Case Study: Food Manufacturer Consulting

Carbon reduction strategy for food manufacturer

How a Food Manufacturer Reduced Carbon Emissions to Achieve Science-Based Objectives.

Scope 1, 2 & 3

CARBON ACCOUNTING

1.15M

tCO2E SAVINGS IDENTIFIED

ABOUT FOOD MANUFACTURER

Our client is a leading manufacturer of fresh, convenient food, supplying retailers and foodservice companies with a wide range of prepared salad meals. The client has spent over 25 years combining fresh food and the latest technology to produce high-quality and innovative products to satisfy ever-changing consumer tastes. They are committed to working closely with suppliers and their local community to create a positive impact and protecting the environment. 

“Equivalent to 35% of the UK’s total emissions arise from producing and eating the country’s food & drink, including emissions overseas for imported food” (Source: WRAP, 2021). A business-as-usual approach to global food production would cause the sector’s emissions to increase by 30%–40% by 2050, due to a growing population and consumption trends (Source: FDF, 2021). It is therefore essential that we tackle this sector’s emissions to meet our national net zero target by 2050.

SECTOR

SERVICES DELIVERED

Challenge

Understanding carbon impact of energy consumption

To mitigate their impact on the environment, the client needed to understand the carbon impact of their energy consumption as well as the activities from their upstream and downstream value chain. They required decarbonisation solutions for their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, with detailed mapping of the cost, impact and expected timeline of these projects. The client wanted a clear net zero pathway supported by carbon reduction targets, ensuring alignment with a 1.5°C-compliant scenario, along with guidance around offsetting best practice. 

Solution

5-fold NET ZERO STRATEGY

Optimised delivered a 5-fold Net Zero strategy for this manufacturing client.

  • Carbon Accounting

    Optimised used the client’s activity data to

    calculate their base year emissions and present these figures in an audit-grade emissions inventory, aligned with Greenhouse

    Gas Protocol. This included scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Scope 3 categories were chosen following a materiality assessment to

    determine which emissions sources were most important to stakeholders with a high ability to influence.

  • Scope 1 & 2 Reduction Strategy

    To address the client’s scope 1 and 2 emissions, energy efficiency recommendations from their Phase 2 Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) audits

    were revisited. The opportunities were reconsidered and updated to reflect recent changes in energy prices and organised in order of priority based upon cost of abatement.

  • SBTi Target Setting

    This strategy then needed to be underpinned by a veritable decarbonisation trajectory. Optimised modelled science-based targets using Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) tools to demonstrate the rate of decarbonisation required to align with a 1.5°C pathway.

  • Carbon Offsetting Strategy

    Carbon offsetting plays an essential role in reaching net zero. Optimised provided the client with best practice guidance on how to incorporate offsetting into their strategy and use carbon credits to create a positive socioeconomic and environmental impact in local and international communities.

  • Carbon Abatement Simulation

    Optimised displayed the client’s baseline carbon data in an interactive Power BI dashboard. Here, the client could toggle on and off their scope 1, 2 and 3 decarbonisation initiatives and view expected costs and impact against business-as-usual scenarios. 


    The dashboard incorporated the SBTi-aligned targets to assess how and when the initiatives would allow the client to reach their goals.

results

Setting science-based targets

This net zero strategy engagement provided the client with a detailed breakdown of their material carbon emissions across their value chain. The client can now begin to implement carbon reduction projects targeting scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, working towards science-based targets.


The client now have oversight of a costed, organised, and effective net zero strategy, the impact of which can be monitored regularly.

Optimised’s report has clearly presented the net zero challenge by detailing the investment cost for reaching net zero as wel l as the financial and carbon risk of inaction.

Corinne Boddy

Group Head of Business Development, Optimised 

Optimised Group Logp

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