 10.82%. This marks a remarkable 36% reduction at a single site - an achievement that sets a strong example.


Biffa, which has waste deposits across the South West, will undertake regular audits to track the success of St Austell Brewery’s initiative; this data will provide valuable insights into where improvements can continue to be made.


Paul Tregunna, Account Director for Biffa’s Cornwall head office, said:

“This is a substantial undertaking, particularly in the hospitality sector, and we are proud to be supporting St Austell Brewery with this important initiative. We look forward to fully supporting the company’s ambitious efforts to improve sustainability and waste management across all of its managed pub estate.”

Last year, St Austell Brewery released its first impact report, demonstrating the family-owned business’ commitment to sustainability and its efforts to have a positive impact on people and the planet.


With more than 160 pubs across the South West, two breweries, a drinks wholesale business and six distribution centres, St Austell Brewery is one of the region's largest private businesses.


Sustainability has long been at the heart of St Austell Brewery’s mission. Since 2002, the company has partnered with Cornish farmers to source local barley, minimising food miles by building a strong South West supply chain and supporting local businesses.


Over the last three years, the business has undertaken initiatives aimed at tackling its carbon footprint, including reducing emissions from the drays which transport beer across the country by updating the lorries to Euro 6 engines, and its partnership with a food waste platform to redistribute leftover food from managed pubs to local communities.


Most Read

Oodles Of Noodles: A Culinary Journey Through The World Of Noodles

Oodles Of Noodles: A Culinary Journey Through The World Of Noodles

Noodles, the beloved and versatile staple found in cuisines across the globe, have been captivating taste buds for centuries. From the...

Major Global Survey By STEP Reveals Attitudes To Wealth

Major Global Survey By STEP Reveals Attitudes To Wealth

STEP, the professional body for trust and estate practitioners, has today launched a major report Attitudes to Wealth – the first STEP...

Furniture Village To Open In Glasgow

Furniture Village To Open In Glasgow

Furniture Village is delighted to announce that it has recently exchanged contracts on its largest store to date, in a prominent location...

Categories


What are the unique challenges and rewards of marketing a family business? Nicola Stamford, a specialist family business marketeer, shares her thoughts.


According to the Institute for Family Business, family-owned businesses in the UK employ 14.2 million people, generate a quarter of our GDP and pay £196 billion in tax. They are the backbone of our communities, forging the way for socially responsible, sustainable living. Yet all too often they remain low profile.


As a marketing specialist who has worked with family businesses for over 20 years, I’m on a mission to stop them hiding their light under a bushel! In my experience, marketing family businesses offers unique opportunities, inspiration and rewards.


The Family Factor

By their very nature, family businesses have a head start when it comes to marketing. Think about what ‘family’ means to you – love, warmth, happiness, care, support…


Subconsciously we tend to translate these positive feelings across to family businesses. Finding out that a company is family owned gives it a human face and helps to engender a sense of trust.


If a family business harnesses this effectively, it can be extremely powerful. However, it’s not enough to simply add the words ‘A family business’ to your strapline… For the family factor to bring true competitive advantage, the essence of family needs to run through everything you do – from your values and working culture, to your customer service and community action.


As well as having a positive impact on all the people directly involved in your business, this generates great news stories to share in your marketing materials. In my experience, many family businesses struggle with this and are nervous about blowing their own trumpet, instinctively wanting to ‘keep it in the family’. But highlighting the great things you’re doing as a company can make all the difference when it comes to winning and retaining customers. The key is to get your brand voice right and communicate in a way that makes it clear you’re still a humble, values-led organisation that puts people first.


If, like many of the family businesses I work with, you see your employees as an extension of your family, make sure you build internal comms into your marketing mix. Show people how important they are to you through clear, open communication, regular get-togethers, celebrations and rewards. A loyal, energised workforce with shared values, unified purpose and a strong sense of belonging sits at the heart of successful family businesses.


Tradition For Today

Brand storytelling is a key part of effective marketing and there are few businesses with a better tale to tell than a family business.


Whether you’re the fourth generation to run your company or a young couple just starting out, you have a unique family story that will resonate with customers and employees. Making this the cornerstone of your marketing can give you a distinct competitive advantage, making your business more credible, authentic and memorable.


Having said that, respecting your history doesn’t mean living in the past. You might want to stay true to tradition, but just because your company dates back to the last century it doesn’t mean your marketing should! Marketing platforms have evolved rapidly in recent years and family businesses – however steeped in history – have to be willing to embrace change. Traditional media like TV, radio and newspaper may still play a part in your marketing strategy, but be open to the power of social media, blogs, email marketing, SEO, podcasts, video, display ads, paid social ads…


If this all sounds daunting, why not consider getting advice from an agency that has particular expertise in marketing family businesses? They will be able to get under the skin of your business, bring a new perspective to your brand, suggest innovative approaches and help you grow.


Ultimately, however you go about marketing your family business, the key is to adapt, innovate and tell your story to the world. In our increasingly impersonal digital lives, I believe that the personal touch of family businesses has never been more valued. The opportunities are huge – we just need to capitalise on them.

About the Author – Nicola Stamford is the Founding Director of Big Bamboo, a Yorkshire-based marketing agency that supports family businesses. Find out more here www.thebigbambooagency.co.uk

Most Read

Oodles Of Noodles: A Culinary Journey Through The World Of Noodles

Oodles Of Noodles: A Culinary Journey Through The World Of Noodles

Noodles, the beloved and versatile staple found in cuisines across the globe, have been captivating taste buds for centuries. From the...

Major Global Survey By STEP Reveals Attitudes To Wealth

Major Global Survey By STEP Reveals Attitudes To Wealth

STEP, the professional body for trust and estate practitioners, has today launched a major report Attitudes to Wealth – the first STEP...

Furniture Village To Open In Glasgow

Furniture Village To Open In Glasgow

Furniture Village is delighted to announce that it has recently exchanged contracts on its largest store to date, in a prominent location...

Categories

Lake District Spa Resort Guests Go Vintage With Vinyl Collection

Lake District Spa Resort Guests Go Vintage With Vinyl Collection

A Lake District spa resort is giving some of its guests the chance to dip into the annals of popular music with the introduction of a...

Christchurch Marina Returns To Family After 50 Years

Christchurch Marina Returns To Family After 50 Years

After being leased for the last 50 years a ‘secret’ Christchurch marina is back under the control of the family who own it. Little Avon...

The White Hart Welcomes Launch For Malthouse Lager Cans

The White Hart Welcomes Launch For Malthouse Lager Cans

There was fire on the grill and a buzz in the air as The White Hart, Whitchurch, welcomed back landlord Nick Panterlis with a proper...

Recent Posts

bottom of page