Cricklade's new waste water treatment plant

Wiltshire-based packaging manufacturer, GWP Group, has invested in a new wastewater treatment facility at its Cricklade production site.

The new equipment, supplied by CTECH Europe in conjunction with AA Environmental, will eliminate the need to transport 350,000 litres of wastewater each year. This not only reduces costs but also significantly reduces carbon emissions.

Previously the business first stored and then pumped wastewater generated from washing down printing equipment into a tanker. A registered waste carrier then removed the water from GWP's manufacturing site in 20,000-litre batches. Tankers would travel as far as the Midlands to dispose of the wastewater via a specialist treatment site.

The new system, comprising an equalisation tank, treatment tank and filter press, removes this unnecessary on-site storage and transportation along with its associated environmental impacts. GWP now treats wastewater on site. Regular testing and inspections ensure it passes the relevant Environment Agency standards.

James Pedley, Group Operations Manager at GWP, said: "The new equipment will make a significant difference to our operations. It will free up significant storage, make our processes much more efficient and minimise the potential for leaks and wastewater spills.

"Of course, there is a significant environmental benefit too. By eliminating the transportation of significant volumes of wastewater, the associated carbon emissions are reduced."

The project is the latest in a string of initiatives that GWP is introducing across the business to improve sustainability. The company has converted all of its lighting to LED, has electric delivery vehicles within its fleet, and invested in the installation of solar panels in July 2024.

Ruth Cook, Managing Director at GWP, said: "How we process wastewater is a crucial part of our ongoing sustainability strategy and complements the other initiatives we are implementing. We both understand and take very seriously our responsibility to the environment and to helping our customers achieve their sustainability targets too."

GWP Group currently employs around 100 people across two sites in Wiltshire (Cricklade and Salisbury), designing and manufacturing a wide range of bespoke packaging products. The wider Macfarlane Group, which GWP became a part of in 2021, comprises more than 1,000 employees.