Sustainability wrapped up for packaging company thanks to bank finance package

A family-run business in Gloucestershire has secured a £400,000 finance package from HSBC UK to help it achieve its sustainability goals with a new a solar panel system.

Leeways Packaging Services Ltd, which produces 100 per cent recyclable plastic trays for food manufacturers across the UK, has used the HSBC UK funding to install a 130,680 sq. ft. solar panel system - one of the largest in the region. The new eco-friendly solar panels, which sit next to the company’s headquarters in Gloucester, will generate up to 25% of the business’s power, as well provide a more cost-efficient energy system.

The third-generation business is run by brothers Adam and Lee Walding, after being founded by their grandfather in 1971. The company manufactures up to 500 million plastic trays every year, which are 100% recyclable and made from over 85% recycled materials. As part of Leeways commitment to sustainability, the business also recycles all waste on site.

Adam Walding, Director of Leeways Packaging Services Ltd, said: “We’re passionate about sustainability and making sure the impact we have on the environment is as limited as possible, so the new solar panelling system is a huge landmark in achieving these goals. Our HSBC UK Relationship Manager, Mark Wilton, has been incredibly supportive of our business ambitions and the funding has given the business a huge boost.”

James Shepherd, Head of Corporate Banking for HSBC UK in Gloucestershire, said:“Adam and Lee are incredibly passionate business owners and we’re delighted to be supporting a family-run company which places so much value on sustainability. With our support, the new solar panels will not only boost the business’s green credentials but will also enable it to drive down its day-to-day operating costs.”

With around 130 employees across three sites in Gloucestershire, Leeways has been offering bespoke plastic packaging solutions to manufacturers across the UK since 1971.