Understanding what people throw away can reveal opportunities that broad recycling messages miss. Leonardo UK’s Electronics and Cyber Divisions have used waste assessments to connect environmental objectives with practical changes in catering, workplaces and technical operations.

In its submission to The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026, the business describes waste management as part of its environmental management system and normal operational decision-making. Its corporate objective is a 15% absolute reduction in waste generation by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. Growth in activity and workforce numbers makes that an ongoing challenge.

The figures show both progress and the work still required. Waste generation rose from 940 tonnes in 2019 to 1,072 tonnes in 2023, before falling to approximately 1,003 tonnes in 2025. The reduction since 2023 is around 6.5%, but the total remains above the original baseline. This gives teams a reason to keep looking beyond improved disposal towards preventing waste at source.

A cross-functional Waste Working Group helped investigate the contents of general waste. Assessments identified food and drink containers, cleaning towels, packaging, single-use PPE components and anti-static bags used for electronic parts. The findings helped colleagues and the Facilities Management team identify specific materials and everyday practices they could change.

Clearer segregation was one response. Colour-coded bins and consistent signage were introduced across sites, supported by environmental training, toolbox talks and regular communications. Performance dashboards make waste and recycling measures visible to operational teams and leadership, keeping the subject connected to business reviews.

Catering offered several opportunities for action. Reusable cups were introduced across coffee outlets in early 2026, with more than 10,000 cups deployed. Leonardo estimates that the scheme avoids purchasing approximately 300,000 single-use cups a year. Washing and redistribution arrangements support continued use, making the practical operation of the scheme as important as the initial rollout.

Surplus food has been addressed through partnerships with Olio and local charities. Leonardo reports that 1,316 kg of unused packaged food was redistributed during 2024–25, equivalent to approximately 2,500 meals and support for around 400 households. The initiative connects waste prevention with a useful community outcome by finding a destination for food that is still edible.

Food scraps are also being managed on site. Wormeries at the four main sites processed approximately 927 kg during 2025, producing compost for use on the estate. Employees helped name the wormeries and catering teams care for them. This gives a visible, local expression to a wider environmental objective and offers employees a way to participate.

Reuse extends beyond catering. In one example, 55 office chairs were transferred between Leonardo sites, avoiding approximately 750 kg of waste and the need for new purchases. A further 180 canteen chairs were donated to a cricket club and homelessness charity NOAH. Internal planning, reuse platforms and community organisations provide different routes for keeping useful assets in service.

Technical waste presents other challenges. A pilot with gomi has repurposed several kilograms of discarded anti-static plastic bags into products such as power banks and wireless chargers. It remains an early-stage project, with expansion planned. A separate Circularity Working Group is examining material flows and opportunities to recover valuable materials from redundant equipment.

Leonardo’s experience offers a practical starting point for other SHE teams: examine the waste itself, involve the people who generate and manage it, and make alternatives workable. Visible initiatives can encourage participation, while clear baselines keep attention on the overall result. The next stage is to extend successful approaches and continue reducing the amount of material that becomes waste in the first place.

Based on Leonardo UK’s Electronics and Cyber Divisions submission and supporting materials for The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026. Figures and programme progress are as reported in September 2026.