A malt firm is over the moon after scooping a King's Award for its sustainability drive as it strives to become net zero in six years' time.
Stowmarket-based Muntons - which also has a maltings in Bridlington, East Yorkshire - has pioneered a number of initiatives to cut its carbon emissions, from the barley which farmers grow for it in the field right through the supply chain.
It has now been honoured with a prestigious King’s Award for Sustainable Development for its efforts.
The company works closely with suppliers and customers to encourage further improvement in the wider food and drink industry and launched a new Sustainable Supplier Programme to educate their partners on how to make greener choices.
It has two biomass energy centres located at each of its UK malting facilities which helped it when energy prices spiked two years ago.
It has cut carbon emissions radically in the past three years and says it will be net zero by 2030.
Among the practices it has pioneered are re-use of spent ingredients and lowering the environmental impact of its main ingredient barley.
Group managing director Mark Tyldesley said they were "immensely proud" of the award.
"It is a testament to the work we have done for many years to challenge what is possible in our industry to make a real difference on sustainability.
"We take pride in the actions we have taken so far, not only reducing our own carbon emissions, but helping our suppliers and customers achieve their goals too, as well as sharing what we have done within our industry.
"There is still more we can do, and we’re excited about what is to come. Every member of the Muntons team will take pride in this award, with everyone playing their role in delivering our vision of a sustainable future."
Muntons was the only Suffolk winner this year in the Sustainability category. Winners of this year's King's Awards for International Trade included Frugalpac of Ipswich, Broadwater Mouldings of Beccles and Burland Technology Solutions of Great Blakenham.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, are now in their 58th year.
Applications for King’s Awards for Enterprise 2025 opened on May 6. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/kingsawards-for-enterprise.
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