Hatmill invests in Yorkshire renewable farming project as part of net zero strategy

The visit followed Hatmill’s investment of nearly £4,000 into the project as part of the company’s Climate Contribution Strategy 2025, an annual commitment designed to help compensate for unavoidable business travel emissions generated while supporting clients across the UK.

Aaron Thomas, Hatmill’s Sustainability Consultant, and Peter Kirby, Commercial Director at Flotilla, visited the farm to see first-hand how the investment is supporting renewable farming and carbon capture initiatives within Yorkshire.

As Yorkshire-based businesses, both Hatmill and Flotilla felt it was important to support a project that creates a measurable environmental impact in the region.

Established in 2002, East Yorkshire Hemp has grown to become the UK’s largest hemp processor. The family-run business combines generations of farming expertise with modern sustainability practices to produce environmentally beneficial materials and bio-based products.

The farm’s product portfolio includes:

• Hemp fibre used in loft insulation and sustainable textile applications
• Hemp shiv used for animal bedding and hempcrete building materials
• Biomass briquettes created from processing residues as an alternative biofuel

The site also integrates cover crops, organic fertilisers and carbon monitoring practices designed to improve soil health, reduce chemical runoff and support long-term carbon storage.

East Yorkshire Hemp is currently involved in Innovate UK’s £6 million Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping project, supporting ongoing research into soil carbon capture and sustainable farming methods.

Supporting Hatmill’s journey to net zero

Hatmill works closely with Harrogate-based sustainability specialists Flotilla as part of its wider commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2039. Together, the businesses support carbon measurement, sustainability planning and practical carbon reduction initiatives across Hatmill’s operations and client services.

As a fully remote business with an electric vehicle fleet, the majority of Hatmill’s operational emissions come from business travel while supporting clients on-site across the UK, Europe and the US. The company’s Climate Contribution Strategy focuses on reducing emissions where possible while investing in credible carbon reduction and environmental projects to help compensate for unavoidable travel.

Aaron Thomas said:

“Visiting East Yorkshire Hemp really brought the strategy to life for us. Seeing the work happening on the ground, from carbon capture research to sustainable material production, reinforced why supporting projects like this matters. It’s practical, measurable and creating impact within Yorkshire.”

Peter Kirby added:

“One of the things that makes this partnership work so well is the shared belief that sustainability should lead to meaningful action. Supporting innovative regional projects like East Yorkshire Hemp is exactly the kind of initiative businesses should be investing in as part of a credible net zero journey.”

Hatmill will continue investing in projects that support practical decarbonisation, sustainability and environmental innovation as part of its wider ESG and net zero commitments.