Food on the go bakery giant Greggs has unveiled strong progress on its pledge to make the world a better place, two years after setting out a 10-step plan.
The Newcastle business first set in motion the Greggs Pledge in 2021 - 10 commitments aimed at making the world a better place, as outlined in its annual sustainability report. Its pledge includes targets to reduce its environmental impact and protect animal welfare, aligning itself with the ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and is based on three key areas – building stronger and healthier communities, making the planet safer and being a better business.
Two years on, Greggs said it has made significant progress towards its 2025 sustainability targets, including reducing manufacturing food waste by 10% and increasing food redistribution of unsold food in shops by a further 10%. During the report period it opened its 789th Breakfast Club, feeding over 49,000 children every day – and since the report was completed it has gone on to reach the milestone of opening its 800th Breakfast Club at Baildon Glen Primary School, near Bradford, getting it closer to its target of 1,000 by 2025.
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It has also now opened 30 Greggs Outlet shops, with the latest opened in Newham, East London, marking strong progress in its commitment to open 50 Outlet shops by 2025. It also opened the first Eco-Shop, in Northampton, while rolling out sustainability initiatives launched in the Eco-Shop into more than 250 of all its shops, and 32% of its range now falls within its ‘healthier choice’ products.
The company’s progress as it reaches its halfway point has prompted it to set out clear targets to achieve by the end of 2023 including having 850 Breakfast Clubs, feeding 52,000 children every school day. It also intends to reduce the amount of food waste created in manufacturing operations by an additional 10% and increase food redistribution by a further 10%.
Greggs also aims to have 38 Outlet Shops before the year is out, and says that 30% of all new products created going forwards will be healthier choices. By 2025 it wants to use 100% renewable energy across all of operations and by the end of 2023 it is targeting at least 98% of electricity usage to come from renewable sources and 30% of the gas used across operations will be from renewable sources.
Meanwhile, it says 400 shops – 17% of the total estate – will feature Eco-Shop elements, and says that all own brand packaging will be more easily recycled by the end of the year. Other targets include reporting its ethnicity pay gap and providing enhanced support for colleagues from an ethnic minority background to progress their careers.
Roisin Currie, chief executive, said: “When we first launched The Greggs Pledge, we committed to being transparent about - and accountable for - the areas where we believe we could drive the most change in making the world a better place. I am pleased to report that we are on track to meet each one of our ambitious targets that we set out to achieve by the end of 2025 making us both a stronger and better business.
“As we look to the year ahead, we are in a strong position to continue to make significant progress. By giving good food a second chance and redistributing it to those in need and reducing food waste, to implementing initiatives that directly tackle climate change, like continuing to switch to renewable energy, and ensuring we are committed to workplace diversity and inclusivity, we are driving initiatives to make the world a better place.
“As a responsible business, Greggs is very much upheld by the values outlined in our Pledge and it’s hugely important to our colleagues, customers, suppliers and communities that we continue to raise the bar higher as we lead positive change.”
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