Purpose
Food waste is one of the most pressing environmental challenges for the food system. Globally, more than a third of all food produced is lost or wasted, representing not only wasted resources but also avoidable greenhouse gas emissions. Olleco, the renewables division of ABP Food Group, sits at the heart of our ambition to reduce our impact in this area.
Action
Olleco’s Aylesbury facility is one of the UK’s most advanced examples of closed loop circularity. The site collects used food waste from foodservice businesses, manufacturers and ABP sites. Once the waste arrives on site, it undergoes pre processing to remove contaminants, then is fed into the anaerobic digestion plant.
In oxygen free tanks, naturally occurring microorganisms break down the organic waste and release biogas, a renewable energy source. This gas is upgraded into biomethane and injected directly into the UK’s national gas grid, helping displace fossil derived natural gas.
Additional biogas is used to generate renewable electricity through combined heat and power engines, while the residual material – digestate – is transformed into nutrient rich organic fertiliser.
Impact
The impact of Olleco’s work is both immediate and long term. By diverting large volumes of food waste away from landfill – Aylesbury can process over 100,000 tonnes each year – the site prevents substantial methane emissions that would otherwise contribute to climate change.
What’s more, the digestate produced improves soil health and reduces dependency on carbon intensive chemical fertiliser, supporting the regenerative agriculture principles in ABP’s One With Nature strategy. The initiative also strengthens ABP’s sustainability credentials with customers, retailers and partners, showcasing how a circular approach to waste can drive environmental and operational resilience.
As the facility evolves and capacity expands, Olleco Aylesbury will continue to drive progress toward ABP’s 2030 targets, ensuring food waste is responsibly managed and transformed into meaningful environmental benefit.