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Source: Tesco 

The protein giant has unveiled five key areas to reach its goal by 2048, including working to lower methane in livestock production

Hilton Foods is to bring forward its transition to becoming a net zero business by two years – from 2050 to 2048.

The protein giant – a key supplier to Tesco and major retailers globally – announced its ambition this week after publishing its first Transition Plan, which aligns with the recommendations of the UK government’s Transition Plan Taskforce for net zero.

It follows the publication of “more ambitious near and long-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets” approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in March.

These targets will see Hilton reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 95% by 2030, from a 2020 base level. Scope 3 emissions from energy and industrial sources will be cut by 45% by 2030. Hilton has also committed to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions from forestry, land & agriculture by 45% by 2030.

The new Transition Plan will build on this commitment across five key areas as part of its wider Sustainable Protein Plan.

Hilton said it would work to reduce emissions “across all production sites by improving efficiency, using more renewable energy and upgrading cooling systems on site”.

The supplier is also creating a circular packaging system which uses less virgin material, while maintaining product quality and avoiding food waste.

Ingredient supply chains will also be subject to actions to reduce emissions, while in livestock, the business has committed to improving animal welfare, Health, and genetics to lower methane output, plus managing land emissions “and implementing technologies to reduce emissions from manure and digestion”.

Finally, Hilton’s seafood business will “improve disease resilience and explore alternative farming methods to improve health outcomes”. Fishing vessels would also be electrified to support emissions reduction, it said.

Read more: How Steve Murrells is making Hilton Food Group ‘a great British success story’

“Plans have been tailored to the specific needs of each site, accounting for local technology, weather conditions, and energy demand, and designed in collaboration with customers to measure and reduce the environmental impact of products across the value chain,” it added.

“A huge part of our Sustainable Protein Plan is how we can reach net zero by 2048,” said Hilton group CEO Steve Murrells.

“It is an ambitious target, but this transition plan – one of the first of its kind in this sector – will help us stay focused and drive forward change in our own business,” he added.

“I’m really proud that Hilton Foods is leading the way, and I think there is huge opportunity for collaboration across the industry to create positive change with our partners and communities to benefit our ecosystems.”

Over the coming years, Hilton planned to “work hard” to drive forward sustainable change in line with the strategy set out in the Transition Plan, said the supplier’s chief quality and sustainability officer Lorna Schneider.

“And while this plan is aligned with the UK government’s Transition Plan Taskforce, we are implementing this globally, across all our markets, so there is huge opportunity to have a genuine impact,” she added.

“The actions will evolve and grow to move with our business. We hope that by being transparent it will support our partners in aligning to their own strategies and delivering their own goals too.”