Finalists for Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2026 unveiled

Thanks to our category sponsor

Schemes that aim to reduce carbon footprints, source commodities from regenerative farms, and create a fully circular bakery process are finalists in the Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2026.

The Baking Industry Awards category, sponsored by Macphie, looks at the goals of each sustainability programme and the actions put in place to achieve them, whilst also considering the partnerships created and how it has been communicated to colleagues and customers.

Six schemes have made it through to the final stage. Check them out below:

Building a sustainable bakery value chain from field to flour, ADM Milling

This long-term, integrated programme is focussed on reducing environmental impact (especially scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) and strengthening resilience across the entire bakery value chain – from farming and wheat sourcing through to milling, logistics, customers and consumers.

It comes in response to growing pressure on the food system from climate volatility, while bakery manufacturers are also wanting to meet decarbonisation targets and requiring robust data and supply chain collaboration.

ADM works directly with farmers to provide technical and financial support for regenerative practices that help improve soil health, biodiversity, and crop resilience, as well as cutting down on carbon emissions by up to 30%. Around 240 farmers have signed up in first year of the programme alone.

Additionally, the flour supplier is using 100% renewable electricity at its mills, with its Knottingley site sourcing around a third of its electricity from hydropower. The company’s fleet is transitioning to electric vehicles, and all on-site forklift trucks will be fully electric by the end of 2026.

Judges were pleased by the impressive progress to date, and that ADM was testing new ideas rather than waiting for certainty. “I’m excited to see how this initiative will develop as it has real scalability,” commented a judge.

Bako Sustainability Initiative, Bako

Developed as part of its wider commitment to responsible wholesale operations and supply-chain leadership, the Bako Sustainability Initiative is intended to deliver measurable carbon reduction through renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-emission transport, and responsible resource management.

Structured investment has helped accelerate the scheme in recent years, including on solar panels at its sites that have generated more than one million kWh of electricity, offsetting over 231 tonnes of CO₂. Charging infrastructure has also enabled a transition of company vehicles towards electric and hybrid – at its head office in Preston, vehicles are cleaned with reclaimed rainwater.

Meanwhile, the likes of LEDs, smart sensors and times control have helped limit unnecessary consumption across sites. Bako has also partnered with Greenly to undertake a detailed carbon footprint assessment and develop a credible Net Zero roadmap.

Bako said cross-functional collaboration between facilities, transport, operations, and senior leadership teams has played a vital role in the programme’s progress, which has itself been clearly communicated to colleagues.

Judges noted how the initiative was “already bearing fruit” and appreciated the “practical touches” and attention to detail of the entry. “Recent acquisitions have added complexity, but Bako remains resolute that its sustainability culture is integrated into business growth,” remarked a judge.

From forest to bakery, Linwood Raker

Following on from its 2024 victory in the same Baking Industry Awards category, food paper supplier Linwood Raker has claimed another finalist spot for its latest initiative. This sees it source all of its pulp for baking paper production from exclusively regenerative farmed forestry.

Fully compliant with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (which comes into effect for large businesses at the end of this year), the paper can be digitally tracked back to the original harvesting location via a bespoke traceability platform. Linwood Raker said it was encouraging the wider industry to adopt regeneratively sourced paper to be the new market standard.

“Regenerative farmed forestry does not simply replace what is harvested; it leaves the forest healthier, more biodiverse and more resilient than before, ensuring future generations can continue to benefit from its environmental, social and economic value,” expressed Linwood Raker founder Richard Smith, who drew inspiration from a 48-hour ‘living-in-the-wild’ experience in a remote forest in Finland.

Judges called it a “very clear, single-minded and fully delivered initiative” with tangible and relatable scale. “Whereas regenerative farming has received plenty of news column inches in recent years, its brilliant to now shine a spotlight on regenerative forestry, which is particularly important in the face of widespread illegal logging and the damage it is causing to the environment globally,” said a judge.

Lovingly Artisan Full Circle, Lovingly Artisan

With the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine causing major difficulties in sourcing various grains, Cumbria-based bakery Lovingly Artisan launched a pioneering collaboration to create a fully localised supply chain. Several years in the making, the process is built on shared values around sustainability, food security, and community-centred food production.

The business worked with Eden Yard Farm in Penrith and grain specialist Dr Andrew Wilkinson to initially grow heritage rye, with harvests growing from 12 tonnes in 2023 to 49 tonnes in 2025. Further grains such as einkorn, nelson, emmer, and spelt have since been introduced – all are farmed chemical free and in a regenerative way.

The grains are all milled at Lovingly Artisan’s mill in Burneside, and baked at its Kendal site, meaning that products have just 25 food miles on the clock. An innovative approach sees the milling waste byproduct of bran repurposed as pellets to use in the bakery’s ovens, making it a fully circular process. Semolina is also created in milling, which the company is using for sourdough pasta.

Judges commended the brilliant focus on resilience and self-sufficiency in the face of global supply challenges. One described it as “an incredibly genuine story of innovation and growth” with passion evident throughout the judging process.

Rooted in Soil, Whitworth Bros

Family-owned milling firm Whitworth Bros said it recognised that safeguarding the nation’s food security is not just a responsibility, but a legacy it must protect for future generations. It noted its ‘Rooted in Soil’ initiative is built on genuine partnership with British farmers, offering them financial rewards for making measurable, practical changes which promote better soil health and reduce their carbon footprint.

Farmers have their pick of the practices that best suit their growing conditions, such as reduced tillage, increased use of cover crops, or managing fertiliser use. They provide data gathered to Whitworth, which helps it provide a more accurate product level carbon footprint to its customers in the scheme.

As of the 2025 harvest, 89 farmers had signed up and committed a total area of 8,585 hectares, with Whitworth saying it had seen an estimated 35% reduction in carbon produced. The ambition is to significantly scale up the programme over the next two years, encourage more farmers to join, and expand the proportion of its wheat sourced through regenerative practices.

Judges liked that the primary benefits of the initiative sat with the farmers, who were able to choose what to do rather than being dictated to. The idea to introduce a tiered system of rewards “essentially gamified the approach and gave the farmers a clear incentive to improve their methods”, added a judge.