JAMES CROPPER IS A SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION AT FPA AWARDS

James Cropper has won the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2016.

The British master papermaker received the accolade for its support of the Burneside Community Energy (BCE) project – a social initiative to enable local residents to benefit from investment in renewable energy.

James Cropper Plc provided space for the installation of a 250KW Solar PV Array on the roof of its Burneside mill to help generate clean, green electricity in a way that doesn’t compromise the special ecology or superb landscape of Burneside and Cumbria.

The project, which launched in October 2015, is estimated to generate 193,000 kWh of renewable electricity per annum – enough to offset the energy requirements of James Cropper’s specialist laminating and technical coating facility and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.91million kilogrammes over the next 20 years.

As well as the positive impact on the environment, the scheme will deliver a five per cent annual dividend to investors with an additional £50,000 provided for community projects.

The profits will be generated through the government’s feed in tariff and from the sale of electricity to James Cropper Plc as part of the manufacturer’s long term commitment to supporting the community of Burneside and to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions.

Dave Watson, COO for James Cropper, said: “The Burneside Community Energy scheme rewards the parish and its investors with ethical energy and financial benefits, while helping to reduce our dependency on dwindling fossil fuels. The project brings environmental and social benefits to the community while providing a positive, sustainable legacy for future generations in Burneside.”

The FPA Awards were held at The Grand Hotel Brighton on 10 March with 460 FPA members in attendance. The awards are judged by an independent panel and are a highly respected accolade within the food industry.