The Lakes Free Range Egg Company Ltd already has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. Now it aims to become the first UK carbon neutral, sustainable egg packing operation.

In 2011 the “Lakes” opened a new facility specifically designed to achieve net zero GHG emissions. It also speeds up the packing process by 60%, improve quality control and making it a much more versatile operation.

Innovation in building management

Three years in the planning, the building design and management includes electrical and mechanical systems that are all automated, – there are no light switches in the building to switch off!  Other features which help cut GHG emissions include:

• Up to 300mm of insulation on all walls and roofs
• Prolific use of Photo Voltaic cells for solar power
• Rainwater harvesting for non food critical site use
• State of the art LED lighting using 70% less energy than normal
• Heated with solid fuel from trees on chicken ranges and factory waste.
• Ground source geothermal heating for domestic areas

Innovative technology – the UK’s first egg packing robots

The “Lakes” is the first egg packing company to embrace robotics to pack pre-packs into crates, cases and shippers. Robots offer the flexibility required by the complex, multitude of pack and outer case combinations demanded by the UK’s leading retailers. Each robot is capable of packing over 6,000 6 egg packs per hour and is calibrated to 0.1mm accuracy.

New technology has not led to cutting staff, instead, the workforce has been up-skilled to make best use of the new machinery and increase productivity.

David Brass CEO at the “Lakes” says “This new operation will be a real benefit for supermarkets who are looking for more ethical, sustainable and environmental advantages for their customers”

This project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.