Fuelling Circularity: How Cawleys and Huel built a scalable, zero-landfill waste strategy
When fast-growing brands scale, their operations don’t just get bigger they get more complex. For Huel, one of the UK’s leading nutrition brands, rapid growth brought a new challenge: how to manage increasing waste volumes without compromising on sustainability. That’s where Cawleys came in.
A partnership built for growth
When Cawleys partnered with Huel in 2024, the goal was clear: go beyond traditional waste collections and create a smarter, more sustainable system that could grow alongside the business.
At the time, Huel’s Milton Keynes facility relied on a standard setup - 1100L eurobins with twice-weekly collections. But with production increasing and waste volumes forecast to rise, it quickly became clear that this approach wouldn’t scale.
Rather than simply increasing collections, Cawleys worked closely with Huel’s procurement, sustainability and facilities teams to rethink the entire waste strategy, designing a system that was not only fit for today, but ready for tomorrow.
Turning waste into resource
The focus of the partnership was simple: maximise resource recovery and minimise waste.
One of the most impactful changes was the introduction of dedicated food trailer collections. This allowed excess product powder to be diverted to anaerobic digestion (AD), where it could be converted into renewable energy, transforming a waste stream into a valuable resource.
Alongside this, improvements were made across key recyclable streams, including wood and packaging materials. But infrastructure was only part of the solution.
To truly drive change, the partnership introduced:
A “no black sack” policy to improve visibility and accountability
Enhanced segregation stations across the site
Clear, consistent signage
Staff training to embed best practice into day-to-day operations
Behind the scenes, a data-led approach underpinned every decision. With access to a live reporting dashboard updated every 24 hours, Huel gained full visibility of its waste performance, enabling faster decisions, stronger engagement, and continuous improvement.
Delivering measurable impact
The results of the partnership speak for themselves.
Within just one year:
Material sent to anaerobic digestion increased from 2.93 tonnes to 23.5 tonnes
Waste-to-energy volumes rose from 29 tonnes to 137 tonnes
0% landfill was maintained throughout
Recycling rates improved from 71% to 77%
Client feedback
“Cawleys has been a supportive partner as we’ve evolved our waste management approach to match our growth. Together we’ve strengthened segregation, improved reporting visibility and maintained a landfill-free operation.” Emma Detain, Sustainability Manager, Huel
A blueprint for circular growth
By combining strategic planning, on-the-ground operational changes, and real-time data insights, Cawleys and Huel have created a scalable, circular waste management model that supports both growth and sustainability.
For fast-moving businesses, the message is clear: you don’t have to choose between scaling up and doing the right thing environmentally. With the right partner and the right approach, you can do both.
If you’re a growing business in the food, manufacturing, or logistics sector facing increasing waste volumes, now could be the time to rethink your approach.
At Cawleys, we work with organisations to design tailored, data-driven waste and recycling solutions that scale with your operations, helping you reduce costs, improve performance, and move towards a circular, landfill-free future.
Get in touch with our team today: internalsales@cawleys.co.uk