Wat-er way to power Buxton bottling factory

Jamie Needle from Derwent Hydroelectric and Andrew Bingham MP with Federico Sarzi Braga, Nestle Waters Country Business Manager UK, and High Peak Borough Council Mayor Stewart Young and Charlotte Young at the launch. Photos by Glenn Ashley Photography.

Nestlé Waters UK has announced that 100 per cent of the electricity used at its state-of-the-art plant at Waterswallows now comes from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power.

The milestone forms part of Nestlé Waters’ global commitments to continuously improve environmental stewardship, including to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce environmental impact and increase the use of renewable electricity.

Federico Sarzi Braga, Country Business Manager, said: “We have invested heavily in making our operations as sustainable as possible and sourcing our electricity exclusively from sustainable energy sources is another milestone on this journey.”

Sian Chapman and Andrew Davenport talk to the visitors at the launch.

The factory at Waterswallows, which bottles Buxton Natural Mineral Water and Nestlé Pure Life spring water, is one of Europe’s most innovative and efficient. When opened in 2013, the new production lines enabled Nestlé Waters to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging by an average of 25 per cent across the range, improve water efficiency and significantly decrease its total energy output. It has since been independently accredited as zero waste to landfill.

The latest move to 100 per cent renewably-sourced electricity will see the company source approximately 30 per cent of its power through Derbyshire-based Derwent Hydroelectric Power from three of its sites, including their 350kW scheme at Belper Mills and a 150kW turbine at Milford.

Jamie Needle, Development Manager at Derwent Hydroelectric Power, commented: “We are very pleased to have agreed to provide hydroelectric power to Nestlé Waters generated at our site in Belper on the river Derwent, and at two of our other sites, over the next three years. As a hydroelectric generator, sustainability is at the heart of our business model, which is why we are delighted to be partnering with Nestlé Waters to help their operations become as environmentally sustainable as possible.”

Charlie Roberts, Buxton Factory Manager, added: “Bottled water is widely recognised as having the lowest environment footprint of all packaged beverages and this initiative brings us closer to zero environmental impact and sees bottled water production actually powered by water!”