Greene King is one of the UK’s leading hospitality businesses, with more than 1,700 managed pubs, restaurants, and hotels across the country.

The issue.
Greene King set the target to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2020. This ambitious pledge required a significant change to Greene King’s logistics operations and onsite waste management processes.
The solution.
SWRnewstar supported Greene King to consolidate their distribution network and expand their reverse logistics recycling solution. Food waste, used cooking oil, plastic, tin, paper and cardboard collections were removed from pubs and material backhauled to regional depots. This change was more efficient, increased recycling and improved commodity revenues.
SWRnewstar strategically selected suppliers to ensure Greene King’s waste that cannot be recycled was diverted from landfill and used to generate energy. Using waste destination data, Greene King and SWRnewstar engaged the Carbon Trust to validate Greene King’s landfill diversion credentials for its managed estate. The Carbon Trust awarded Greene King’s Zero Waste to Landfill standard in 2020, the first pub company to achieve this independent audited accreditation.
Ongoing improvements are implemented by SWRnewstar’s dedicated account management team engaging with Greene King’s sites to ensure waste reduction and recycling best practice.
"SWRnewstar and Greene King have formed a collaborative and longstanding partnership built on trust, proactivity, transparency and a will by both parties to buck the norm, which has led to key projects and innovative initiatives being landed successfully. These projects have enhanced Greene King’s ESG credentials, delivered against key sustainability objectives and reduced cost for Greene King."
