Food and Drink Federation launches ambition to reach Net Zero by 2040

Food and Drink manufacturers have already made great strides in environmental sustainability as shown in the FDF’s Ambition 2025 progress report published earlier this year. This included achieving the target of reducing onsite carbon emissions by 55%, five years before the 2025 target. But with emissions from the supply chain accounting for the majority of food and drink products’ carbon footprint, this new 2040 Ambition targets all embodied carbon^[1]. 

The FDF is already working closely with stakeholders across the farm-to-fork supply chain in responding to the climate crisis and in advancing the Net Zero ambition to 2040.

To provide further support to food and drink businesses, the FDF will also launch a Roadmap to Net Zero project, which will look at areas including ingredients, packaging, manufacturing, distribution and storage and the role of customers in reducing the carbon footprint of food.

This roadmap and accompanying ‘handbook for businesses’ will be launched at COP26 in November, and is alongside a wider programme of events this year, to engage with FDF members and the wider sector on the journey to Net Zero.

The FDF’s Head of Climate Change and Energy Policy, Emma Piercy, said:

“We are delighted to announce the FDF’s Net Zero by 2040 ambition. Leading the sectors’ progress in decarbonisation requires essential collaboration across the supply chain, and together we are driving the delivery of Net Zero food and drink products on supermarket shelves by 2040.

“In food and drink manufacturing, the programme of support provided by Government and industry associations are key drivers to building momentum on Net Zero. We thank Andrew Griffith MP in his role as Net Zero Business Champion on driving this forward and his work on the SME Climate Hub.”

The Government’s Net Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP, said:

“I welcome the ambitious steps being taken by the Food and Drink Federation in launching their 2021 work programme on Net Zero and the commitment to being net zero by 2040. This pioneering target in such an important sector of the economy will strengthen the UK’s position as a global climate leader in this year of COP26.”

For information, please contact press.office@fdf.org.uk 020 7836 2460.

^[1] Embodied carbon is the carbon footprint of a material. It considers how many greenhouse gases (GHGs) are released throughout the supply chain and is often measured from cradle to (factory) gate, or cradle to site (of use).