On World Cider Day, Cornish Orchards (part of Asahi Europe & International) announced that it has hit a significant milestone with its cider farm in Cornwall, United Kingdom having completely ceased using fossil fuels for its energy use, instead switching to a cutting-edge heat pump system, powered by solar electricity. These developments mean the site now runs entirely on renewable energy sources, reducing its future emissions by up to 94%.
Sustainability is about far more than carbon for our innovative cider brand. The Cornish Orchards team is also working to help revive Cornish nature by investing in local projects designed to deliver long-term ecosystem value. So far on its farm, Cornish Orchards has planted four acres of woodland (capturing seven tonnes of CO₂ a year), with another 21 acres planned. The team has created a wetland to clean water and provide a new habitat for different species. They have built boxes for the bees and houses for the swallows they share the farm with, and from where the brand gets its distinctive logo. These efforts are making the Cornish Orchards farm not just fully powered by renewable sources, but a haven for nature.
Looking beyond their farm, Cornish Orchards has become Partners in Pollination with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust as one of its Reserve Guardians, supporting the work across the Trust’s nature reserves to boost pollinator populations. This ongoing collaboration brings expert ecological guidance to Cornish Orchards’ sustainability journey, shaping its biodiversity strategy, ensuring that every action taken on the farm benefits the local environment and native species.
To achieve renewable production, the main project involved installing a combined air and water heat pump system to replace the diesel boiler used to generate hot water. The heat pump is powered by electricity bought directly from a solar farm in Somerset. This covers the vast majority of the 94% reduction in emissions. To remove any remaining use of fossil fuels, Cornish Orchards switched the small amount of diesel used for some farm equipment and boosting heat in colder months to HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) – a plant-based biofuel.
At a brand level, Cornish Orchards have great ambitions to grow and reach a wider audience of cider drinkers. With this in mind they have just launched a bold new advertising campaign – under the banner of ‘Cider You Can Trust’ across multiple channels that will reach 6 million consumers and 58% of all cider drinkers.
Chris Newton, Head Cider Maker at Cornish Orchards, said: “When making our cider, the things we prioritise most are quality and authenticity. We aim to make the best-tasting cider with quality ingredients that our drinkers can trust. For me, this goes hand in hand with sustainability; true quality should transcend the product itself and include the positive impact it can have to the planet. We take an honest approach with everything we do; we do not use any apple concentrate when making our cider, and now we don’t use any fossil fuels either! Our founder’s ethos was to “do simple things, with natural ingredients in a way that is kind to the environment” and that still stands true today.”
Sam Goodenough, Sustainability Manager, at Asahi UK, said: “We are delighted to demonstrate how a small rural farm can show innovative leadership in renewable technology use and lead the way on sustainability. The team has worked hard over the years to make the farm a haven for nature, from woodland planting to organic certification at the site, and now we have applied that same mindset to our cider making. We’ve learnt a lot on the journey, and we are excited to be taking this new leap forward in sustainable cider production.”
