Food & Drink
We have been working with the Food and Drink Federation on the delivery of their ‘5-Fold Ambition’ to achieve a zero-waste production culture. We are working with ASDA on novel retailing systems, with Marks and Spencer on “Plan A” targets relating to waste, and with Courtauld Commitment member companies that need tools to measure the recycled content of packaging.
Food Manufacturing Read more
Since January 2009 we’ve undertaken confidential reviews in 13 FDF member companies and, working with their manufacturing staff, have identified opportunities for improvement. If the savings opportunities we identified in these 13 companies were rolled out across the whole FDF membership, these food and drink companies could achieve cost savings of over £67 million.
Production-Ready Packaging (PRP) Read more
We are working with major food manufacturers to investigate the potential for supply chain savings through the introduction of PRP. We’ve seen multiple examples of traditional goods-in areas where high volume goods were delivered from suppliers in standard 25kg sacks which then had to be slit, decanted and weighed out into batch sizes. This is a source of waste that PRP can remove permanently by addressing the root cause.
Refillable Self-Service Retail Systems Read more
In 2010 we led a major project to install and trial a self-service, refillable, laundry product dispenser in five ASDA stores. We have extensive knowledge of various competing systems worldwide and we are working with a major brand owner on systems designed to offer formulation at the point of sale.
Food Wastes Read more
Anaerobic digestion is the treatment technology of choice for many waste foods in the supply chain. We prepared a report on the quantity of UK wide food wastes from each part of the supply chain on behalf of Courtauld Commitment member companies. We have also advised Marks & Spencer on new waste management contracts to achieve their 2012 Plan A targets.
Recycled Content Protocols Read more
Glass is the packaging material of choice for some foods and beverages, but it’s under challenge from plastics and laminates. We have developed protocols to calculate the recycled material content for both glass and plastics used in food and drink packaging.
Some of our studies and analysis on this issue are available to download. If they are not currently available but you wish to know more please contact us.
Services
Within each industry sector, Oakdene Hollins has expert knowledge where we employ science-based disciplines to deliver research and consultancy projects within a number of key services
Market Appraisal
We offer cross discipline teams combining specialist technical staff with economists and input from a business leader. We write reports that are technically robust for audiences in the investment community and senior management.
Technology Appraisal
Within the clean tech, wastes management, chemicals, metals and nanotechnology sectors we offer specialist staff to provide evaluation and comparative studies.
Protocol and Standards Development
Without agreed standards and protocols pricing is difficult, transaction costs higher and investors wary. We bring industry stakeholders together, sometimes from across a supply chain, to develop protocols and new standards that improve markets.
Economic Modelling
An element of many of our market and technology appraisal services, we design and deliver economic models that summarise the impacts of changes in variables such as price, taxes, costs and scale efficiencies. Wherever possible we deliver models in common applications to enable clients to test the underlying assumptions and scenarios.
Lean Manufacturing Projects
Lean manufacturing techniques provide a framework that informs much of our work. We promote performance measurement and benchmarking with industry best practice as key themes of many lean projects and can provide the tools and specialist production staff to advise and lead process improvement.
Financial Impact Assessment
Proposals to change regulation can impact whole industry sectors. We provide analysis of these impacts to support trade associations and their member companies when proposals are being developed.
Management of Research Projects
Since 1995 we have provided technical staff to manage, monitor and evaluate research projects, often those involving collaboration between universities, supply chain companies and a principal funder in the UK or in Europe. Examples include working with ASDA to manage the installation of five self-service refillable retailing systems for fabric conditioner and measuring the business and environmental outcomes of the project. Elsewhere, we provide highly qualified and experienced staff to monitor the management of research projects on behalf of the TSB (Technology Strategy Board).
Ecolabelling Advice
The Europe-wide Ecolabel is being promoted as an independently assessed assurance of eco credentials. The technical evaluation is often detailed and complex; our aim is to assist companies with environmentally positive products and services to understand and meet the requirements. The number of products and services being assessed by our staff as suitable is growing every month. Get in touch if you have a product or service that could qualify.
Carbon Footprinting
In an assessment of the CO2 emissions (and the equivalent global warming gases) of products and services, we provide written analysis using data derived from SimaPro and product specific data defined by ISO standards.
Critical Review of Life Cycle Assessments
We have provided chairmanship and expertise to numerous critical review panels for Life Cycle Assessments. We offer staff trained in the use of SimaPro software and inventory and have particular strengths in the interpretation of impact assessments.
Peter Lee BEng PhD 
