Corporate and Social Responsibility - Eco Mission

We’re not expecting to save the world. Just help make it a healthier place. Our Eco Mission has six core areas at its heart:

Climate Change

Climate change is arguably the biggest single challenge facing mankind and the planet. Experts advise that the Earth is locked into a pattern of rising temperature and sea levels that is almost certainly the result of human activities.

The main cause is the release of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, into the atmosphere.

Tackling climate change requires everyone to play their full part – the public sector, energy suppliers, industry and private individuals alike. No sector can afford to be complacent.

We must all do more, and our business is no exception.

Waste & Packaging

Waste is a major issue for society as a whole. In the UK alone, we produce around 330 million tonnes of waste annually – a quarter of which is from households and businesses. Much of this waste ends up in landfill sites and is not reused or recycled.

Research conducted recently by the government’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) revealed that UK consumers throw away the equivalent of £10bn worth of food each year (6.7 million tonnes). This food waste, once deposited in landfill sites, gives rise to methane – a potent greenhouse gas – which is 21 times more damaging to the environment than CO2.

At Birds Eye Foodservice, our business is focused on ensuring that food and packaging waste does not go to landfill through waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. As a business we are committed to minimising waste and helping consumers recycle more waste packaging. We work with WRAP on projects designed to reduce the packaging of our products, thereby reducing the amount of packaging waste generated.

Water Use

Water is essential to all known forms of life. With humans using more and more water, and climate change altering rainfall patterns, issues such as drought and access to clean water are becoming widespread concerns. The food manufacturing industry is a significant user of water. It is an essential ingredient in many food products; it is also used in food preparation, production and cleaning processes.

At Birds Eye Foodservice we believe that we can help to conserve water to alleviate water stress providing that food safety and hygiene is not compromised.

Transport Miles

The transportation of raw materials and products has a series of significant environmental and social impacts. These impacts are as diverse as road congestion, infrastructure damage, road accidents, through to CO2 emissions, air and noise pollution.

At Birds Eye Foodservice we recognise these impacts and seek to ensure efficient food distribution to meet consumer demand. For example we pay our transportation contractors a bonus based on the vehicle loading. This kind of behaviour encourages continual innovation and efficient resource use.

Sustainable Sourcing

Fish

Around the world, fish stocks are under growing pressure, primarily as a result of population growth and associated overfishing. As a supplier of fish products we believe that we have a responsibility to supply our consumers with fish from sustainable resources, harvested using techniques that will not harm the marine environment. This is the only way that precious fish stocks can be preserved for future generations. It is the only way we will have fish for our fish business to serve our customers.

Agriculture

Modern farming methods have revolutionised our ability to meet society’s increasing demands for food. As the demand for food and natural fibres continues to rise globally, farming must become even more efficient. At Birds Eye Foodservice we believe that farming needs to provide sufficient yields, while at the same time protecting the environment, and rural communities in which it is practised, for future generations.

Finding the right balance between producing food economically and growing responsibly is a challenge for all of us involved in the agricultural industry.

Animal Welfare

We give priority to the implementation of standards for welfare of animals on farm, during transport, at markets and at slaughter.

Ethical Sourcing

Like most major food manufacturers, we source many of our products and ingredients from around the world. Our aim is to ensure our products are always sustainably sourced and produced. We believe that our global supply chain should act to help to improve, not hinder, the lives of the people that are touched by our business.