The Challenge
Gratte Brothers Group, a third-generation family-owned business established in 1946, provides a diverse range of services, including building services and engineering, security systems and food service solutions. As a company with strong environmental commitments, including an ISO 14001 certification and a pledge to achieve net zero by 2050, sustainability is a core priority.
One of Gratte Brothers' biggest environmental challenges was waste management, particularly the disposal of branded personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniforms. Previously, end-of-life workwear was discarded into skips, ultimately ending up in landfill. This posed three key issues:
- Environmental impact – Unrecycled workwear contributed to unnecessary landfill waste and emissions.
- Security concerns – Branded uniforms could potentially be misused if not disposed of securely.
- Lack of data and reporting – Without a formal disposal process, tracking waste volumes and carbon savings was difficult.
To align with its sustainability goals and reduce its carbon footprint, Gratte Brothers sought a structured and secure recycling solution.
The Solution
Avena Group introduced its SecureBrand® solution to Gratte Brothers as a seamless, secure and environmentally friendly workwear disposal service.
Through SecureBrand, specially designated recycling bags have been placed in Gratte Brothers' offices, allowing employees to easily deposit worn-out uniforms and PPE. Once filled, these bags are collected by Avena’s security-vetted personnel and transported to a secure processing facility.
Avena’s three-tier recycling system ensures that all collected textiles are processed in the most sustainable manner possible:
Tier 1: High-quality fibres are respun into new yarns and fabrics.
Tier 2: Mid-quality fibres are repurposed into soundproofing materials, insulation, and geotextiles.
Tier 3: Remaining materials are used for sustainable energy generation.
Avena also provides Gratte Brothers with regular environmental impact statements, offering precise carbon footprint data for integration into their Scope 3 emissions reporting.
The Result
The implementation of SecureBrand® has brought significant benefits to Gratte Brothers:
- Waste reduction: Diverting PPE and workwear from landfill to recycling has significantly cut waste volumes.
- Improved sustainability reporting: Accurate data from Avena allows Gratte Brothers to track and report carbon savings with confidence.
- Enhanced security: Secure collection and processing prevent branded uniforms from falling into unauthorised hands.
- Seamless adoption: The system was easy to integrate, with toolbox talks and briefings ensuring smooth uptake among employees.
John Madgwick, HSEQ Director at Gratte Brothers, highlights the positive impact: “Where before we didn’t have an actual output for PPE, now we can monitor its use and disposal more effectively. The SecureBrand® system has been fantastic, and the uptake has been great across the business.”
Testimonials
"Sustainability is at the heart of our journey to net zero, and tangible carbon savings provided by Avena directly impact our performance. The ability to accurately measure and report our emissions has been invaluable."
Victoria Gratte, Marketing Director at Gratte Brothers
"Avena provides us with an environmental impact statement, allowing us to integrate emissions data directly into our Scope 3 calculations. This has made tracking our progress much more efficient. I would highly recommend Avena’s solution to others in our industry."
Alice Kilner, Sustainability Manager at Gratte Brothers
Interesting in learning more about our services? Speak to one of our experts today.Looking for a quick quote for secure destruction & recycling? Get a quote today.
