Case Studies

Our case studies offer a detailed insight into the way complex issues of food supply are resolved within a given context

Energy and Sustainability Audit of a London Restaurant to Reduce Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint

Beit El Zaytoun is a high‑occupancy restaurant operating in Park Royal from a well‑located, generously sized single‑storey premises refurbished for hospitality use, with mixed HVAC systems and long operating hours. The site consumes 413,895 kWh/year and emits ~75 tCO₂e, with gas supplying most energy (72%). Modelling indicates that fabric upgrades, LED lighting, ASHPs, and a modest PV array could reduce emissions by up to 24%, though overall performance is constrained by kitchen process loads, which make up 57% of total energy use, rising to 74% following building‑services improvements.

Heating electrification reduces gas use but increases electrical demand and faces practical challenges relating to grid capacity, external plant placement, and ventilation interactions. Fabric upgrades deliver incremental benefit, while on‑site PV potential (≈11 kWp) provides limited offsetting. Ultimately, decarbonisation is shaped more by the inherent energy intensity of catering operations than by building systems, limiting the impact of conventional retrofit measures.

Strategic Significance

Situated within the Park Royal industrial and food systems cluster, Beit El Zaytoun holds value beyond a single‑site retrofit. It serves as:

A real‑world case study of the decarbonisation limits in food‑led hospitality
A demonstrator for combined fabric, electrification, and renewables pathways
A platform to trial next‑generation low‑carbon catering technologies
A testbed for robust measurement and verification frameworks (TM54/IPMVP)

As such, the project addresses a broader systemic challenge: how to decarbonise energy‑intensive, process‑dominated commercial kitchens within the UK’s food supply chain.

Energy & CO2 Emissions Reduction at a Confectionery Business

July 21, 2025
Industry

Food manufacturing facilities across the UK typically feature expansive roof spaces – an underutilised asset with significant potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation. Harnessing this space for local renewable electricity production could play a pivotal role in reducing reliance on the national grid and advancing decarbonisation goals within the sector.

Despite this opportunity, adoption of solar PV remains limited. Key barriers include:

Property ownership constraints (e.g., leasehold vs. freehold)
Lease uncertainty, especially with short-term agreements
Concerns about performance, ROI, and long-term viability

This case study investigates the feasibility of installing a rooftop solar PV system at a confectionery manufacturing site in the Park Royal Industrial Estate, one of the UK’s most concentrated food production zones. The project aims to:

Lower electricity demand from the grid
Reduce operational energy costs
Cut carbon emissions

By addressing technical, economic, and regulatory uncertainties, this initiative seeks to build confidence in solar PV adoption and demonstrate a replicable model for sustainable energy transition in the food manufacturing sector.

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Disruptive Development of Fully Compostable Materials to Replace Commodity Bio-Plastics

July 11, 2025
Industry

The environmental toll of plastic waste, especially from food packaging, has become a pressing issue. In Park Royal, one of the UK’s most significant food production and distribution hubs, the widespread use of non-degradable plastics like PET and PP exacerbates local and global sustainability challenges.
This project aims to revolutionise packaging within the Park Royal food supply chain by developing next-generation degradable thermoplastics.

These materials promise:

High gas barrier performance
Industrial compostability
Improved environmental outcomes

However, technical hurdles such as low melt strength and moisture sensitivity must be overcome to make these materials viable at scale.

In collaboration with Brunel University London, the initiative integrates expertise in materials science, polymer processing, and sustainable design. The goal is to deliver scalable, high-performance compostable packaging that aligns with Net Zero ambitions while meeting the rigorous standards of the food industry.

This project not only addresses a critical environmental need but also positions Park Royal as a leader in sustainable innovation.

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