The Wiltshire firm is investing £235,000 in the solar scheme

Wiltshire-based GWP Group has invested £235,000 to install solar panels at its Cricklade manufacturing site.

The company, which was founded in 1990 and became part of Macfarlane Packaging in 2021, expects the installation of the 380kW solar PV system to generate 40% of its total electricity needs in the future.

Ruth Cook, managing director at GWP, commented: “While as part of the packaging industry we have always focused on how we can reduce the environmental impact of our customers’ packaging – through reduced material use, efficient transport and innovative design – this project will be a real step forward for our own business.”

She continued: “The carbon-free energy provided by the installation of these solar panels will have a significant impact on the sustainability of our operations.”

GWP, which designs and manufactures a range of protective packaging, commissioned renewable energy experts Clean Earth to supply and manage the installation of the solar panels.

The installation, completed in early July, should result in carbon savings of approximately 70 tonnes per year and 1,750 tonnes over the systems’ estimated 25-year lifetime.

Having become part of Macfarlane Packaging three years ago, GWP has renewed its focus on reducing the environmental impact of its operations to support the group’s environmental, social and governance strategy.

David Patton, head of sustainability at Macfarlane Packaging, added: “A key area of ​​focus in our business is maximizing the energy we use, which comes from renewable sources. One of the ways we do this is by installing solar panels across our Group operations. It made sense to undertake our next installation at GWP, where many customers already receive packaging delivered by our all-electric delivery vans.”

GWP Group currently employs around 100 people across two locations in Wiltshire (Cricklade and Salisbury), designing and manufacturing a wide range of bespoke protective packaging products.

The wider Macfarlane Group comprises over 1,000 employees, with sales of over £280m in 2023 across the UK and Europe.