Pilgrim’s Europe has cut mains water use by more than 26 million litres in three years after partnering with sustainable water treatment specialist PureTec Separations.
The project, based at the company’s Spalding site, focused on recovering and reusing water from the softener regeneration process. PureTec designed a low-cost diversion system to capture this water and redirect it for livestock lorry washdowns.
Since being commissioned in May 2022, the system has delivered average savings of 40 cubic metres of water per day, integrating into existing operations without affecting hygiene or production.
The initiative required minimal capital investment and no downtime, delivering both environmental and financial benefits while easing pressure on local mains supply.
Josephine Blundy, Director of Sustainability at Pilgrim’s Europe, said the collaboration showed how practical engineering can drive sustainability gains: “Our project with PureTec demonstrates how targeted, practical innovations can unlock major sustainability gains across the supply chain. It shows that well-engineered solutions can have a meaningful impact on resource efficiency while maintaining the highest operational standards.”
Aaron Rowlstone, Principal Service Engineer at PureTec, added: “By diverting and reusing water, we’ve helped strengthen the site’s water security while cutting costs and environmental impact. It’s a practical example of how food processors can make every drop go further, without compromising hygiene or performance.”