Knighton-based Radnor Hills receives Sustainable Business of the Year award for green initiatives

Radnor Hills, a renowned soft drink manufacturer based in Knighton, has been honoured with the Sustainable Business of the Year award at the Wales Food and Drink Awards 2024. This accolade, announced at Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, reflects the company’s untainted commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly through its pioneering use of aluminium cans.

Radnor Hills places environmental sustainability at its core, producing a range of still, sparkling, and flavoured drinks from spring water sourced from its own boreholes. The company’s dedication is evident through its zero-waste-to-landfill achievement since 2018 and its state-of-the-art on-site recycling facility. Radnor's expert in-house team ensures that any non-recyclable waste is compacted and sent for Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), supporting a circular economy by sending waste back to the source for reuse and recycling.

A standout feature of Radnor Hills' sustainability efforts is its use of aluminium cans. Aluminium boasts the highest recycling rate among all packaging materials used by the company. Each can is infinitely recyclable and sourced within 65 miles of the company’s farm, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. This local sourcing complements the company’s overall environmental strategy and highlights its commitment to a sustainable future.

Radnor’s management system is certified to the ISO 14001 standard, demonstrating its serious commitment to environmental impact. Further exemplifying this dedication, the company has planted over 14,000 trees, symbolising its vision for a greener future. At the end of 2023, Radnor launched a £1.8 million solar farm, adding to its existing rooftop panels. This facility produces 2,000 kWh of power annually, now powering 25% of the factory, and helps mitigate rising energy costs.

William Watkins, Managing Director of Radnor Hills, expressed pride in the team’s continuous sustainability efforts: "We’re continuously working to become more sustainable, so we are very proud to win this award. This win stands as testimony to the amazing work the whole team at Radnor put into our sustainability journey, from maintaining zero landfill status to generating our own renewable solar energy and everything in between."

Bob Clark of Itch Investors, chair of the judging panel, commended the entrants: “I’d like to congratulate everyone who entered, and in particular those who made it to the finals, as the quality of the entries this year was amazing.”

Radnor Hills continues to pioneer in the field of sustainable beverage production. Their forward-thinking approach, combined with their innovative use of recyclable aluminium, sets a benchmark for others in the industry. The company's ongoing initiatives and future plans promise to enhance its already impressive environmental credentials.

If you wish to learn about such green drives being implemented on a worldwide scale, please have a look at AL Circle’s special report, Sustainability in the Global Aluminium Industry.