Bakkavor slash emissions and food waste in new ESG report

The news came after the firm’s recent investment into refrigeration upgrades and energy initiatives.

Operating in the UK, US, and China, Bakkavor aims to reach Net Zero by 2040 and has introduced a quarterly group-wide carbon footprint analysis to help achieve this.

The report also revealed a nearly 16% decrease in food waste year-on-year​​, with the producer claiming it is on course to half food waste by the end of the decade.

Overall food waste within the business fell from 9.15% to just above 8%, which is the equivalent of 6,000 tonnes of food saved.

Head of Bakkavor ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy Caroline Carson said that the group’s Net Zero goal had become a “major focus”​ and would be pursued in conjunction with efforts to decarbonise its supply chain.

“We are proud of the progress we have made in 2022, particularly against the industry-wide headwinds our business faced last year,”​ Carson added.

“While 2023 presents its own challenges, we are confident that our ESG agenda strengthens and compliments Bakkavor’s business strategy, helping the company to fulfil its purpose and grow in a positive and sustainable way.”​

Bakkavor has also increased the amount of surplus food that is redistributed, delivering an additional 1.5 million meals in 2022 – of which 360,000 went to charity.

Elsewhere, Bakkavor presided more than a 12% reduction in plastic volume from the UK business, while 100% of the plastic packaging used is now either reusable or recyclable.

It has also increased the number of vegetarian products in its range, which now make up more than half of those available.

Meanwhile, as part of its own Net Zero strategy, UK supermarket chain Morrisons has partnered with a farming data firm to reduce the impact of farming on soil quality​​.​