on 11th Nov 2009
A Midlands inventor, who discovered a way to turn waste leaves into biomass fuel for domestic use, is looking to expand his business by finding commercial applications to his product.
Peter Morrison, who runs Biofuels International in partnership with co-director Sharon Warmington, came up with the idea for Leaf Log – a sustainable alternative to coal and wood – three years ago after experiment in his kitchen to see if he could turn the waste leaves in his driveway into biomass heat. His company is now seeing rapid expansion in the domestic market with a range of new products and a distribution deal with DIY giant B&Q across its nationwide chain of stores. Now the company wants to move into the commercial sector by applying its products for use in workplace premises and possibly even on an industrial scale.
A spokesperson for the company said: "The project started off very much as developing something for the domestic market that was a viable alternative to coal. However, as you can imagine longer term the company does very much have its eye on expanding the usage. At the very least it’s a way of heating workplace premises and indeed Leaf Log’s own factory in the Midlands does just this.
"Peter is also looking into using biofuels in the manufacturing process."
Meanwhile some 30 different companies have inquired about manufacturing Leaf Log under license overseas.
Leaf Log is an environmentally friendly biomass fuel made from waste leaves that would otherwise be destined for landfill sites. The logs are suitable for use in open fires, stoves, chimineas and with camping equipment and burn for around three hours each.
Five million metric tonnes of leaves fall across the UK every year and while a small percentage is redirected for composting the majority of leaves collected go to landfill, releasing methane as they decompose.
Biofuels sources its product from stockpiles collected by local authorities in Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell.
“Local authorities have clear targets for reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill and Birmingham City Council, Walsall MBC and Sandwell MBC have been happy to work in partnership with us,” explains Morrison. “We collect the leaves and process them at our factory in Nechells.”
Twice named Inventor of the Year by the British Inventor’s Society, Morrison first got his idea off the ground thanks to support from the Universities of Warwick and Stafford and Business Link West Midlands. The company also benefited from a Springboard Award from Shell UK and investment from Incubation Company Rainmakers, run by Ben Way, a former participant in Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.
More recently Richard Evans of Mechatronic Production Systems and equity investor Paul Isaacs have also come on board, both found via the Central England Business Angels network.
Biofuels' new product range includes Leaf Lite, firelighters made from leaves, and Rustic Log, which is made from reclaimed wood that would also otherwise be bound for landfill.
A spokesperson for the company said: "The project started off very much as developing something for the domestic market that was a viable alternative to coal. However, as you can imagine longer term the company does very much have its eye on expanding the usage. At the very least it’s a way of heating workplace premises and indeed Leaf Log’s own factory in the Midlands does just this.
"Peter is also looking into using biofuels in the manufacturing process."
Meanwhile some 30 different companies have inquired about manufacturing Leaf Log under license overseas.
Leaf Log is an environmentally friendly biomass fuel made from waste leaves that would otherwise be destined for landfill sites. The logs are suitable for use in open fires, stoves, chimineas and with camping equipment and burn for around three hours each.
Five million metric tonnes of leaves fall across the UK every year and while a small percentage is redirected for composting the majority of leaves collected go to landfill, releasing methane as they decompose.
Biofuels sources its product from stockpiles collected by local authorities in Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell.
“Local authorities have clear targets for reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill and Birmingham City Council, Walsall MBC and Sandwell MBC have been happy to work in partnership with us,” explains Morrison. “We collect the leaves and process them at our factory in Nechells.”
Twice named Inventor of the Year by the British Inventor’s Society, Morrison first got his idea off the ground thanks to support from the Universities of Warwick and Stafford and Business Link West Midlands. The company also benefited from a Springboard Award from Shell UK and investment from Incubation Company Rainmakers, run by Ben Way, a former participant in Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.
More recently Richard Evans of Mechatronic Production Systems and equity investor Paul Isaacs have also come on board, both found via the Central England Business Angels network.
Biofuels' new product range includes Leaf Lite, firelighters made from leaves, and Rustic Log, which is made from reclaimed wood that would also otherwise be bound for landfill.
