Premier Foods has announced that its 2030 decarbonisation targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) following a rigorous validation process, meaning the food producer has some of the most ambitious targets for reducing emissions amongst UK businesses.
Home to iconic brands such as Batchelors, Ambrosia, Mr Kipling and Sharwood’s, Premier Foods set itself specific goals to reduce emissions from its own operations and from those it buys goods and services from by 2030.
The SBTi has recognised these are in line with international efforts to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees, based on extensive mapping of greenhouse gas emissions for its operations and supply chain.
Nick Brown, ESG Director at Premier Foods said: “Climate change is the defining issue of our time. Effective action with the potential to change the course of temperature trends across the globe is only possible with rigorous scrutiny and measurement, which is why we wanted to work with the SBTi to get our own targets validated.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into analysing our greenhouse gas emissions and those of the firms we work with so it’s important that we know we’re on the right track, with targets which are meaningful and will contribute to worldwide efforts. This validation gives us an important platform from which to take the next steps of our journey towards net zero.”
This validation achievement forms part of the business’s Enriching Life Plan ESG strategy which was launched 18 months ago and is articulated through three key strategic pillars of product, planet and people. Major sustainability targets were set under each pillar and key highlights of progress during the past financial year to 1 April 2023 include:
Product:
- Launched or reformulated 207 products which support high nutritional standards and 172 products which offer an additional health and/or nutrition benefit. One such innovation was creating Mr Kipling Deliciously Good cakes and fruit pies. A UK first for the category, the Deliciously Good range not only scores less than 4 on the Nutrient Profiling Model used by the UK government and contains less sugar, saturated fats and salt, but importantly delivers more fruit and great flavours for consumers.
- The sales value of products meeting high nutritional standards has grown by 17% and plant-based products by 34%.
- Increased the range of cooking sauces that offer one of people’s five a day and enhanced fibre levels where possible. This includes relaunched Homepride and Sharwood’s foodservice cooking sauces with enhanced fibre levels and vitamin fortification, designed to help schools deliver healthier meals.
- 96% of all finished goods packaging is now recyclable.
Planet:
- Achieved validation of decarbonisation targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
- Scopes 1 and 2 carbon emissions down 10% since launching the Enriching Life Plan*.
- Food waste in own operations was reduced by 11%. Also ran consumer initiatives promoting a new charity partnership with FareShare through ‘Win a Dinner Give a Dinner’ to help raise awareness and funds to support those in food insecurity and offered advice to shoppers on reducing food waste at home.
People:
- Agreed a new five-year corporate charity partnership with FareShare, which fights hunger and food waste by redistributing good quality in-date surplus food to frontline charities across the UK. In the past year, more than 725,000 meals have been provided to Fareshare and other food poverty relief charities.
- Launched a colleague volunteering scheme with 270 days of volunteering completed across the business.
- 47% of general management roles and 40% of senior management roles are held by females, both up from a year ago.
- Have almost 50 apprentices across the business currently working in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) roles and introduced new T-level placements within the IT team.
For further information on Premier Foods Enriching Life Plan and ESG strategy read pages 26 to 48 in the 2022/23 Annual Report & Accounts.
