At tepeo, our mission is to help reduce the carbon emissions associated with heating UK homes. But we believe our responsibility to the planet should extend beyond the technology we provide to our customers.
It should also shape the way we operate as a company.
That is why we work with our waste management partner to monitor and manage the waste production at our Winnersh headquarters and production facility, where our team develops, builds and supports our heat battery boiler.
Our waste performance at a glance
During 2025, tepeo achieved:
- 100% diversion of waste from landfill
- A 69.33% recycling rate
- A reduction in estimated emissions through responsible waste treatment, recycling and recovery
We have maintained our 100% landfill diversion rate so far in 2026, while continuing to recycle around two thirds of all waste produced.
The estimated emissions avoided during the first six months of 2026 were already equivalent to around 60% of the total recorded throughout the whole of 2025.
Across 2025 and the first six months of 2026, the majority of the waste generated at our site was directed into recycling streams rather than being treated as general waste.
For context, tepeo’s recycling rate has remained at around 1.5x the household recycling rate recorded across England. Although commercial and household waste are not directly comparable, it helps demonstrate the strength of the waste-separation process maintained by our team as we grow.
Growing responsibly
tepeo is a growing company. As we increase production, expand our team and help more households move away from fossil-fuel heating, the environmental impact of our own operations matters more than ever.
Our waste includes materials from across the business, from food and mixed recycling to waste generated through our production activities. We work to separate these materials so they can be directed towards the most appropriate recycling, treatment or recovery route.
For example, leftover core material from our production process is collected and crushed into smaller pieces. This material can then be reused as a strong foundation layer beneath roads, paths or other construction surfaces, rather than being thrown away. In the construction industry, this foundation layer is known as “sub-base material”.
Metal waste is sent to scrap-metal merchants so it can be processed and reused. Old cables, wires and printed circuit boards are handled through specialist Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling, commonly known as WEEE recycling. This allows valuable materials and components to be recovered safely instead of being disposed of as general waste.
These processes have helped us prevent waste collected from our site from being sent to landfill.
While we are proud of these results, we know that diverting waste from landfill is only one part of responsible waste management. We must also continue looking for opportunities to reduce the amount of waste we produce, reuse materials wherever possible and increase the proportion that can be recycled.
Designed with the end of its life in mind
Responsible use of materials also informs the way the ZEB itself is designed. Our heat batteries are built for a long service life, but when a unit eventually reaches the end of that life, many of its key materials can be recovered and reused.
The core material can be fully recycled and repurposed for use in construction, while the unit’s metal components can be separated and recycled as scrap metal. Other electrical components can be processed through specialist WEEE recycling routes.
By considering what happens to these materials once a ZEB is no longer in use, we can help reduce waste and keep valuable resources in circulation for longer.
Sustainability beyond home heating
The ZEB has been developed to give suitable homes another way to move away from fossil-fuel heating. However, our commitment to a more sustainable future cannot begin and end with the products we make.
It also means considering the materials we use, the waste we generate and the decisions we make behind the scenes every day.
Maintaining a 100% landfill diversion rate as tepeo grows is an important milestone for our team and reflects the values that sit at the heart of the company.
There is always more work to do, but we are committed to growing responsibly and continually improving the environmental impact of our operations.