Oato cuts electricity bills with solar-powered facility

The plant milk producer, Oato, part of the Goodco Group, has substantially lowered its electricity bills after transitioning its Lancashire bottling site to a fully solar-powered facility. This business sustainability initiative leading to the company reducing its bills by three quarters, was achieved with the support of an investment from asset finance provider, Lombard, which covered 90 percent of the installation costs for 600 solar panels. 

The energy savings from installing 600 solar panels

Since installing the new solar panels, the group has shared its monthly electricity bill for the 55,000 square foot facility has reduced from £8000 to £2500 per month. In fact, the panels are producing more power than the site requires to run. Therefore, the company is also benefitting from selling that excess energy at 15p per kilowatt to the national grid. They are also offsetting their electrical consumption, which is helping the group further reduce its overall environmental impact. 

Founder and Managing director at Oato, Carl Hopwood, explained that the business is all about helping people make more environmentally friendly decisions, so they are very grateful to have had the support from Lombard to bring this initiative to life. The reductions in their energy costs are allowing them to invest in the future of the business, all while reducing their impact on the environment.

Senior Relationship Manager at Lombard, Hussain Khattak, shared that supporting businesses to grow with energy-efficient, innovative solutions is what Lombard is all about. He said they are delighted they could facilitate this solar installation for Oato and that it is not only helping the business reduce its emissions but also slashing its energy costs. Hussain added that Oato’s mission is heartening, and Lombard is very excited to see what they do next.

Becoming a leading dairy alternative milk brand 

Oato was launched by Hopwood in 2019, and since then, the business has become a major success story in the plant-based foods sector. Its milk products are made fresh every day and delivered to customers in already-existing milk rounds, which helps keep additional vehicles off the road. The milk is packaged in glass bottles and they are thoroughly cleaned for reuse. 

Oato provides a healthy and sustainable alternative to plant milks that are processed using Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) and sold in long-life cartons. These cartons are not widely recycled and often contain around 25 percent non-biodegradable materials. With all of this in mind, they have quickly become a leading dairy alternative milk brand in the UK. In addition to the 600 new solar panels, Lombard has previously funded a bottle washing machine and a pasteurisation unit for Oato. 

Conclusion

Oato’s transition to a fully solar-powered bottling site, made possible by Lombard’s significant investment, showcases a shining example of how sustainability and business growth can go hand in hand. 

By slashing their electricity bills by three-quarters and contributing excess energy to the national grid, Oato has demonstrated both environmental and financial benefits that come with innovative, energy-efficient solutions. Their commitment to reducing their environmental impact sets a powerful precedent in the plant-based food sector.

Brands across industries should look to Oato for inspiration, proving that it is possible to lead in sustainability while achieving commercial success. With support from forward-thinking finance providers like Lombard, businesses can adopt similar initiatives that not only reduce emissions but also create long-term savings, driving a more sustainable future for all.