Vending

UK railway intros gardens on vending machines

Image provided by South Western Railway.

April 17, 2023

South Western Railway in the U.K. has introduced energy-efficient vending machines with "living walls" at Bournemouth station as part of its sustainability initiatives, according to an announcement on the company's website.

The "living walls" are vertical gardens attached to the sides of the vending machines.

The railway partnered with Christchurch-based Decorum Vending, which teamed with Regency Design and phs Greenleaf to create the vertical gardens, which are designed to thrive in all locations, whether sunlit, shady or covered.

The railway will expand the concept to other machines if the trial proves successful.

Each garden wall consumes nearly 5 kilograms of carbon and produces 2.4 kilograms of oxygen annually while combatting air pollution and increasing biodiversity. The walls' structures are made from recycled coffee grounds and all removed plants are recycled back into biomass.

Living walls have proven to reduce harmful nitrogen oxides while providing a boost to biodiversity by providing accessible habitats for insects and other wildlife.

The new machines also use 54% less electricity than previous versions and have upgraded refrigerants, and join other innovations in Bournemouth including station benches made from recycled plastic bottles and a plastic-free dispenser for both still and sparkling water.