Pilgrim’s Europe has joined forces with sustainable water treatment specialist PureTec Separations to significantly cut mains water use across its operations, saving more than 26 million litres in the past three years.
The collaboration is centred on recovering and reusing water captured during the softener regeneration process at Pilgrim’s Europe’s site in Spalding. Working closely with the site team, PureTec has developed a low-cost diversion system to collect and store this water for reuse in livestock lorry washdown.
Since commissioning in May 2022, the solution has delivered average savings of 40m³ of water per day – equivalent to 26,587,000 litres to date – while fully integrating into existing site operations without compromising hygiene or disrupting processes.
The project was delivered with minimal capital investment and no operational downtime, providing both environmental and financial benefits. By reusing water that would otherwise have been lost, and reducing reliance on mains water, Pilgrim’s Europe said it has not only eased pressure on local supply but is also supporting long-term water security within its operations.
Josephine Blundy, Director of Sustainability at Pilgrim’s Europe said: “Our project with PureTec demonstrates how targeted, practical innovations can unlock major sustainability gains across the supply chain. It shows that well-engineered solutions can have a meaningful impact on resource efficiency while maintaining the highest operational standards”
Aaron Rowlstone, Principal Service Engineer at PureTec Separations said: “This project with Pilgrim’s Europe shows how standard engineering combined with a holistic approach to site-wide water use can deliver real-world results. By diverting and reusing water, we’ve helped strengthen the site’s water security while cutting costs and environmental impact. It’s a practical example of how food processors can make every drop go further, without compromising hygiene or performance.”