FOAM converter and packaging manufacturer Polyformes has announced a £150,000 investment in solar panels at its Leighton Buzzard factory.
The business, which was acquired by Macfarlane Packaging in 2024, expects the 250kW solar PV system to generate up to 25% of its total electricity requirements and deliver carbon savings of approximately 41 metric tonnes per year.
General manager Emma Atterbury said, “Sustainability is crucial to our business and operations. Whilst we’ve always supported our customers with reusable packaging solutions, we are increasingly helping businesses switch to more sustainable options and align with forthcoming regulations.
“Although the bespoke packaging and foam products we produce are already durable and reusable by design, reducing demand for natural resources, the installation of the solar panels will also help significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated to our operations. The clean energy provided by the new solar panels will be a big step forward for us and will have a significant, positive impact on the overall sustainability of our business.”
Since becoming part of Macfarlane Packaging, Polyformes said it has renewed its focus on reducing the environmental impact of its operations in line with the group’s sustainability strategy.
David Patton, head of sustainability at Macfarlane Packaging, added, “We’ve made strong progress across Macfarlane Group in several areas, including transitioning away from fossil fuels, making our operations more energy efficient and using our resources and tools to offer industry-leading solutions to our customers. This solar installation at Polyformes marks another important step on this journey.”
