News from the 25th February- 4th March 2022

Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to scrap plastic cartons

Morrisons will become the first supermarket in the UK to replace its plastic cartons with a carbon neutral alternative. Nine types of Morrisons fresh milk will be sold in Tetra Pak cartons from mid-February, which will save an initial 100 tonnes of plastic a year. Morrisons has also moved the majority of its own label fresh juice from plastic bottles to cartons to remove another 678 tonnes of plastic per annum. Fresh milk is currently one of the single biggest users of plastic packaging within UK supermarkets, accounting for approximately 10 per cent of all plastic used.

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/morrisons-becomes-first-uk-supermarket-6700830

Engineering giant Westley Group secures eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK

A UK engineering firm has secured an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK. Westley Group, which is one of Europe's largest privately-owned foundry and engineering groups, will use the cash to further invest in new CNC machinery to enable it to produce more products for its worldwide customer base. The funding will also allow the company to grow into existing and emerging markets and create several new, skilled jobs in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/engineering-giant-westley-group-secures-23237297

Manufacturing grows as supply chain disruption eases

The UK’s manufacturing sector has grown at its fastest pace in seven months as demand rose and supply chain delays and raw material shortages eased, according to data. Manufacturing output and new orders from UK-based customers rose across all sub-sectors and benefitted from customers being more positive following the winding down of Covid-19 restrictions. By comparison, new export business fell for the fifth time in six months due to ongoing pandemic restrictions and Brexit-related issues, the survey found. Prices remain high but there were signs that the speed of the increases is starting to ease.

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/19959743.manufacturing-grows-supply-chain-disruption-eases/