Our journey to net zero and a climate-smart future
With changes in the Earth’s climate observed globally and biodiversity loss further exacerbating the crisis, the next few years are critical and will require collaborative, widespread action by all stakeholders. We are dedicated to playing our part. We know it’s not only the right thing to do but vital to our long-term success.
The centrepiece of our net-zero strategy is our net-zero 2040 ambition, and in 2023, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) verified our targets to reach net-zero greenhouse (GHG) emissions across our value chain by 2040, from a 2019 base year.
We’re also focused on eliminating single-use plastics and transitioning to sustainable packaging for all our own brands. And we’re working to reduce food waste through prevention, redistribution, recycling and composting.
Our commitments
Commitment 4: Reducing our climate impact
We are committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) by 2040, from a 2019 base year.
Commitment 5: Transitioning to sustainable packaging
We are committed to eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic and ensuring 100% of our own brand packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
Commitment 6: Reducing food waste
We are committed to reducing food waste through prevention, redistributing, recycling and composting.
Targets
By 2032, reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 60%, from a 2019 base year.
By 2040, reduce absolute Scopes 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 90%, from a 2019 base year.
Highlights and case studies
Targets
By 2025, eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic from all our own brand packaging.
By 2025, 100% of packaging for our own brand products to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Target
By 2025, all divisions globally to have programmes to reduce food waste through prevention, redistribution, recycling and composting.
Klimato partnership and carbon labelling pilot
In April 2023, we began our partnership with Klimato, a leading provider for calculating the carbon footprint of recipes, in the UK and UAE to evaluate the CO2e impact of our recipes.
In November, we started a two-month pilot of carbon labelling on the menus of our Ritazza and Camden Food Co. brands at Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE. We added carbon labels and QR codes to our menus and in-store messaging to help educate and guide our customers toward climate-smart choices. We are using the insights gained about how labelling influences customer behaviour to inform our strategy going forward.
'Scope for Change' film series
We have a science-based target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 2040, against a 2019 base year. With 90% of our emissions associated with our value chain where don’t have direct control, reducing these emissions and achieving our net-zero targets is a challenging undertaking.
Learn more about our approach in the 4-minute 'Scope for Change' film on the Economist Impact website: impact.economist.com/value-chain-navigator/spotlight
Net-zero targets approved by SBTi
In August 2023, our net-zero targets, which include our near- and long-term targets, were validated by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the global body for validating emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. SBTi validation confirms that our targets meet the Science Based Targets initiative Net-Zero Standard, ensuring they are credible, transparent and consistent.
Find out more at: sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action