Solar investment delivers environmental gains for GWP

GWP has marked the first anniversary of its solar panel installation at its Cricklade manufacturing site by reporting significant environmental benefits and energy savings.

The £235,000 investment, completed in July 2024, has exceeded expectations by generating approximately 7% more electricity than initially forecast. In total, the solar PV system has produced 360 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy in the first 12 months of operation.

Installed by renewable energy specialists CleanEarth Energy, the 380kW system was fitted across two of GWP’s main production buildings.

The electricity generated over the past year is equivalent to boiling 3.6 million kettles, charging 18 million mobile phones, powering over 2 million game consoles, and fully charging approximately 5,500 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles.

Additionally, the energy output is sufficient to power nearly 5,000 typical UK homes for an entire day.

Following an extensive due diligence and tendering process, GWP chose CleanEarth to supply and install the new solar PV system.

Established in 2010, CleanEarth has undertaken a significant number of renewable energy projects across the UK. This equates to having completed 40+ wind turbine developments and installed over 700 solar PV systems.

Their expertise and proven track record in delivering cost-saving, clean energy to businesses made them the ideal partners for GWP’s solar plans.

Ruth Cook, Managing Director at GWP, commented on the milestone:

“We’re delighted to see the impact that the solar panels are already having, from both a commercial and sustainability standpoint.”

She continued:

“As packaging manufacturers, we are acutely aware of our responsibility to the environment. So, as well as the work we do in reducing material use, minimising transport emissions through smaller packs, and using recyclable and FSC-certified materials, it’s great to know we are powering our manufacturing equipment most sustainably too.”

GWP became part of Macfarlane Group in 2021 and has continued to prioritise environmental performance as part of the Group’s wider ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy.

David Patton, Head of Sustainability at Macfarlane, added:

“It’s great to see these figures and the difference the solar panels are making. We remain committed to using renewable energy wherever possible across our operations, with more solar panel installations planned over the coming years.”

The solar panel installation at GWP complements a broader set of sustainability initiatives across the business. These include the switch to LED lighting across both manufacturing and office areas, the introduction of a fully electric delivery van for customer shipments, improvements to internal waste recycling processes, a commitment to supplying only FSC-certified corrugated packaging as standard, and the development of award-winning sustainable packaging solutions.

Future plans also involve enhancements to wastewater handling processes and the continued pursuit of sustainable packaging accreditations and innovations.

The solar panel installation was delivered by CleanEarth Energy, who were selected following a detailed tender process. With over 700 solar PV projects and more than 40 wind turbine installations across the UK, CleanEarth brought proven expertise in delivering commercial-scale renewable energy systems.

GWP currently operates from two sites in Wiltshire – Cricklade and Salisbury – employing around 100 people and serving customers across a wide range of industries with bespoke protective packaging solutions.

The wider Macfarlane Group, which GWP is part of, employs more than 1,000 people and generated sales exceeding £290 million in 2024 across the UK and Europe.

For more details on GWP’s approach to sustainability and ongoing environmental initiatives, head to our sustainable packaging page.