Berry Gardens, the UK’s leading berry and stone fruit production and marketing group, has installed the biggest solar energy system of its kind at its headquarters in Linton, near Maidstone.
Buoyed by a £780,000 Green Loan from HSBC, the location comprises of a 993KW Solar Array with more than 3,600 solar panels covering 6,143 square meters, enabling Berry Gardens to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint.
“Investment in reducing the environmental impact of our British production is essential and the support from HSBC UK with an Asset Purchase Green Loan has enabled us to further reduce our carbon footprint,” Nick Allen, CEO of Berry Gardens, says. “We estimate that the new Solar Array will provide enough energy to satisfy the demand of 237 four-bed houses for a year and will take 292,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year.”
Established in 1972, the cooperative has provided retailers with a year-round supply of soft fruit and berries. It is passionate about delivering green energy solutions as part of its wider sustainability objectives.
“The project further strengthens Berry Gardens’ sustainability credentials at a time when many large buyers are now setting publicly disclosed sustainability targets for their supply chain.” Jenni Adams, Head of Corporate Banking for Kent at HSBC UK, comments. “As one of the leading growers in the UK fruit industry, Berry Gardens stands as an excellent example of how companies can build sustainable practices into their business models. HSBC UK is delighted to be supporting the company in increasing its green credentials, and we look forward to seeing it flourish as a result.”
In turn, HSBC is committed to helping businesses shift to a lower carbon economy by providing $100bn of sustainable financing and investment by 2025. HSBC’s Green Loan offering is available to Large Corporates, Mid-Market Enterprises and SMEs looking to secure funding for sustainable activities.
“We‘re increasingly seeing companies invest in low carbon technology not only because of the urgent need to reduce our carbon emissions but also because it makes good economic sense,” Rob King, Head of Sustainability at HSBC UK, adds. “This Green Loan helps Berry Gardens to generate a significant percentage of the energy it uses and reduces its carbon footprint significantly, making the business one of the UK’s leaders in sustainable fruit production.”
