Produce World has gained a prestigious environmental standard as it looks to become a “truly sustainable business”.

The vegetable supplier has achieved the international environmental standard ISO 14001 for its business support centre and three of its businesses.

Produce World employed group environmental manager Adele Carroll two years ago as the business looked to become greener and attain the ISO 14001 standard.

William Burgess, chief executive of Produce World, said: “This is a great achievement for us and is the result of a lot of hard work to make sure we have robust procedures in place to reduce our environmental impact.

“We are determined to make this a sustainable business through effective use of waste water and energy, and by achieving the ISO 14001 standard we are staying ahead of our contemporaries. But we will not rest on our laurels and all the staff here are committed to working hard to achieve further environmental benefits.”

The three businesses to achieve ISO 14001 are fresh potato supplier Solanum, organic specialist RB Organic and Isleham Fresh Produce, which deals in the production and marketing of root vegetables.

Solanum has reduced the waste sent to landfill by more than 50 per cent over the last year, RB Organic recycles or reuses more than 75 per cent of non-produce waste, while Isleham Fresh Produce recycles more than 75 per cent of mains water used through a closed loop lagoon system.

Produce World aims to include its remaining UK businesses, Rustler Produce Ltd and Marshalls, both of which have already begun to implement an environmental strategy, in the coming months.

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