A NORTH Yorkshire business which has grown to become the UK's largest independent producer of dried pet foot has been recognised for its environmental credentials

Wagg Foods of Thirsk has received Bronze Accreditation from Investors in the Environment (iiE) and is currently the only pet food manufacturer in the UK to have achieved the nationally recognised standard.

The Investors in the Environment (iiE) Bronze award requires legal compliance, the accurate recording and monitoring of environmental issues and resources, setting targets to reduce environmental impact and undertaking crisis planning.

David Knight of the iiE described Wagg's accreditation as a "fantastic indication of the hard work and effort the organisation has put into continually improving its green credentials," praising the company for its introduction of a new waste management system helping it to achieve zero waste to landfill.

Wagg Foods operations director George Page, said: "We do everything we can to reduce energy consumption and prevent waste.

"Our Combined Heat and Power Plant generates electricity from natural gas and also produces heat and steam for use in our production processes.

"It has also helped us to reduce our carbon footprint, which in 2014 we cut by 1,726 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking 575 cars off the road each year.

"Zero waste goes to landfill with material that can’t be either recycled or recovered sent to a waste transfer station from where it goes to Ferrybridge Power Station to help generate electricity."

Other initiatives introduced by Wagg Foods include sourcing raw ingredients such as meat and cereals locally to reduce transportation costs and supporting other local businesses. In addition, the business has developed a compostable bag to hold its products.