The earth's climate is changing, with unpredictable weather events, droughts and storms causing serious consequences for our consumers, supply chains and business.
Our carbon footprint
In the past business growth went hand in hand with increased environmental impacts. To become a truly sustainable business, this link must be broken.
We are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on where the largest reductions can be delivered. The vast majority of our direct carbon footprint comes from the energy used to power our factories.
Minimising our energy use
We are reducing our energy use by investing in new technology, reducing our waste and empowering and educating our employees. We have committed to reducing our energy use by 20% between 2008 and 2011. In the first year of our commitment we reduced our energy use by 11.8%.
To reduce our energy use further, and deliver our pledges, we have major capital investment programmes in place to drive even more efficient gas combustion.
Figure 3: PIUK energy reduction
Pledge: Reduce PIUK energy use by a further 20% per kg of production within 3 years.
Progress: In 2008 we reduced our energy use by 11.8%, ahead of our schedule.
Pledge: All our British manufacturing sites to be ISO 14001 accredited by the end of 2008.
Progress: all sites met ISO 14001 by the end of 2008.
Investing in renewable electricity
During 2008 we increased PIUK's total share of renewable electricity to 16%, exceeding our initial target, and substantially ahead of the UK average of 5.5%. The Quaker factory in Cupar, Scotland is buying 100% renewable electricity and Rotterdam 45% renewable electricity. The Tropicana site in Zeebrugge is also buying 100% renewable electricity. For green electricity we bought, we have not counted any carbon reduction. Further work is needed to translate this progress into reducing our overall carbon footprint - particularly retiring a greater proportion of the Renewable Obligaton Certificates.
Figure 4: Increase in total share of PIUK electricty from renewable sources
Pledge: Increase total share of PIUK electricity from renewable sources from 8% to 14% within 3 years.
Progress: In 2008 we doubled our share of electricity from renewable sources from 8% to 16%, exceeding our target.
On-site renewables
A central plank of our low carbon strategy is ensuring all energy used in PIUK manufacturing and distribution is from renewable sources. Delivering this pledge will be stretching, and involve replacing much of our existing manufacturing and distribution infrastructure.
We are exploring how to use local decentralised renewable electricity generation for each of our UK manufacturing sites.
If delivered, our commitment would reduce our absolute carbon emissions by over 90% during the next fourteen years.
Many of the projects required to decarbonise our business radically are long-term and have lengthy payback periods stretching as far as 40 years. We are exploring, with the carbon Trust and others, how greater "sticks and carrots" could be given by the Government to make the changes required.
Pledge: All energy used in PIUK manufacturing and distribution to be from renewables sources in 15 years.
Progress: In 2008 we assessed each of our manufacturing sites for their potential to host onsite renewables. Our next step is to fast-track several projects for investment and begin moving our business away from fossil fuels.
Carbon labelling
Walkers, with the Carbon Trust, introduced the world's first Carbon Reduction Label in 2008. We were also the first company to meet the reduction commitments, shaving 7% off our footprint. Discolsure of the footprint on pack, alongside a commitment to reduce, was a powerful motivator for both grassroots action in our factories and senior buy-in.
Evidence shows the label has raised consumer awarness of the environmental impact of everyday consumption, and that consumers believe public commitments to recude will drive corporate action.
We are now introducing the label to other products in our portfolio. Quaker has already begun displaying the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label on packs of Quaker Oats, Oatso Simple Original and Oatso Simple Golden Syrup flavour, making Quaker the first cereal brand to carry an on-pack carbon reduction commitment.
Encouraging green holidays
To encourage British consumers to reduce their carbon footprint, Walkers promoted the Gary's Great Trips campaign for the second consecutive year. Gary's Great Trips incentivises consumers "to enjoy beautiful Britain for less", rather than flying abroad. In 2008 596,524 consumers registered a Gary's Great Trips account online and as a result 10,690 holiday resorts, hotels and bed and breakfasts in the UK were booked. In addition, partnering with other organisations, Gary's Great Trips resulted in 54,797 day trips to National Trust sites.
