Hospitality supplier has gone solar

Hospitality supplier, Forbes Group, has installed solar panels on the roof of the factory in Herefordshire. The solar panels will generate clean electricity for the workroom where Forbes Group manufactures fabrics for the hospitality industry.

Sustainability has always been top of the agenda for Forbes Group. Over forty years ago when the company first started supplying hotels and restaurants, one of their first products was designed to reduce waste in hospitality.

Conference cloths were introduced to replace conference baize. Traditional green baizes were a prime example of single use tablecloths. The baize was discarded after use, adding to landfill. The new conference tablecloths were machine washable and reusable, while still providing a quality plush feel to tables.

Another of the first products was table skirting. This was designed to save staff time pinning pleats on individual tablecloths for banqueting service. Forbes Group introduced a polyester fabric made of recycled plastic bottles in 2013. The new fabric meant that eco-conscious hotels and restaurants could choose a green alternative. The recycled plastic material is suitable for table skirting, tablecloths, and chair covers.

All these products are still produced today in the workroom in Herefordshire for first class hotels and event venues around the world. The solar panels will supply the factory with clean energy and reduce energy bills, achieving pay back within four years. Forbes Group also has plans to store the surplus electricity for later use in battery storage, which will be installed as part of phase 2.

Chris Graville, Managing Director at Forbes Group says “We are excited to take the next steps in our net zero journey. Forbes Group has been an early adopter of many new technologies and this is just one example. As a proudly British company, I believe it is important to the UK’s goals of carbon reduction that we all play our part.”

The solar panels were installed on the factory roof in November and are already proving their worth. The next phase is planned for 2024.

For more information on any of our eco-friendly products, contact our customer care team on 01568 616638.