Marmite Leftovers To Be Turned Into Fuel By Methane Producing Bugs

Marmite Leftovers To Be Turned Into Fuel

It sounds like an April Fool's joke, but it could end the debate about loving or hating Marmite.

Makers of the gloopy spread are planning a green revolution by recycling thousands of tonnes of waste created in the manufacturing process to make power.

Around 60 million jars of Marmite are sold every year which leaves around 18,000 tonnes of Marmite residue stuck on factory equipment.

Now, prompted by a new EU directive, Unilever will start putting the dark leftovers into a huge composter where bugs will feed on it.

And here comes the genius part - the bugs produce methane which will then be burned to power a generator at the factory in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire.

Marmite has a long history of being an efficiently produced food.

It was first made in 1902 by using a process that turned the yeast leftovers from brewing beer into a protein-rich food.

Unilever is also hoping to apply the same composter principle to their ice-cream factory that makes Magnums, Cornettos and Vienettas.

The commitment is part of Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan, which intends to double the size of its business at the same time as reducing its environmental impact.

Tony Dunnage, Unilever's European Eco-Efficiency Manager is determined to push ahead further with the company's green agenda:

"While this announcement is all about our commitment to recycling, we are also determined to find way to reduce and reuse the materials which we need in our factories".

British Gas have recently signed up to a similar initiative, whereby commercial food waste from restaurants and hotels will be converted into gas.

Leonie Green, spokesperson for the Renewable Energy Association, believes that "this kind of innovation is excellent news".

She said that it would be better still if we the government would create "a better policy framework to support such an initiative" because the commercial sector is "such an important group as an investor in renewable energy".

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