West Northants Business Driving Global Sustainability Innovation
A West Northants-based business is helping shape the future of sustainable supply chains through pioneering initiatives that connect industry, academia, government and international partners to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Blue Skies, which has a long-standing presence in West Northants, is leading innovative programmes designed to accelerate sustainable solutions both locally and globally. Their work demonstrates how businesses based in the area can leverage West Northants’ strong connectivity, collaborative ecosystem and academic partnerships to drive innovation on an international scale.
FRESHPPACT: Turning Sustainability Challenges into Collaborative Solutions
Launched in 2022, FRESHPPACT was created by Blue Skies as a research and development platform designed to help businesses overcome shared sustainability challenges.
The initiative was initially funded through the UK Government-backed Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme and UNCTAD and developed in partnership with international organisations and the University of Northampton. Rather than focusing on developing a single solution, FRESHPPACT was established to connect businesses facing sustainability challenges with innovators, researchers, funding opportunities and emerging technologies.
Simon Derrick, Global Head of Sustainability at Blue Skies, explained:
“We effectively sought to develop a research and development hub that allowed organisations with shared sustainability challenges, particularly in the fresh produce sector, to find solutions to those challenges.”
Recognising that many businesses, particularly SMEs, lack the resources of large multinational corporations to invest heavily in research and development, FRESHPPACT provides a collaborative model where challenges can be shared and solutions sourced from across the globe.
The programme initially focused on reducing plastic pollution across three key areas:
- Sustainable packaging solutions
- Workwear and PPE alternatives
- Agricultural plastics used in farming
Using a challenge-led approach, FRESHPPACT launched international calls for proposals, inviting businesses, universities and research organisations to submit innovative solutions. Shortlisted organisations were taken to Ghana to experience supply chain challenges first-hand before pitching their ideas for funding and further development.
Successful projects included:
- Kelpi, a Bristol-based innovator developing seaweed-based alternatives to plastic packaging
- Cocoa360, a Ghanaian start-up creating biodegradable agricultural mulch from coconut coir
- Data Solution Hub, a Scottish company developing machinery capable of lifting agricultural plastics from soil for recycling and reuse
Many of these innovations remain in active development and continue to show significant promise in reducing waste and environmental impact within global fresh produce supply chains.
FRESPPACT 2.0: Creating New Opportunities for Local Businesses
Having successfully established the FRESHPPACT model, Blue Skies has now handed management of the platform to the University of Northampton’s Centre for Sustainable Business Practices (CSBP) while remaining actively involved in its future development
The next phase aims to create a digital matchmaking platform connecting businesses with sustainability challenges to funding opportunities, academic expertise and solution providers.
Simon said:
“It’s a matchmaking exercise where we match the business and the challenge to the solutions and the money.”
The longer-term ambition is for FRESHPPACT to become a nationally recognised innovation hub, helping businesses across multiple sectors tackle sustainability challenges while strengthening Northamptonshire’s reputation as a centre for sustainable business innovation.
Fairmiles: Creating a More Balanced Sustainability Conversation
Alongside FRESHPPACT, Blue Skies also co-founded the Fairmiles Consortium, an international initiative focused on ensuring sustainability decisions are both environmentally effective and socially responsible.
Originally emerging from research into food miles and air freight, Fairmiles was revitalised by Blue Skies and other consortium partners in 2022 after concerns that simplistic approaches to emissions reduction could have unintended consequences for livelihoods and communities around the world.
Now facilitated by COLEAD – a membership-based international non-profit association working on inclusive and sustainable agri-food production and trade, bringing together value chain operators, service providers, donors and development partners in low- and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa – the consortium brings together businesses, academics, NGOs and policymakers to promote a more balanced approach to sustainability decision-making.
Through extensive consultation, Fairmiles has developed a set of Just Transition Principles, encouraging organisations to consider the wider environmental, social and economic impacts of sustainability initiatives before implementing them.
The framework helps organisations assess potential unintended consequences, engage affected communities, make evidence-based decisions and ensure that sustainability transitions are fair and inclusive.
“We want to make sure that we’re not rushing into taking action without being fully aware of what the consequences will be and that we’re not leaving people behind,” Simon explained.
The principles were officially launched at an international industry summit in Barcelona in July 2026 and are now being promoted globally through the Fairmiles network.
A Connected Ecosystem Driving Innovation
A recurring theme throughout Blue Skies’ work is the strength of collaboration enabled through its West Northants’ location.
The business works closely with the University of Northampton’s Centre for Sustainable Business Practices, involving academic researchers, students and sustainability specialists in a range of projects. Blue Skies has also collaborated with the University’s Institute for Social Innovation and Impact to assess and measure the social value created through its international operations.
These relationships highlight how West Northants’ business community, universities and innovation networks create opportunities for organisations to develop ideas, access expertise and build partnerships that extend far beyond the region.
Blue Skies’ leadership of initiatives such as FRESHPPACT and Fairmiles demonstrates how businesses based in West Northants can influence global conversations, attract international collaboration and develop solutions with real-world impact.
As FRESHPPACT develops and Fairmiles continues to gain momentum, Blue Skies is providing a powerful example of how well-connected the area is and the opportunities that those connections can unlock for ambitious, purpose-driven businesses.
Speak to a member of Invest in West Northants if you’re interested in exploring suitable sites for relocation, discussing how the area might be the right fit for you, or have an idea for business growth.