United Biscuits launches environment plan and targets

United Biscuits has announced a plan to reduce the impact that its operations have on the environment and move towards sustainability. UB has been making changes over several years and has now set ambitious targets.

Its commitments are set out in the document ‘Achieving sustainability’ which includes targets and progress so far in six key areas: reducing CO2 emissions and energy use; reducing waste sent to landfill; reducing water use; reducing packaging waste; increasing use of environmentally friendly transport and increasing sustainable sourcing.

Jeff van der Eems (pictured), chief operating officer, said: 'Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility and we want to play our part. To quantify our aims we have set ourselves targets to consider every use of resource and make sustainable choices. We are committed to making quality food in the most sustainable manner possible.' 

Callton Young, director of sustainability at the FDF, commented: 'Consumers expect businesses to be good corporate citizens, including in their environmental performance. UB's environmental policy fully embraces this. Indeed, the package is exemplary in so many ways. It covers the key environmental priorities faced by the UK food and drink industry and includes milestones for making real and measurable progress. UB is therefore to be applauded for the environmental leadership it is showing.' 

To encourage its employees to think about ways they can personally use less energy and help protect the environment, UB is giving each of its 9,000 employees a free low energy light bulb for them to use at home. Their free light bulb is accompanied by some energy saving tips and advice on changes they can make to help protect the environment.

Targets and highlights from ‘Achieving sustainability’:

1. Achieve a 35 percent reduction in UK CO2 emissions by 2020, using 1995 as a starting point

UB is helping to test and develop  new oven burners which will see a massive reduction of energy used at its Harlesden, North London biscuit factory. After successful completion at Harlesden, the new burners will then be rolled out in the next phase to a further five factories over the next three years.

2. Achieve zero waste to landfill by 2010 and achieve zero non-food waste to landfill by 2015

UB is committed to reducing the amount of waste generated during food production and aims to send as little as possible to landfill. Already 97 percent of food waste is recycled and an average of over 60 percent of non-food waste across its UK sites. Non-food waste recycling includes old safety footwear being recycled through Oxfam.

3. Achieve a 25 percent reduction in water use by 2020 compared with 2007

Whilst UB doesn’t use a large amount of water in its operations, it has introduced water conservation programs to reduce the amount of water that is used. This includes improved filtration and re-use of water to wash raw materials.

4. Reduce the total weight of packaging by 20 percent by 2015 compared with 2003

UB has already made good progress by reducing the weight of packaging used by 6,800 tonnes. Over 80 percent by weight of all packaging is readily recyclable. Over 90 percent of the cardboard used is recycled board. UB works in partnership with the Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP) to develop new and more effective wrapping for the biscuit and snack markets in which it operates. Work is underway with a snacks film provider to create a new film with a 17 percent reduction in weight, thereby reducing the total packaging used for snacks.

5. Achieve a 22 percent reduction on CO2 emissions by its vehicles during the ten years to 2012

In 2006 UB equipped its entire trailer fleet with a new satellite location service that provides live tracking via the internet. The web service logs information on each vehicle or trailer activity minute-by-minute, highlighting events such as waiting times, inactivity, delays, economical driving and route deviations. This contributed to a seven percent improvement in fuel efficiency during 2006.

6. Ensure new and existing suppliers continue to meet UB’s specific requirements for ingredients sourcing, have strict ethical standards and are working towards sustainable growing

In recognition of the effect that palm oil production can have on the environment, UB is a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil, an organization established to promote the responsible production of palm oil. UB also works with palm oil suppliers to achieve best practices in traceability and sustainable sourcing.