Labour’s would-be MP Ken Rustidge was given a tour of McCains Foods in Whittlesey recently.

Cambs Times: Ken Rustidge pictured with Tony Cochrane, Facilities Manager for McCainsKen Rustidge pictured with Tony Cochrane, Facilities Manager for McCains (Image: Archant)

The Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North East Cambs was impressed by the innovative way the company, which employs 400 people on the site, uses renewable energy, including three wind turbines, which in partnership with an anaerobic digester generates up to 70 per cent of the factory’s electricity.

In addition, 99% of the site’s production waste is recycled into animal feed, by-products or renewable energy. Examples include turning used cooking oil into bio-fuel, and donating surplus product to national food re-distribution charity, FareShare.

Mr Rustidge is pushing for companies like McCains which embraces such environmentally friendly practices to be rewarded through corporate and local tax initiatives.