Waste-to-energy
Anaerobic digestion converts food waste into biogas, helping power our glasshouse, while recovered heat supports heating and cooling.
Circular water saving
Rainwater is captured, treated, and recirculated as part of a more resource-efficient cultivation system.
Low-carbon UK cultivation
Growing and packing flower in Britain removes international air freight and reduces overall product miles.
How anaerobic digestion powers our glasshouse
The last time UK-wide food waste was measured, the UK generated 10.7 million tonnes. A lot of that ends up in landfill.
When food waste breaks down in a landfill, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. At Glass Pharms, anaerobic digestion converts food waste into biogas, helping turn a source of emissions into energy for our glasshouse. This process provides the day-to-day power for our glasshouse, while recovered heat supports both heating and cooling. It is the foundation of our carbon-negative-by-design model, allowing us to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and carbon offsets while supporting controlled medical cannabis cultivation.
Water, light, and climate in balance
Our glasshouse captures rainwater that falls on the facility, storing more than 2 million litres in covered tanks. This water is then treated using UVC sterilisation and recirculated, which allows us to manage water more responsibly.
We also make the most of natural sunlight, supplementing it with dimmable LED lighting only when needed. AI-supported climate technology uses real-time conditions and weather forecasts to manage light, airflow, temperature, and humidity, helping create a consistent growing environment while reducing unnecessary energy use.
UK-grown cannabis with zero air miles
Growing and packing our flower in Britain makes a marked difference to the carbon footprint. Our medical cannabis flower has zero air miles and is packed in recyclable British-made aluminium, avoiding single-use plastic packaging.
Alongside our carbon-negative-by-design model, these choices form part of a more responsible approach to sustainable cannabis cultivation, considering the environmental impact of how we grow and supply our products.
Responsible cultivation from crop to collection
Responsible medical cannabis cultivation does not end with energy, water and packaging. Inside our glasshouse, we use integrated pest management with zero chemical pesticides, deploying natural predators to help protect our crop. Strict biosecurity and hygiene protocols apply throughout the facility.
Staff enter through airlocks and wear dedicated on-site clothing, which helps protect the controlled growing environment at every stage of cultivation.
Every product is monitored from propagation through to collection, with in-house and external laboratory testing supporting cradle-to-collection traceability. This controlled approach helps us supply non-irradiated medical cannabis flower with a clear, fully traceable journey.
Investing in people
Glass Pharms pays all employees at or above the National Living Wage.
Enhanced healthcare access
All employees receive a company-funded Medicash membership.
Company pension scheme
We encourage pension participation across the company.
Acting for the long term
Glass Pharms is committed to acting in the long-term interests of the company, its customers, and the people who rely on the products we help bring to market. That means prioritising responsible decision-making over short-term profit.
We maintain a register of board interests, have zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, and carry out DBS or enhanced DBS checks where appropriate to a person’s role. We aim to be transparent with shareholders and employees, pay fair taxes in the UK, and recruit on merit while ensuring women are represented in candidate shortlists within a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Fair taxes in the UK
We always pay fair taxes in the UK and do not seek to avoid them overseas
Responsible governance
We maintain a register of board interests and have zero tolerance for bribery and corruption.
Equal opportunities
We recruit on merit and ensure women are represented in candidate shortlists.
Our wider impact
Sand Dams Worldwide
Our approach to responsibility extends beyond our own facility. Glass Pharms supports Sand Dams Worldwide in drought-susceptible parts of Africa, helping communities access more reliable water sources and create lasting economic opportunity.
We encourage staff to become involved in these projects, sharing in the practical work behind a more responsible and circular approach to resources.
Sand Dams Worldwide is a registered charitable company that supports some of the world’s poorest people to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands.