Our rebrand: one brand, one team.
Last year marked an important milestone for Panda in the UK, with the launch of our new Panda website and the introduction of a single, unified brand. This rebrand brought together 11 UK businesses under one Panda identity, combining decades of expertise in waste management, recycling and resource recovery.
The move reflected years of growth through acquisition and a strategic decision to simplify how we operate, collaborate and serve customers across the UK. By uniting our people, systems and digital platforms under one brand, Panda created a stronger, more connected organisation, while customers continued to work with the same trusted local teams.
The UK rebrand signalled the start of a new chapter for Panda, positioning the business to deliver greater innovation, efficiency and sustainable waste solutions, supported by a shared culture and a clear focus on the circular economy.
Social value
Supporting sustainability at Springfield Primary
Supporting local sustainability has always been central to Panda’s work. In 2025, we partnered with Derby City Council to fund community-led environmental projects, awarding 15 grants of £500 to bring ideas to life.
Springfield Primary School was the first to benefit, using the funding to expand its Forest School area and boost biodiversity. Panda’s Commercial Manager visited to present the award and run a hands-on activity on responsible waste, helping inspire the next generation to take ownership of their environment.
Celebrating healthcare estates & facilities teams
Panda partnered with Liverpool Women’s and Aintree University Hospital NHS Trusts to mark National Healthcare Estates & Facilities Day. Through education, sustainability initiatives and award sponsorship, we celebrated Estates & Facilities teams while reinforcing our commitment to social value and sustainable waste management within the healthcare sector.
Driving change in homelessness solutions
Last year, we supported the Embassy Village MCR project, a £4.5 million initiative creating 40 high-quality, single-occupancy homes alongside green spaces and a community hub.
Working with partners including Capital & Centric and Peel L&P, Panda contributed cost-neutral skips to support construction, helping bring this pioneering approach to independent living and long-term resettlement closer to reality.
Awards & recognition
Throughout 2025, Panda was shortlisted for over 25 awards across the UK and Ireland, reflecting the scale and impact of our work across the sector.
While awards are never the goal, this recognition is something we are extremely proud of. Being acknowledged by our peers and industry bodies reinforces the dedication, expertise, and commitment shown by our teams every day. We will continue to build on this momentum, raising standards across our operations and working towards even greater achievements in the years ahead.
Industry changes
Simpler Recycling
The UK Government set out plans to introduce Simpler Recycling, a move designed to bring greater consistency and clarity to how businesses manage their waste. The reforms aimed to standardise what materials should be recycled across workplaces, helping to reduce confusion, improve recycling rates and cut down on waste going to landfill.
The approach outlined clear requirements for separating key waste streams at source, including dry mixed recycling, paper and cardboard, food waste, general waste and WEEE. Changes were phased to give businesses time to adapt, with further materials set to be included over time.
Single-use vape ban
The UK government also banned single-use vapes, effective from 1 June 2025. This ban prohibits the sale of single-use vapes, with or without nicotine, both online and in-store. It applies to all businesses and organisations selling or supplying these products in the UK. This aims to prevent any further environmental damage caused by vapes, while also addressing health concerns that come with them. In 2023, it was estimated that up to 5 million single-use were littered or thrown away every week and recent reports show that vapes and related lithium-ion battery waste are causing over 1,200 fires in UK bin lorries and waste facilities every year.
Milestones
Sustainability report highlights
Our Sustainability Report shows how ambition is turning into measurable action.
Highlights include:
- 4.4 million tonnes of material handled across the Group
- 71,000+ MWh of renewable electricity generated, more than we consumed
- 2.07 MW of rooftop solar installed, with a further 2 MW planned
- Continued expansion of our electric and CNG fleet
- 45,000+ hours of health & safety training delivered
- Apprenticeship programme growth from 4 to 14 apprentices
£850,000 fleet modernisation investment
We continued the strategic modernisation of our UK fleet with the delivery of a further tranche of DAF XG480 tractor units.
The new units were equipped with advanced General Safety Regulation (GSR) features, including Camera Monitoring Systems to improve driver visibility and reduce blind spots, alongside enhanced blind spot detection technology to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. These additions represented a meaningful upgrade in both safety and performance.
Panda successfully delivers first load to Enfinium
Panda marked a significant milestone last year with the successful delivery of its first load of waste to the Enfinium Skelton Grange facility, during the site’s commissioning phase. This delivery supported the plant’s mission to transform unrecyclable waste into homegrown energy, contributing to its capacity to divert over 400,000 tonnes of waste from landfill annually and generate 49MW of power.
By working closely with Enfinium, we helped ensure a smooth start to operations, underlining the company’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and circular economy principles.
Driving sustainability through local partnership
Last year, Panda’s partnership with Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council delivered clear environmental and social impact. Through innovation, education and community engagement, landfill rates were reduced to just 3%, recycling performance improved, and progress was made towards Net Zero. The collaboration demonstrated how strong local partnerships can drive lasting, positive change for communities.
People & culture
Panda’s Snowdon challenge
In March, colleagues from across the UK laced up their walking boots alongside our long-term supply chain partner, Pure Staff, to ascend. The 14km course saw them climb 970m and every step raised awareness and funds for West Midlands based charity, Edwards Trust who provide bereavement support for adults, children, and young people.
Group SHEQ leadership programme
We made strong progress last year, with our experienced SHEQ Leadership Coaches travelling across the country to run engaging sessions with site leaders.
By the programme’s midpoint, participants had developed key skills in inspiring teams, engaging effectively, and demonstrating visible leadership. It was rewarding to see these capabilities applied on-site, with leaders showing greater confidence, proactive attitudes, and a stronger commitment to safety, health, environment, and quality.
The programme continues to embed a culture of continuous improvement and leadership excellence across Panda, supporting lasting growth in SHEQ standards throughout the organisation.
Silver standard: RoSPA award for Panda
Panda received Silver recognition at the 2025 RoSPA Health and Safety Awards. These awards recognise organisations that go above and beyond to prioritise health and safety; not just in the workplace, but in all aspects of life. This is a testament to the continuous effort and high standards upheld across the business. At the centre of it all is our SHEQ team, whose dedication and leadership help ensure robust practices are embedded at every site. From risk assessments to training, inspections and culture-building, their work underpins our safe working environment.
Family fun day
We hosted our second annual Panda family fun day, welcoming colleagues and their families from across the business for a day dedicated to fun, connection, and celebration.
The event brought together Panda teams from all areas of the company, providing families with an opportunity to spend quality time together in a relaxed and joyful setting. From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was filled with excitement, laughter, and energy.
Beyond the fun, the day was about recognising the incredible commitment of our employees and the vital support provided by their families. The positive feedback we received was overwhelmingly encouraging, with many commenting on how enjoyable, inclusive, and memorable the day was.
Looking ahead
As regulations evolve and expectations around sustainability continue to rise, our focus remains on delivering reliable, compliant, and responsible waste services that support your business every day. We will continue investing in the infrastructure, people, and systems that allow us to provide consistent, high-quality service while helping customers reduce waste, increase recycling, and meet environmental obligations with confidence.
Thank you for continuing to place your trust in Panda. We look forward to another year of strong partnership, shared progress, and positive impact.
To stay connected throughout 2026, follow us on social media and visit the News section of our website.
Here’s to a successful year ahead, together.