Muntons of Stowmarket have been given a King’s Award for Sustainable Development, recognising their excellence in world-leading sustainability initiatives.
Lady Clare Euston presents the King’s Award to Muntons. Photograph: East Anglia Daily Press/Newsquest
The Suffolk-based malting company were honoured to welcome His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston, to their Stowmarket facility. Lady Clare presented the award, along with a formal citation signed by King Charles and prime minister Keir Starmer.
“It is a remarkable success story, achieved from the heart of Suffolk, and we are all so grateful for the boost you give to our economy and to the exciting job and career opportunities you offer,” said Lady Clare.
The company supplies products into the food and beverage, brewing, and distilling industries. The award recognises the monumental efforts taken to produce sustainable malt and malted ingredients for the past 15 years.
Muntons have two biomass energy centres, located at each of their UK malting facilities. A focus on energy efficiency and generation has enabled Muntons to be resilient in the turbulent energy market.
It has cut carbon emissions radically in the past years and will be net zero by 2030. And it has been an early adopter of sustainable practices, introducing circular economy gains (especially in re-use of spent ingredients), and lowering the environmental impact of its main ingredient, barley.
Group managing director, Mark Tyldesley, said: “We are immensely proud to have been given the King’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2024. It is 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.”
