Success at Big Green Business Event!

Wednesday 12 June 2024 3.20pm

Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Means Business hosted a sold-out business networking breakfast earlier this week, at the Shell Store on Skylon Park, as part of Greener Footprints Week. Some 100 delegates from a broad range of Herefordshire organisations attended the event, from industries across the board including agriculture, retail, and technology.

Kicking off proceedings by sharing their journey to the launch of Two Farmers hand-cooked crisps, founders Mark Green and Sean Mason spoke about their race to find an environmentally friendly packaging for their home-grown potato product: a compostable bag changing the game for the brand and sector.

They were joined on the stage by other local organisations including Wye Valley Brewery (talking electric car fleets) and The Courtyard and Pedicargo discussing Hereford's approach and success in business waste and recycling. All part of the Greener Footprints' growing business network which now includes nearly 100 businesses across the county. There were also discussions around energy saving initiatives and grant funding opportunities.

"I think people are much more aware of their impact on the environment and looking for ways to change that," said Mark Green. "Any business that is looking to launch and move forward should seek out the most sustainable way they can do it. This combined effort from businesses can only be good. And events like this allow businesses to educate each other - letting people know what is out there, and what is available to support them."

"We've been part of the 30 for 2030 network for two years," added Philip Pearcy from The Courtyard who joined Will Vaughan from Pedicargo on stage to discuss the way they've worked together on business waste and recycling, the success of which has been shared across the UK. "It's really good being able to network with other people, both to tell our story and to champion creative, innovative practice - and to hear the experiences of other businesses and the impact they're having," said Philip.

This is Greener Footprints’ second annual awareness week and organisers are sharing and showcasing what the community are doing locally on their website, and how organisations can get involved with the growing business network at future events. Any individual who pledges to make a swap during the week to help the planet will be entered into a free prize draw to win one of two new bikes.

You can find out more at https://zerocarbon.herefordshire.gov.uk/make-a-pledge/greener-footprints-week-2024/