Growing Green
Our pilot decarbonisation scheme, Growing Green, helped 33 food and drink businesses in Kent and Medway on their journey to reduce their carbon emissions and become more sustainable.
The programme was heralded as a success in an independent assessment report, for both the local economy and environment.
As well as driving down carbon emissions, the independent report anticipates the project will deliver over 20 new jobs and £3 million in GVA (gross value added) in Kent and Medway by 2028.
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to start making your food and drink business more sustainable, you can read their stories in our case studies.
Growing Green provided training, co-developed decarbonisation action plans and issued grants to 24 of the businesses to the value of £180,000. The project was funded by the UK Government and Growing Green partners through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
To help you on your net-zero journey, we offer research and innovation grants for improving business sustainability and waste circularity.
Why make net zero a focus for your business?
Achieving net zero carbon emissions encompasses all the processes within your business - from energy and transport to reducing your mains water use and waste materials. Cutting your resource use, and therefore your bills, makes good business sense.
Good for the planet, good for business:
- Save money on water and energy bills
- Be recognised by your customers as an innovative, sustainable business
- Discover new income streams by upcycling your waste
- Get ahead of the curve on upcoming legislations and customer requirements on sustainability
Take the next step on your sustainability journey
At Growing Kent & Medway we want to help businesses grow in a way that is viable commercially and for the environment.
- Case studies - Providing inspiration on different ways you could decarbonise your business.
- Grant schemes - Funding to develop innovative solutions to become more sustainable.
Be part of something bigger
The Growing Kent & Medway cluster can help make connections for partnerships or knowledge exchange.
Amongst our members we count research organisations and businesses across the supply chain - from growers, to processors to even businesses in sustainable food packaging.
If you would like to hear more about Growing Kent & Medway and how we’re supporting food and drink businesses in the region, register to be part of our network.
About Growing Green
Growing Green was funded by the UK Government and Growing Green Partners through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
It was a pilot scheme to develop a bespoke training package to help businesses operating in the agri-food sector to hit net-zero carbon emissions.
The project was led by Growing Kent & Medway and delivered by NIAB, Low Carbon Kent, Locate in Kent, Produced in Kent, University of Kent, the Kent Foundation and APS Produce Limited.
Summative Assessment of the Growing Green Project
Amion Consulting published an independent assessment of the Growing Green pilot scheme in December 2022.
