One year after IGD launched the pivotal roadmap: ‘A Net Zero Transition Plan for the UK Food System’ which was developed with WRAP and EY, IGD has announced the introduction of a new Food Supply Chain Sustainability Framework. It offers guidance to better integrate sustainability into businesses and identify priorities.
Building on the evidence of ‘A Net Zero Transition Plan’, the new Food Supply Chain Sustainability Framework is intended to support further progress from evidence to action. It has been developed by IGD in collaboration with six leading food manufacturers: Bakkavor, The Billington Group, The Compleat Food Group, Greencore, Premier Foods and Samworth Brothers.
The group commented: “As a group of manufacturers working with IGD we see this Framework and guidance as a first step to supporting sustainability commitments as part of joint business planning, making it easier for procurement teams and both businesses in a commercial supply chain relationship. We hope next year to expand this to other sectors.”
The Framework aims to help customers and suppliers work towards sustainability goals, informing self-appraisal, shared focus on priorities and a clear view on how to progress along a maturity curve for seven sustainability priorities.
The framework draws upon the FDF Ambition 2030 action pillars and extensive consultation with suppliers, NGOs, experts, procurement teams within the manufacturers and a range of suppliers, to inform the guidance. The aim is to enable businesses to better identify priorities, streamline supplier engagement, and more effectively integrate sustainability into procurement.
Kirsty Saddler, Director of Health & Sustainability Programmes at IGD, comments:
“We recognise that creating a sustainable, healthy and resilient UK food system demands greater cross industry collaboration and practical action. The launch of A Net Zero Transition Plan provided the technical evidence needed, but over the last year we’ve worked to move that forward into action.
“The introduction of the Food Supply Chain Sustainability Framework is an important step in driving collaborative progress and while it has been developed with manufacturers, we believe this can support supplier and customer relationships across every part of the supply chain, to reduce emissions. Together, we are building the pathways and the confidence needed to invest in a more meaningful, sustainable change for our industry and our communities.”
IGD will continue working with the Net Zero Council and WRAP this year, in consultation with the key trade organisations. An aim of this is to develop an action framework for the food system to achieve Net Zero, inclusive of annual milestones and for release in the new year. The food system plan will have a focus for the Council in early 2026, supported by The Broadway Initiative.
The Net Zero Transition plan progress report from IGD will be followed in December by a related evidence-based report from WRAP which, using the most up to date GHG data, will give a latest view on emissions, identify gaps and make updated calls for action.
The new Food Supply Chain Sustainability Framework and Guidance is available here: https://www.igd.com/social-impact/sustainability/reports/food-supply-chain-sustainability-framework/71840.
The A Net Zero Transition Plan Progress Report is available here: https://www.igd.com/social-impact/sustainability/reports/net-zero-transition-plan-for-the-uk-food-system/53058.
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