A woman walking into a Greggs eco shop

Source: Greggs

Greggs has reported ‘significant’ progress towards its 2025 sustainability goals, which include reducing food waste, opening 1,000 school breakfast clubs, and progressing towards net zero.

The update comes in the third edition of its sustainability report – The Greggs Pledge. First launched in 2021, the pledge outlines 10 goals for Greggs to help make the world a better place (see progress against each of the goals below).

The commitments, aligned with the ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are based on three key elements where the firm believes it is best placed to make a difference: building stronger, healthier communities; making the planet safer; and becoming a better business.

The Greggs Pledge cover with people making hearts with their hands

Source: Greggs

Roisin Currie, chief executive at Greggs, said she was pleased to report that the firm is on track to achieve each of the targets outlined by 2025.

“As we look to the year ahead, we are in a strong position to continue to make significant progress,” she added. “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 Greggs nears the halfway mark, it has outlined the progress against its 10 commitments as well as the next steps in its plans. They are:

1. Open 1,000 school breakfast clubs, providing 70,000 meals each school day

  • Progress in 2022: 789 breakfast clubs fed 49,000 children every school day
  • 2023 target: Greggs will have opened 850 breakfast clubs feeding 52,000 children every school day

2. Create 25% less food waste than in 2018 and continue to work towards 100% of surplus food going to those most in need

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs reduced the amount of food waste create in manufacturing operations by 10% and increased food redistribution by a further 10%
  • 2023 target: Greggs will have reduced the amount of food waste created in manufacturing operations by an additional 10% and increased food redistribution by a further 10%

A woman in an orange cardigan walking into a Greggs outlet

Source: Greggs

3. Have 50 outlet shops providing affordable food in areas of social deprivation

4. 30% of the items on Greggs’ shelves will be heathier choices

  • Progress in 2022: 32% of the range in 2022 were ‘healthier choice’ products, and 34% of all new products created were ‘healthier choice’ products
  • 2023 target: 30% of all new products created going forwards will be ‘healthier choices’

A woman eating a rice and chicken salad on a picnic blanket

Source: Greggs

Part of the Greggs Balanced Choice range

5. Progress towards Net Zero target by using 100% renewable energy across all of operations

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs completed its Supplier Engagement Plan and set near-term science-based emissions reduction targets, which have been approved and publishes by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
  • 2023 target: At least 98% of electricity usage will come from renewable sources and 30% of the gas used across operations will be from renewable sources

6. 25% of shops will feature elements from Greggs’ eco-shop ‘shop of the future’ design

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs opened the first eco-shop and now more than 250 (10.7%) of all shops have eco-shop elements
  • 2023 target: 400 shops (17% of total estate) will feature eco-shop elements

7. Use 25% less packaging, by weight, than in 2019 and any remaining packaging will be made from material that is widely recycled

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs updated the design of all own brand packaging to feature an On Pack Recycling Label to make recycling communications easier to understand. Greggs created a roadmap to move all own brand packaging to be more easily recycled
  • 2023 target: All own brand packaging will be more easily recycled

8. Our workforce will reflect the communities we serve

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs achieved the National Equality Standard Assessment
  • 2023 target: Greggs will report its ethnicity pay gap (in line with business reporting schedule and to be included in our 2023 Annual Report, published April 2024) and provide enhanced support for colleagues from an ethnic minority background to progress their career

9. Launch a Responsible Sourcing Strategy and report annually on progress towards its targets

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs published its deforestation policy, mapped supplier compliance and plan to be deforestation-free by the end of 2025
  • 2023 target: Greggs will complete the mapping of soy in animal feed to determine sustainability status

10. Secure and maintain Tier 1 in the BBFAW Animal Welfare standard

  • Progress in 2022: Greggs ensured all chicken stocking densities were no more than 38kg/m²
  • 2023 target: Greggs will further improve its chicken welfare standards, with 50% at less than or equal to 30kg/m² and the remainder at less than or equal to 38kg/m². All pigs will be free from sow stalls.

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