Background

Encirc is forward thinking, at the cutting edge of manufacturing and a pioneer in driving positive change across the wider packaging and food and beverage industries.

Encirc believes true sustainability isn’t just about reducing carbon footprint – it’s about giving back to the place it calls home and championing and empowering its people. It’s a company which has helped facilitate a natural gas supply to the west of Northern Ireland, supported countless local recycling and community initiatives and helped biodiversity around its sites.

In 2022, Encirc owner company Vidrala became one of the first organisations of its kind to have their Science Based Targets approved by the SBTi and announced its ambition to be the first glassmaker to create net-zero glass containers, as well as its aim to make Vidrala the most sustainable glass business in the world by 2030.

What Encirc Did

Encirc is active as a BITC climate champion, is represented on its Environmental Leadership Team, and a signatory of BITC’s Climate Action Pledge.

Representatives from the company frequently present across Northern Ireland, encouraging behavior change from decision-makers in all sectors about how to increase environmental practices within business and communities.

Encirc works closely with partners, including Queen’s University Belfast, Agri Northern Ireland and United Renewable, to examine ways of decarbonising the gas network in Northern Ireland. It also encourages positive supplier and customer behaviour and has worked with Diageo on a biofuel campaign.

Encirc’s trial to create the world’s most sustainable glass container was carried out with Glass Futures, helping boost sustainability across the glass sector.

The company was the first glass manufacturer to adapt the FEVE Glass Hallmark onto its bottles, a symbol which champions the benefits of glass, to encourage recycling, and it was the first glass producer to introduce technology to laser mark each bottle with unique QR codes, enabling relevant information about each to be captured and viewed.

Encirc operates an award-winning apprenticeship programme – Ignite –  and trains managers and members of the senior executive team on carbon literacy.

It is also working with local groups, businesses and enterprises and has partnered with local schools to educate them on how to protect surrounding environments, and financially supported eleven schools to develop their own biodiversity programmes.

Impacts and Outcomes

• In five years, Encirc has been able to reduce its carbon output by 150kg of carbon per tonne of product it produces (853,440 tonnes produced), and its non-melting energy has been reduced by 40% over the past four years
• 85% of Encirc’s Beverages customers say they choose Encirc based on its sustainability commitments
• Encirc’s work with Glass Futures, an organisation Encirc co-founded in 2021 to create the world’s most sustainable glass bottle, resulted in containers made with 100% recycled cullet, using only power generated from law-carbon biofuels. The project reduced the carbon impact of its containers by 90%
• Worked with QUB on setting up a working group of 40 local businesses who are discussing innovative ways of reaching net-zero
• In Northern Ireland, zero-waste-to-landfill is becoming a reality thanks to a partnership with local authorities and waste management companies

The Judges said…

“This organisation demonstrates a clear commitment to doing business responsibly. Its commitment to Science Based Targets is just one example of its ambitions in this space, and its inherent trust in its employees has resulted in innovative practices happening across its sites. This organisation is a strong advocate for responsible business, positively encouraging others in its sector and beyond to commit to sustainability. It is a champion for responsible business and a deserved winner of this award, despite facing some very serious competition.”

Find out more about the Awards and enter at www.bitcni.org.uk/awards.