Avara Foods, a leading player in the food manufacturing industry, has reported that it is surpassing its science-based reduction targets ahead of schedule. The company has been diligently tracking its environmental impact and adopting a comprehensive science-based approach to achieve genuine reductions in emissions and energy usage.
Since establishing its baseline in 2019, Avara Foods has successfully reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by an impressive 23%, and its scope 3 emissions by 24%. To meet its ambitious scope 1, 2, and 3 SBTi targets, the company aims to achieve an annual reduction of around 4% for scope 1 and 2 emissions and 2.5% for scope 3 emissions.
To further drive down emissions, Avara Foods is currently focused on developing higher quality data. It has already implemented various improvements, including a significant shift in data sourcing. In 2020, 71% of Avara’s scope 3 SBTi footprint was calculated using activity or average data, compared to just 8% in 2019, which demonstrates considerable progress in enhancing data accuracy and reliability.
In addition to emissions reduction, Avara Foods has also taken steps to address its carbon footprint caused by chicken farming. It has been conducting annual farm carbon footprint assessments and has completed this process for 60% of its chicken farming base. The company has set a target to complete this assessment for all farms by 2025. Furthermore, Avara Foods recognizes the significant contributions of feed and grain to its carbon footprint, and as a result, it has conducted trials reducing soy in feed by 50% and 100% while evaluating the impact on its overall footprint, animal welfare, and performance.
Avara Foods has also made substantial progress in reducing plastic usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Through packaging weight reduction, it has successfully decreased the greenhouse gas emissions associated with its packaging by a remarkable 31%. The company has also collaborated with one of its customers and their packaging supplier on a circular economy trial. This trial involved recycling “back office” plastic waste into food-grade packaging for their products, promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
Turning to energy, water, and waste management, Avara Foods has achieved a commendable 25% reduction in energy consumption. It has implemented ISO50001 and 14001 systems across most of its processing sites and mills, and plans to extend these systems throughout its operations to further enhance efficiency. Avara Foods has also reduced water consumption by 15% since 2019 through its ISO14001 environmental management system, which allows sites to effectively track, manage, and reduce water usage while identifying opportunities for reuse and recycling.
In terms of waste disposal, Avara Foods has made significant strides by reducing emissions (tCO2e) associated with food processing waste by an impressive 66% since 2019. This achievement can be attributed to the company’s decision to adopt a zero waste to landfill contract in 2020. Under this contract, waste is used for energy recovery instead of being sent to landfills. Avara Foods has improved waste management infrastructure, closely monitored key performance indicators, and enhanced data visibility on-site. Yet, the company believes that employee engagement and behavioral changes will play a vital role in further enhancing waste management practices.
Avara Foods CEO, Andy Dawkins, expressed his satisfaction with the company’s progress, stating, “Despite a year of challenging business conditions, we have continued to take positive steps forward across our environmental agenda, and it’s encouraging to see the progress we’ve made, and our position at the forefront of the sector in carbon foot-printing and GHG reduction.”
With its relentless commitment to reducing its environmental impact, Avara Foods exemplifies the potential for sustainability and innovation within the food manufacturing industry. The company’s achievements not only benefit the environment but also contribute to a more sustainable future for the entire sector.
