St Austell Brewery has scooped the Excellence in Waste Management award at this year’s Green Awards UK for its Operation Segregation campaign.
The project is changing the way St Austell employees segregate and think about waste in its 45 managed pubs across the South West.
From team training to colour-coded bins to food redistribution and smart data dashboards, the business has excelled in the adoption of the scheme to reduce general waste by 80% by 2026 in its managed estate. The ultimate goal is to reach zero waste by 2040. This means that no waste from the business will end up in landfill or incineration without energy recovery.
The ethos has been embedded in the business for many years, earning it the Queen’s Award for Sustainability in 2018. The company has continually evolved its approach and commitment to its goal, which is now reflected in its first major rebrand, unveiled earlier this year.
The rebrand not only introduced a new identity, but also marked the launch of its sustainability strategy, Crafting a Brighter Future. This is organised around three pillars: protecting places, celebrating partnerships, and championing people.
Emily Coon, sustainability manager, and Helen Sprason, managed pub area manager, attended the Green Awards UK ceremony in London.
“This win shows that our sustainability strategy, Crafting a Brighter Future, is making a real difference — not just in theory, but in everyday actions,” said Emily.
“This is a big step towards our goal of zero waste by 2040, partnering and collaborating to reduce, recycle and reuse waste, and we’re just getting started.”
Helen, who spearheaded the waste scheme across the managed pub estate and was instrumental in engaging pub teams, said: “This moment took me back to when I was eight years old, watching Blue Peter and being inspired by their green badge launch. That show sparked my passion for the environment.
“Fast forward to today, and I’m so proud to be part of a team that’s making a real impact. Thank you to Emily and everyone at St Austell Brewery — we’ve done something amazing together.”
